In all my years in the trade, there is no job dirtier or worse conditions than steel mills. Graphite falling like fine, black snow. Dirt everywhere, inches thick.
I've had bosses specifically ask for me for certain jobs, because of certain skills, but mainly because of my attitude. I'm a rather large guy, but will crawl in most anywhere that I can fit. My outlook is that somebody has to do the job and if I don't SOMEBODY ELSE will. And if they have somebody else, what do they need me for?
When asked why dirt doesn't bother me, my response is " I don't LIKE dirt, BUT I LIKE the money I get working in the dirt. I get paid good money doing what I do. I can buy an awful lot of Tide with that."
I got into a discussion the other day with a liberal guy who was bad mouthing the Tea Party. He was talking about an article in the paper about fast food workers "NEEDING" to be paid $15 an hour.
I worked fast food and bussed tables when I was younger. I know what its like. I then went to welding in factories. Fast food and restaurant work ain't nothing like factory work. And factory work ain't nothing like working in the trades. The guy asked me what I did now. His response "That would be fun."
Fun...180 feet in the air, on a blast furnace, in January, with single digit temps and the wind blowing 30 miles an hour isn't "fun".
Being IN the mill in the summer, when its 95 outside and 110 inside, while wearing fire protective clothing isn't "fun".
I tried to explain what a steel mill was like, but it was lost on him. I said that I work in conditions that most people would run away from, with their arms in the air, screaming.
But Hey...The pays good. I'll make in ONE 16 hour day, more than most people make in a week.
Of course...the fast food workers demanding $15 will tell you that I'm "LUCKY". :)
Then you know all too well where I’m coming from because you’re living it too. Fitters are a dying breed for sure, but they do get paid.
When self-proclaimed feminists complain that “men are paid (X%) more than women”, they leave out the parts about working conditions that you described so well.