Took the union overtime over the side job, no regrets so far

Had a choice last Tuesday between a weekend side job paying cash at $45 an hour or sticking around for double time on a shutdown at the mill. I took the shutdown work because the benefits and pension matter more to me now than quick money. Ended up working 16 hours Saturday on a boiler tube replacement and the crew clicked real well. The side job guy texted me this morning asking if I'm free next week, but I told him my schedule is booked through the 15th. Any of you guys pass up side cash for the call, and did it work out or bite you later?

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brooke712mo ago

Saturday? You're telling me you'd rather be wrapped around a boiler at 7 AM than take $45 an hour cash to do something that probably involved way less grime? I mean, sure, the pension is nice, but 16 hours of double time feels like a brag until you're eating a gas station burrito at midnight and your back hurts for three days. The side job guy texting you just means he's got nobody else lined up, not that you're missing some golden opportunity. I've seen guys skip the call for cash and then cry when their wife's car breaks down and the union hall says sorry, we already called the next guy. But also, I've seen guys take every shutdown hour and burn out by 50, so maybe you're just convincing yourself this was the smart move when it was really just the easier one.

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