Just hit 15 years in the trade and it doesn't feel like a win

Everyone at the local 83 hall talks about hitting big anniversaries like it's a huge deal, but when I got my pin last month, it just made me think about all the wear and tear. My knees are shot from years on the deck plates at the old Detroit Edison plant. Does anyone else get this mixed feeling instead of pure pride?

4 comments

4 Comments

claire_grant342mo ago

My old man hit 30 years at Local 17 and felt the same way. The pin is just a piece of metal, it doesn't fix your knees. What helped him was using the seniority to bid on easier calls, like tool crib or inspection gigs. Start doing that now, don't wait until you're completely broken. The job owes you that much after 15 years on the deck plates.

bettym112mo ago

Yeah, that's solid advice right there.

kimfisher1mo ago

Oh yeah, Betty, you're spot on with that. Claire knows what she's talking about too. My uncle worked the deck plates for over 20 years and he swore by the same thing. He started taking the lighter inspection jobs around year 12, said it saved his back from being totally wrecked. The union pin means squat if you can't walk straight at retirement. Better to pace yourself and stay useful than burn out before you hit the finish line.

pat7812mo ago

The job owes you that much" is a dangerous way to think, @claire_grant34. That kind of attitude can make a guy soft, waiting for handouts instead of earning his keep. Seniority should be about leading the tough jobs, not hiding from them.