Delete if not allowed.
I work on industrial air filtration systems, changing the filters pretty much, simple most of the time (if you pay attention) but physically demanding and tedious work. The crew is typically 5 people and the foreman, and one person from the company that contracts us. We go all over the place for two days to two plus weeks at a time, with average one to two days between jobs, usually driving. Occasional free time due to weather, shipping fuck ups, etc. The five people are contracted (1099 nec). Paid in gross, no healthcare, no benefits. We make $20 an hr, daily time and a half (typically 10 to 12 hr days), halftime for in the van travel (foreman maintains the work van/trailer), and hotels paid for. Food is on us.
The foreman isn't feeling well and asked me if I could run things tomorrow. I said for a price and also to think about a higher starting wage for everyone (which was recently brought up from 17/hr but before I started which was Sept). Company finances/ bookings are handled by someone only he is allowed to contact, a non onsite person. Finances are invisible. Everyone knows what the bottom makes, everything up is a mystery.
Currently we are changing filters and cooling media on a gas turbine. We are the last crew on site from what I can tell, 90 to 100 % of the time doing the most physically demanding job, and dirtiest. We are the only crew that the contacting company uses, and we are pretty good, we work the whole east coast and rarely hear of any crew specializing in what we do. The foreman does a good job of providing what we need for the work, tools, gloves, etc, not always great quality or well maintained though. Sometimes we handle shit like lead oxcide but that may be changing, no hazard pay when we do. Work can be spotty, especially through the winter. Guys on these sites can be getting paid 2 to 3 times plus what we do for hardly lifting a finger, all the benefits, plus travel comp. There is also a good amount of turnover in the crew but the foreman expects it. Billion dollar industry, what are we worth?