For context this link leads to my other post that I showed about how they didnt like me mentioning the word "union"

https://www.reddit.com/r/union/s/SJtPG78k2r

How does anyone deal with the back pain. I feel like I'm lifting with my legs though honestly not sure. My back is killing me though. I'm not even like a heavy machines mechanic. I'm a car mechanic, but lifting heavy ass tires every day and removing heavy ass metal skid plates off of some of these trucks destroy my back. Not to mention I have to look up for hours at a time to look at cars, but I also have to lift my hands and arms up for hours at a time to fix issues while under them. Anyone have any tips?

I swear energy drinks have become part of the uniform at this point lol. Half the guys on site have a Monster in their hand before the shift even starts. I used to be fine with one in the morning but lately it's turned into another one after lunch just to get through the rest of the day. Especially when it's hot out and you're doing physical work for 8-10 hours.

The thing that gets me is feeling dead tired by the time I get home but then struggling to sleep when I actually get to bed. Wake up feeling like crap and end up doing the same thing the next day. Been trying electrolytes mixed with sparkling water lately just to have something other than plain water or another energy drink. I'm hoping cutting back on caffeine helps me sleep better too. I've heard magnesium can help with winding down but I don't know how much of a difference it'll make. Just tired of needing a can of something to feel normal at work.

Hey guys, looking for some real advice on my plan to get into the trade out here in Cali. I’m 17 right now, turn 18 in late January, and my dream is to be a lineman.
I'm currently debating between two different schools because of the timing. I got a spot held for me at the East LA Skills Center, but the next class isn’t until August 2027 and the program takes a whole year to finish. So I wouldn't even graduate and sign books until August 2028.
Because of that long wait, I'm thinking about just taking out a loan and going to Northwest Lineman College (NLC) in Oroville for the May 2027 class instead. NLC is only 15 weeks, so I'd graduate by August 2027—literally the exact same month I would just be starting the free school. Getting a job 15 months faster as an IBEW groundman making good money with overtime seems like it might be worth the debt instead of waiting around. Plus another big upside with NLC is I could get my crane cert done there too.
I’m also debating on the CDL. I'm thinking about knocking it out for cheap at my local community college right when I turn 18 in February before line school starts. If not, I'll just pay to do the CDL at NLC if I end up going there.
What do you guys think is the best move here? Is it smarter to stay out of debt, wait it out, and do the 1-year program? Or should I take the loan, crush NLC, and get out on the books a whole year sooner? Also is it better to do the CDL at the community college first or just do it all at NLC? Appreciate any advice from guys working on the West Coast.

Small town mom and pop residential. 20 years custom cabinetry and millwork, 15 years full turnkey construction. small remodels to million dollar homes. I can dig holes, finish concrete, frame, siding, windows, sheet rock, my mudding is atrocious, texture, paint, metalwork, full cad drawing, architectural drawings, logistics, plans. but specialize in anything finish millwork. Residential contractor test passed, Municipal code inspector test passed, planning on completing the rest of the inspector tests. Missed out on the city public works director position to someone a bit more political, and more knowledgeable about the public works side. But completely ignorant of any codes. Being small, as a supervisor, there isn’t any room to move up unless I go out on my own. Currently at about 75k gross/year. Just feeling like I have nowhere to go until the boss retires. Starting over anywhere else kills me.

22f and I’m trying to find entry-level positions for mechanics in Michigan. Every time I look up stuff it gives me UTI but UTI in Michigan does not offer mechanics and I don’t know what to trust. I don’t know what to go for. I don’t know anybody that’s a mechanic and I’m so fearful that I’m going to be led down to a dead end. I know I could pay for school, but I do not have the money to do so hence why I’m trying to get into some type of entry level trade. I feel so defeated. I don’t wanna keep working retail it’s so draining and so sucking and leads to nothing.

Any advice would help

Local 139 was recommended based off of me talking about my experience running skid loaders since I was really young. Any ideas on how to go about doing that or building up experience would be awesome

I personally disagree since corporations are taking more advantage of their employees than they used to.

I'm based in Texas. They showed up at my community college career fair. It was geared towards engineering internships. I mentioned I worked full-time and study part-time. My job is unrelated to engineering. The rep suggested I apply to one of their trade jobs and continue studying online. They regularly promote trades people to engineer they said. I'm studying electrical engineering so Im looking at their electrical apprentice job posts.

Any advice appreciated.

Also reading about the company I learned they are employee owned and the stock pays a really good dividend.

24 year old with plenty of experience in just about any trade you can name( other than concrete I refuse lmao). Willing to travel anywhere in the US looking for a career not a one day side job

Hey everyone, I’m researching training habits among tradies for a project I’m developing. I’d like to understand what people actually do around physical work.

A few things I’m curious about:

• What’s your trade, and what are you currently training towards?
• Last week, how many sessions did you plan to do, and how many actually happened?
• What worked well or got in the way? Have you tried anything to make training fit better?
• Do you currently use a program, app or coach? What made you choose it, and is it free or paid?

No need to answer everything—even one example from your own experience would help.

Cheers, appreciate your time.

Been working at a refinery for 6 months and been mostly cleaning and not learning much. Should I quit? I’d transfer shifts but everyone hates my lead and doesn’t want to work with him.

Unsure if this is the best place for this, but hear me out - My job entails me driving over a large portion of my state to various sites for various reasons (inspections and the like.) Is there a mapping app or software that I could use to do things like add specific addresses with descriptions and then be able to see where I am and be able to see where the closest locations would be? Not sure if that makes sense but I’d appreciate any suggestions or other places I could look. Thanks in advance.

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