Well guys this may be a little off topic, but it is a big thing to me. After 40 years as an Iron Worker I put my papers in today. As of March 1st. My journyman Iron Workers book out of Local 58 New Orleans, will be listed as retired! I have served as trustee, sargent of arms, executive board member, president, saftey instructor and am now vice president. Iron working has been a tough, rough way to make a living but I would do it again no doubt. The characters I have en countered have been an uninhibited free spirited hard working fun loving bunch indeed! When I was an apprentice I rode a chopped Harley Panhead to work and my only other wheels was a 1937 chevy pickup. After that it was a canary yellow 56 f 100 for 10 years . One of my first jobs was as a bolt up apprentice on the dome stadium in New orleans. I have seen the saftey culture evolve from guys riding the ball (crane cable weight) 10 stories to the street to visit the roach coach, to everyone over 6ft.wearing a safety harness. This may be one of the few government mandates I agree with. Way less funerals now. However work is what I do. I am currently working 6days 13hrs a day, with several months left on this project. My buddies laugh when I mention retirement. Thanks for listening. MickeyC.
Sounds like a very well deserved work stop. Best of luck to you and now you'll have more time for building rods.
Congratulations! You must be somewhere around the same age as me, and there's no way I could still work those hours - I am hoping to retire this spring also, it's not an easy decision.
A friend of mine retired from being an Iron Worker about five years ago at the same age you are. He always had a new pickup, a work truck and a cool car of some kind when he worked, sometimes a Harley or two as well. Since he retired he got rid of the new truck and now owns six or seven vehicles, the newest one of which is a cool '65 Chevy pickup. All of his vehicles except one are steel and he's working (or playing) with one or more of them every day. He owns a fibergl*** roadster that he always apologizes for, like he has to explain why he owns something that isn't a real American car. Anyway, congratulations and good luck. Play half as hard as you worked and you'll be having more fun in a week than most people have in a month.
Congratulations on making the milestone date. I was an apprentice out of Local 25, Detroit in the 60's. Almost finished my apprenticeship when the work dried up around here and with a new wife and 1st child I didn't want to boom out (would have been way south at the time) while making apprentice scale and having to send all of the check home. So, I stayed around here and opened up an auto repair shop which led eventually to a fab shop building race cars and production oval track components. I hear you about the funerals. Lost two close friends while in the trade. Enjoy your retirement, you've earned a long and peaceful one. Frank
Hello guys thank you for the encouragement. The facts are it is a use it or you may loose it situation with my retirement fund. By taking it now it will be locked in for life,or so they say. Having already taken a hit it is time to lock in what I can. The good thing is I will be starting a new fund as of March1st. I have backed away from highrise work because of age, vision, balance etc. I now work as a nuclear power station heavy lift supervisior which pays well and is seasonal, so I am realy semi retired. MickeyC
Congrats!!! I'm semi-retired from the auto industry...no union...no pension but I got a teaching credential and started teaching in a local Occupational Center. Maybe I will really retire in a few years after I teach a bunch of kids everything I know (that shouldn't take long?).
Congrats, my father in law just retired from ironwrking out of the Aurora IL local at the ripe young age of 72. He is the toughest guy I know, even at 72
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