Layoffs

So, we got to talking about layoffs at work the other day. Pipefitters tend to have a very casual attitude about losing a job. Basically it’s-- I was looking for a job when I found this one. There is always work somewhere, so pack your bags! Sometimes layoffs are voluntary with the company announcing they need to let 10 or 50% of the fitters go. It gives those with other work lined up or who just want off the job to gracefully (with layoff slip for unemployment) terminate a job. Other times it is a way to cull the workforce of workers who are missing work, have low productivity, or are travelers and local workers are on the bench. On big jobs you will see this happen almost monthly; layoff workers on Friday and hire that amount the next Monday. If you have really managed to piss off your employer, but not to the point of being fired, there is the dreaded one man layoff. I was on one of those at Sullivan Park in 2000. I was laid off with 4 travelers which is essentially a one man layoff. I had made the mistake of questioning a policy of lead testing by drawing blood. These results were to be given to the contractor, not the individual worker. I was glad they were implementing this program due to the lead paint with which we had been dealing. I disagreed with the reporting process. While I was shocked, as was my general foreman, my BA said there was nothing he could do, but had me working 10 minutes from home the following Monday. The other thing that happens is that to avoid the one man layoff, they lay off your partner as well. Been there, done that, didn’t get the tee shirt. There is also a very well known saying, “Get my money and my partner’s too. In fact, here’s a quarter, mail it. We’re outta here!” You can tell it’s been around awhile by the cost of a stamp. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Too date, I have been laid off 74 times since 1986. Some layoffs really stand out in my mind. The first time was after a three month job building a Wegmans in Corning NY. Being from Pittsford where the grocery chain started meant I felt especially connected to the store. Plus it was my first job. Looking back I realize how lucky I was to have worked with such a great crew and foreman on my first job. When they laid me off, I almost cried, despite the fact that it was Saturday and they were opening the store on Monday! As for voluntary layoffs/quits, I’ve had a few. Once was at a horrible job where I was working on fiberglass at a plant over an hour from home. I had a full body rash for three weeks straight. I was told they were putting on travelers on a job close to home. So I asked for a layoff. When I walked into the BA’s office, he said he couldn’t send me to that job because he already had two guys coming in from out of town. I stood my ground and said you better call one of them back. This is my territory and I am taking that call. I was on that job for over six months and loved every minute of it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When it comes right down to it, 99% of the jobs I do have a definite end date. We work to put ourselves out of a job. Hopefully by the end the contractor has made money, our bank accounts are fuller, and we have a building that a little while before was only a dream in some architect’s mind. Nothing is more satisfying than walking away from a job as one of the last to go. You have seen it from the underground piping to polishing the last sink or turning on the final system. Being laid off before that can be very disappointing and sometimes can really hurt the ego and self-esteem. But hey…I was looking for a job when I found this one. Where we going next?