I currently work for a large MSO and am in a position that has the responsibility of obtaining contractors to complete construction projects. I have also spent some time as a splicing contractor. While the union idea sounds good, I do not think it is really something obtainable. There are a few reasons that I can think of off the top of my head to be considered.
The first one is that MSO's budget X dollars per mile for a rebuild, retro, upgrade, whatever. This is approved the previous year in a very tough and stringed budgetting process. The projected rate of return is considered and final approval is given by the stock holders. In other words, the bottom line is non negotiable. There are some line item stuff that can be changed, but not much.
Remember that the primes take up 50% of the actual dollars paid out.
The last thing that comes to mind is the trucking industry in the 70's had problems. The union truckers tried to keep prices up, but were unsuccessful. There were too many drivers that would work for less. That is my 2 cents worth today.
>
I see that there should be a little more said > about my previous posting. What we are doing is
> testing to see if we can band together in large enough
> numbers to create a union. This union would be dif. from
> other unions out there. It is going to belong
> to contractors. It will not take rights away from
> contractors, it's purpose will be to ensure the lifestyle
> we all love. By setting corporate rates we will all be able
> to enjoy a comfortable standard of living. No you
> will not be able to make $100,000 a year installing
> cable, but it will be better overall. The idea is to
> get set piecework prices that are designed for a man
> with his own tools and truck, who is expected to travel
> to dif. locations for work, to go home with money still
> in his pocket. we shouldn't be making $40,000 A YEAR
> before motel rooms, gas, and equipment. A man who
> doesn't work, still won't make any money, but a man
> that does will at least know he's getting a fair amount.
> It has other advantages. How about every good contractor
> in an area boycotting a company that didn't pay it's
> men. Something tells me that we'll quit getting
> the short end of the stick. And how about union certification
> and training centers. In time this can develop into
> a great resource for contractors to use. I'm not saying
> this is an overnight change. This would take allot
> of time and hard work. I think that two years from
> now we can be seeing some major improvements in our
> industry. When 1 person say's I've been wronged friends
> listen, when 200,000 people say it cities listen.
> This is an attempt to make our life's better, but
> it will take the support of thousands. What we are doing
> now is building a base of supporters. We will need
> everyone who believes this can help our life's to
> spread the word. The sight I mentioned earlier is
> a supporters forum of sorts. It's not a sign-up
> sheet, but a statement of support. When there are
> enough people saying this, then we will begin.
> So tell your co-workers now, and we will get the
> sight up and running very soon. It is near completion
> now. When it is ready we will need all those who believe
> in the cause to go to the sight, enter their information,
> and spread the news to contractors everywhere. This is not
> a ploy to ruin cable companies, but to help them, and ourselves
> in the process. Remember they've given us a living for years,
> with so much change, it's just too easy to forget the kittle guy.
>
> "long walks are taken with many small steps"
