Blackstar

You're delusional. $80k is better than average income. You are in a very well paid trade. Compensation for skills, inconvenience, overtime, travel, environment, risk, etc. There are few who are capable and willing to do what you do. I work with electricians, gas fitters, plumbers, all the time. They typically make $55-65k annually. Union guys do a bit better. I'm in construction, own my business, work 70-80 hours per week. I tell the electricians, gas fitters, plumbers what to do. I make $80k.....lol I used to make more but I was working 100-120 hours/week back then. Too old to do that now so I give my money to employees.

Went to the butcher shop today. Finally see baby backs which I haven't seen all fall. The girl at cash register says "You should buy the fresh not the frozen. They are probably the same price." She walks over to the fresh section and says "Nope, they are cheaper." Damn, so I bought fresh ones and cooked them up tonight for dinner. 3-2-1 Came out great. I have a pork loin roast for tomorrow if I can get to it. Supposed to get 2-3 inches of snow tonight. Might have to plow again.

I only deal with shops where the owner is in the shop, not in his office.

Video Not available in Canada,

Power Lineman?

Bringing this thread back to life. By the way, I did eventually get reimbursed for all my points. I now have just over $5000 in Crappy Tire points.... Anyways..... I'm walking out of the Dorking Market on 86 hwy the other day and I see a couple people talking in the parking lot, I ignore and walk to my truck across the road. 2 guys jump in a black SUV and drive over to me. "Hey buddy" I thought I knew the one guy, looked familiar. So I say, "Hey what's up?" He says "I got something to show you." We walk to the back of the SUV and he opens the hatch. He says " I just got this 8k projector and screen from work. It came in a shipment but wasn't in the order. The boss gave it to me. Are you interest?" I laughed "I can't believe you guys are still pulling this shit. No Thanks. Good luck fishing." I got back in my truck and they moved over to the next guy to pull in the lot. I can't believe this shit still goes on.

ya, your in a niche market there for sure. Checked my invoices. I pay $105/hr for the heavy equipment shop I use.

80k gross seems high, at least for around here. I had a mechanic come work for me 3-4 years ago. Said he was making $28/hr. Google search says average wage in Ontario is $29-31/hr. I would think a mature mechanic with some customer skills would be making $35-40/hr tops. Shop rates are $95/hr. Can't see how they could give half of that to the employee. I hear diesel mechanics make more.

Swimming pool construction.

Demand is still good but production is down. Labourers are at $25-30/hr, 50 hour week, but we rarely get a response to ads. The younger generation is not interested in work. Next year we will likely be all immigrant workers.

Sure, if you run around local, buy an old truck and rebuild it. If you run coast to coast, buy new. There are hog haulers that go by my place all week long. They use 25-30 year old trucks, all done up to the tits, but they never get more than 20 miles from home.

Why would an immigrant work for $15/hr? The Canadian gov pays them better than that to stay home. Oh wait, were you paying cash under the table? then you might be right.

EA's make $25/hr, 35 hrs, contracts are for 42 weeks. I'll bet they lay them off and rehire in the so that they can collect EI for the summer. Seems about right to me. They are better paid than daycare workers doing the same job. Sure, give them a raise to $27. Aren't they asking for this pay raise to be retro as well?

That $39k number has me curious too. I'd like to see CUPE post where that number comes from. My guess would be a part time worker. $30/hr, 30 hour week.

For those who didn't listen in to the Stern interview, man, you missed a great show.

Back on the road today.