[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('roccman', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', '
')
Are you seriously arguing that it is impossible to teach a McDonald's fry cook or a salesman at Best Buy how to put up power lines? Or that the laid off factory workers can't be retooled to build wind turbines and bridges?

[TheDude]

Sooner the better:

Worker Shortage Threatens Utility Industy

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'Y')ears of relentless cost cutting by the utility industry have wiped out worker training programs and gutted the ranks of experienced linemen. Since deregulation came to the electric industry more than 10 years ago, utilities have reduced their line staff by 25 or 30 percent. Today, the average lineman is 48 and overworked thanks to the widespread practice of forced overtime.

The good news is anecdotal evidence suggests that the industry is aware of the problem. The bad news is not much is being done to address it.

"Everything is keyed on dollars and cents profit," said IBEW Utility Director Jim Hunter. "Storm outages are longer, and utilities are asking for more and more help from other utilities. The problem is that other companies are in the same boat. And they are still not hiring."

Thanks to bare-bones management under deregulation, worker training programs are all but relics from the past, victims of a highly competitive deregulated environment. The aging work force is dominated by baby boomers nearing retirement. Industry observers are predicting a slow-motion catastrophe over the low number of linemen qualified to shepherd the nation’s power grid into the future.

"We have this impending demographic crisis on our hands here," said Madison, Wisconsin, Local 2304 Business Manager Dave Poklinkoski. "At the same time, the utility industry has not come to grips with the need to hire and train that gap. But some utility companies are increasingly recognizing the problem."

[Tyler_JC]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', '
')
Actually it is happening now Rocc - My division (fortune 25 Power Gen company) hired over 300 engineers in the last 12 months and just started an EIT (engineer in training) program in which we are training hundreds of new grads in the most rapidly expanding industry since the .com days.

Roc - You really need to quit reading press releases to glean your information. Bechtel did a presentation at Coal-Gen international last august and showed the numbers Roc - It is very doable to hire and train a new workforce.

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('roccman', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', '
')
Are you seriously arguing that it is impossible to teach a McDonald's fry cook or a salesman at Best Buy how to put up power lines? Or that the laid off factory workers can't be retooled to build wind turbines and bridges?

[clueless]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', 'S')ooner the better:

Worker Shortage Threatens Utility Industy

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'Y')ears of relentless cost cutting by the utility industry have wiped out worker training programs and gutted the ranks of experienced linemen. Since deregulation came to the electric industry more than 10 years ago, utilities have reduced their line staff by 25 or 30 percent. Today, the average lineman is 48 and overworked thanks to the widespread practice of forced overtime.

The good news is anecdotal evidence suggests that the industry is aware of the problem. The bad news is not much is being done to address it.

"Everything is keyed on dollars and cents profit," said IBEW Utility Director Jim Hunter. "Storm outages are longer, and utilities are asking for more and more help from other utilities. The problem is that other companies are in the same boat. And they are still not hiring."

Thanks to bare-bones management under deregulation, worker training programs are all but relics from the past, victims of a highly competitive deregulated environment. The aging work force is dominated by baby boomers nearing retirement. Industry observers are predicting a slow-motion catastrophe over the low number of linemen qualified to shepherd the nation’s power grid into the future.

"We have this impending demographic crisis on our hands here," said Madison, Wisconsin, Local 2304 Business Manager Dave Poklinkoski. "At the same time, the utility industry has not come to grips with the need to hire and train that gap. But some utility companies are increasingly recognizing the problem."

[clueless]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'L')et's put it this way CL...if you had 3 Billion to spend on a power plant you would call a guy like me to get it permitted.

Do you have 3 Billion?

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', 'S')ooner the better:

Worker Shortage Threatens Utility Industy

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'Y')ears of relentless cost cutting by the utility industry have wiped out worker training programs and gutted the ranks of experienced linemen. Since deregulation came to the electric industry more than 10 years ago, utilities have reduced their line staff by 25 or 30 percent. Today, the average lineman is 48 and overworked thanks to the widespread practice of forced overtime.

The good news is anecdotal evidence suggests that the industry is aware of the problem. The bad news is not much is being done to address it.

"Everything is keyed on dollars and cents profit," said IBEW Utility Director Jim Hunter. "Storm outages are longer, and utilities are asking for more and more help from other utilities. The problem is that other companies are in the same boat. And they are still not hiring."

Thanks to bare-bones management under deregulation, worker training programs are all but relics from the past, victims of a highly competitive deregulated environment. The aging work force is dominated by baby boomers nearing retirement. Industry observers are predicting a slow-motion catastrophe over the low number of linemen qualified to shepherd the nation’s power grid into the future.

"We have this impending demographic crisis on our hands here," said Madison, Wisconsin, Local 2304 Business Manager Dave Poklinkoski. "At the same time, the utility industry has not come to grips with the need to hire and train that gap. But some utility companies are increasingly recognizing the problem."

[clueless]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('roccman', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', 'S')ooner the better:

Worker Shortage Threatens Utility Industy

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'Y')ears of relentless cost cutting by the utility industry have wiped out worker training programs and gutted the ranks of experienced linemen. Since deregulation came to the electric industry more than 10 years ago, utilities have reduced their line staff by 25 or 30 percent. Today, the average lineman is 48 and overworked thanks to the widespread practice of forced overtime.

The good news is anecdotal evidence suggests that the industry is aware of the problem. The bad news is not much is being done to address it.

"Everything is keyed on dollars and cents profit," said IBEW Utility Director Jim Hunter. "Storm outages are longer, and utilities are asking for more and more help from other utilities. The problem is that other companies are in the same boat. And they are still not hiring."

Thanks to bare-bones management under deregulation, worker training programs are all but relics from the past, victims of a highly competitive deregulated environment. The aging work force is dominated by baby boomers nearing retirement. Industry observers are predicting a slow-motion catastrophe over the low number of linemen qualified to shepherd the nation’s power grid into the future.

"We have this impending demographic crisis on our hands here," said Madison, Wisconsin, Local 2304 Business Manager Dave Poklinkoski. "At the same time, the utility industry has not come to grips with the need to hire and train that gap. But some utility companies are increasingly recognizing the problem."

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', '
')
Takes 18 months to get a welding cert. And trade programs are springing up like mad. Sorry Roc, got to run, it is not going to be easy but the workforce is not just going to dry up overnight. People here have to do something.

[I_Like_Plants]

I'm all for that vo-tech stuff too. I wish I'd seen how futile trying to become an EE as a white working-class person was, and gone for something in the trades. Now, I'm a 40-something and doubt any of the programs would take me. If I'd gone for something vo-tech way back when, I may have been able to make EE through some backdoor method still available to whites.

Now, well, I have to come up with something ..... my living costs are very close to zero right now but that won't last forever, can't count on it lasting forever anyway. If I can get some good "gig" going, I may be able to pay off the IRS and come to some kind of an agreement with the CC co's.

Although doing the BK is what they deserve lol.

I've looked into becoming an Arabic translator, but even professional linguists say that bull throws THEM. There are jobs working with IEDs and assorted electronics, but you have to subscribe to a magazine called QEX and get it, then read the ad, then you can try it. But, my sub died out and I can't spare the 40 bucks for another sub so that's out.

I think when TSHTF what you're going to find is, as a part of taking the country of We The People back, a lot of Whites who have been kept out of the good jobs but who are smart as whips and ready to learn 'em and take 'em on.

[clueless]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('roccman', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', '
')
Takes 18 months to get a welding cert. And trade programs are springing up like mad. Sorry Roc, got to run, it is not going to be easy but the workforce is not just going to dry up overnight. People here have to do something.

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('roccman', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', '
')
Takes 18 months to get a welding cert. And trade programs are springing up like mad. Sorry Roc, got to run, it is not going to be easy but the workforce is not just going to dry up overnight. People here have to do something.

[clueless]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('roccman', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('roccman', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', '
')
Takes 18 months to get a welding cert. And trade programs are springing up like mad. Sorry Roc, got to run, it is not going to be easy but the workforce is not just going to dry up overnight. People here have to do something.

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', ' ')(FYI: I work from home too)

[I_Like_Plants]

I worked in the US workplace long enough, dodging constant abuse for being white, being underpaid and told I was so specifically because I'm white, etc etc etc.

The old all-white non-antagonistic workforce still exists in some places but it's getting damned rare.

I agree, being a CEO might not be very much fun. If offered something like that, I'd take it for long enough to earn the $$ to get out of debt, and then get my ass back into college for music or art or something where people like you no matter what, set up at any farmer's market with your instrument or sketch pad and you're golden. Professional bum/bohemian is where it's at.

[Denny]

I don't see why people can't be "re-tooled" for new tasks.

One breakthrough will be upping the status of blue collar work in the U.S.A., so its on par with Germany or Japan. Salaries are a big part, and they aren't so bad these days. If you look back to the period 1915 to 1930, electrification proceeded at an amazing clip. Where did those lineman and power plant operators come from wiht no family connections or even role models in their youth? Mostly from the ranks of farm hands and high school grads who dreamed of better things.

[Lighthouse]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('roccman', '[')Tyler - besides AP - you post some of the most assinine stuff here....

[Twilight]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Denny', 'I') don't see why people can't be "re-tooled" for new tasks.

[I_Like_Plants]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Denny', '
')One breakthrough will be upping the status of blue collar work in the U.S.A., so its on par with Germany or Japan. Salaries are a big part, and they aren't so bad these days. If you look back to the period 1915 to 1930, electrification proceeded at an amazing clip. Where did those lineman and power plant operators come from wiht no family connections or even role models in their youth? Mostly from the ranks of farm hands and high school grads who dreamed of better things.

[kadoomsoon]

humph.