Just started at a new job at a union (USW) cement plant. I had been driving trucks for the last 14 years and it was slowly killing me. On my first day I had to call off to take my mom to the ER, the only thing my boss asked me was if she was ok, and if I could call him “whenever was convenient” to reschedule orientation. On my second day I signed up for medical, dental, and vision insurance. Total cost out of my paycheck is about $125 per month for my whole family (me + wife + kid) I also signed up for the company sponsored pension plan, profit sharing, short and long term disability, and a 500k life insurance plan.
The last trucking company I worked at offered me a terrible health insurance plan 3 DAYS before my 2 weeks notice was over ( I worked there for over 6 years, 70+ hours every week. No paid holidays, sick days and only a week of vacation that the boss demanded we cash in every year).
After 90 days of employment with the new job I'll have 2 weeks of vacation, and after 1 year it'll be 3 weeks, after 2 years 4 weeks, and so on until you cap out at 8 weeks of vacation time.
I took a pay cut when I took this job but overtime makes up for it, and it is absolutely optional. Working on Sundays (today) is double time, so right now I'm being paid 45 dollars an hour to sit in an air conditioned room with the guy that's training me and unload a barge, I'll be here for the next 15 hours, and I'm off tomorrow so I get to make my family breakfast and take my son to school.
In the last week I can already feel my back and legs hurting less from simply walking around, not being stuck behind a steering wheel all day.
I think I might cry. Get the fuck out of whatever you're doing and get into the trades and into a union. This shit is truly 2 legit 2 quit.