having a work dilemma

[hawk14dl]

I'll start off by saying I do have a good job. In most cases im treated well, make fair money.

The work force for my company is union. Our maintenance department (where I work) is not. I was told if I go union I would need to find another job. (Union scale for my position is significantly higher then my wages)

doing my job sometimes requires utilizing certain skillsets, including those of which we have union employees for. Including but not limited to welding and running equipment.

Both of these trades have higher starting wages then my current wage. I've been with the company for over 10 years.

My boss just told my one of the jobs I'll be doing soon. It will require using a piece of machinery. The scale for operating this equipment is about $6 hr more then what I make.

I feel frustrated by this. Would I be wrong to deny running the equipment? Should I be making that much? How should I approach such a problem?

[RigPig]

You could be working somewhere else for more and be miserable. If you enjoy your company and were content with the pay before the request then why not just do what he wants. Once you get more experience running that equip full time maybe then you should approach him for a pay increase.
In this day and age too many people feel a sense of entitlement, I'm not putting you in this category Hawk. Just making a point that there will be the guys that get along and go along, then there is the rest of the guys who think they deserve more and are never happy.
The guys that know how to play the "political" game tend to make it further. Whatever you do just make sure you've looked at it from all sides. If you got guys lined up to step on you to get ahead, maybe now isn't the time to make a stand.
I'm not sure where you are in the world or what the job market is like in your area. So this is my opinion based on my surroundings.

[GirlyGymRat]

Why don't you just ask the boss if there is more pay for increased responsibilities?

[AngryElf]

Just curious, why not go down to the union hall and sign up? Sounds like you've got a versatile skill set and a good work ethic. Either way, asking for money is a tricky situation. Like mentioned above, the economy in your area would play a big part in how that conversation goes.

[hawk14dl]

Problem is, all these years I've ran the equipment. Part of my responsibilities are to have a working knowledge of every piece of equipment we own, how it operates, all the components, how they work, and to maintain it.

I guess I said it all in the first sentence of this reply. . All these years I've done it, without question. It was my job to do what I was told (Or whatever it took to get the job done).

On the other hand, over these years. . I've seen so many equipment operators cone in making $6-10/ hour more then me. . With less working knowledge of the equipment. They carry a terrible attitude as well. One in particular, couldn't get his equipment working. I tried to talk him through it on the phone, he was condescending and wouldn't listen. I drive 30 minutes to the job, pushed one button, and left.

I guess this was more of a rant, the obvious answer would either be go find another job. . Or just do mine.

As for joining the union. . It's a regional thing apparently. I've spoken with one of the union leaders (he used to work at my company). He said there are 0 union mechanics in our local, although there is a scale for it. So nobody here hires union mechanics.

So, sorry for the rant everyone. .

[RigPig]

Rant away brother, it's all good!

[bartman314]

sounds like a tough situation with no simple answers. is there a competing company nearby that could/would offer more? is your boss a decent guy and someone you could have a straightforward conversation with? does he ultimately recognize that the better his team his the better he does. (better means total overall performance/total cost with minimum business headaches)

i don't think it should end with a rant. it sounds like you have a real challenge ahead of you that various possible moves could result in a better (or worse) situation.

[Euroholic]

Stay away from unions bloke. There antiquated socialist cvnts who try to justify them selfs by holding companies hostage. If your worthy your boss will hang on to you and pay you more. Unions are just scum