fired for having a concious

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i work (ed) for a propane transportation company in new york. i am/was there welder fabricator, and mechanic when needed. this company has been around for 100 years and they are not hurting for money. i was handed a work order today for a trailer that the driver said was making a banging sound. so what i found was where the leaf spring perch is welded to the axle tube rotted out and the axle was about to fall out of the trailer. these trailers carry anything from ten - 12 thousand pounds of propane. i inspected the other side and found rot as well.  they have over 120 trailers and we will go a year or more before we see some of these trailers back in our shop. so i got my 1st boss and showed him and suggested a new axle, that we keep 2 in stock. he then went and got the shop manager/maintaince director who has no idea how to properly repair anything made outta anykind of metal, and he told us that. these round axles alot of times rot from the inside out and as i tapped on the whole axle tube u could hear spots that are getting soft. the rear axle was newer than the front so im guessing that one was in bad shape. so the boss told me to repair/patch the bad spots, and i said the whole axle is a bad spot, and i was going to have to remove the axle to properly fix it, and it was going to take longer to fix also,gotta find good steel to weld to right. these axles are usually made of 1/4" steel but after a few decades of use and corrosion what is it now? so my thought was i fix this axle just to get it back on the road, how long does it last, and IF/WHEN it brakes in another spot does it kill someone. these trailers go all over the north east, big pot holes rough roads. so having a concious i told my 2 bosses that i dont feel comfortable repairing/patching up that old axle and why, i said i will do the job the correct way and thats it. something happens and that trailer kills someone D.O.T. comes to our shop and looks up our records and my name as the tech working on it last **** rolls down hill. so about 10 minutes later im called into the office and i get my union steward, and im told that im no longer needed. so i have to go to union office tomorrow to file a grievance.
Reply:doing right rarely pays in dollars, but you did better than a paycheck signed by that place in my opinion.don't sweat it. you can weld, you have another job right around the cornerbosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:You did right, & now you are not "it"...Screw themGood luck on the job search, hope it's a big step up for ya!Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:I'm with you, orange!GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:I've learned to NEVER be afraid to loose my job. I do what's right and I stand up for what I believe is right. If my employer can't see things my way, I'll gladly move on.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:I was looking for a good job when i found this one and i'm still looking for a good job...one of my favorite sayingsBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Hour about a tip to DOT? or state troopers?Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:You did the right thing, Orange!! And you'll sleep better tonite than your two ex bosses. If they keep up w/ what they're doing it's going to result in loss of life either by wreck and or explosion, and they're going to wish they'd done things right. I'm sure your union will work hard to get you back to work for a different employer under these circumstances.                                     MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:You did it right. Maybe a call to the state police or DOT to keep a look out for their trucks . Improper or a half *** repair just sucks. It's worse when lives are at stake.
Reply:I wonder what the drivers would think if they knew the condition of the bombs they are driving...GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:It sounds like the company you worked for didn't value your opinion. How long did you work there?
Reply:The DOT has a thing called whistle blower protection. If the employee brings an infraction the company wont fix, the DOT protects the job of the employee.Make a call with the trailer number.Jake Parker
Reply:Originally Posted by jpfabricatorThe DOT has a thing called whistle blower protection. If the employee brings an infraction the company wont fix, the DOT protects the job of the employee.Make a call with the trailer number.Jake Parker
Reply:They'll just get someone else who doesn't care to scab it together. You should have stayed and made sure it was done as best as it could given the limitations, because that would ahve been a lot better than the next guy... so maybe you're still in a way going to be responsible for 100 people dying when it explodes. lolWelding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:Sounds like a whistle blower termination.  That's illegal and hopefully your union will straighten it out.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcSounds like a whistle blower termination.  That's illegal and hopefully your union will straighten it out.
Reply:Why did you get your boss?  I would have just grabbed the new axle (that you had on hand) and got to work.  They can bitch about it later.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcSounds like a whistle blower termination.  That's illegal and hopefully your union will straighten it out.
Reply:Unfortunately they will probably word the paperwork in such a way as to not look bad... insubordination probably.  Your word against theirs.
Reply:I think you did the right thing too! I've been fired for way less than that. I told a college superintendent one time he had his head in his a$$ for wanting me to repair a drill tub the way he wanted to. He fired me on the spot. Called all the other jobs the company had going, and told them not to hire me. Problem was I worked there longer than he had. He fired me right after lunch on Friday, by union contract he had to pay me all day. Monday morning I was on another job for the same company, got Friday afternoon off with pay!Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:If you file a grievance and are known as the local RAT at work, things won't be good for you there at all.  I agree with what you did.  Collect unemployment and find another job.  I'd drop a dime to the DOT to protect others from this potential hazzard.  I'd be clear that your intent is for public safety and not out of malign for the company.  You'll quietly get your justice.AND I hope your ex-company doesn't deliver on Long Island.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Stick it in and break it off. Guys like that need to be taught a lesson. If my family got hurt because a trailer lost an axle  and someone knew it was faulty,  i wouldn't sue. I would beat him within an  inch of his life along with his dog too. sent while goofing off at workLong after the price is forgotten, the quality will remain.Both of my Poppy's 1954 Short Hoods -Third generation to weld with it and teaching a fourthSA 2## - Bought and sold more than I can remember or care to list, 8 in the shop right now
Reply:I just remembered I had basically the same thing happen to me a few years ago. My brother-n-law pulled his boat out of the water, pulled on up the ramp to the parking lot. A guy drives by and says there is something wrong with your tire on the trailer. One of the axles had rusted through, and the wheel was sticking out at an angle. He took the axle off and brought it to me to fix. I said there is nothing there to work with, it's all rust! We may be able to save the spindles, and you buy some more box tube, but it may be cheaper to buy a whole new axle. That's what he did. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:There is plenty of times I was asked to fix something that I have deemed unsafe to do and with my calm cool voice I told my boss "NO FUCHIN WAY" and at least they believe me and stop asking....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:When it comes to things like this in Canada we are very protected. If something is a hazard to yourself or others then a company can not fire you for not doing it.As has been said. Get in contact with DOT asap and let them know what happened. Tell them that you aren't interested in getting your job back but that you want them to know what happened. Then file for unemployment and look for a new job. DOT will back you up on the unemployment claim and you may be able to use the person you talk to at DOT as a reference. A lot of people want safety oriented workers.I'm sorry this happened to you but at least you can sleep at night. Hope you find something better soon.Craftsman 90 amp Arc welder
Reply:I work in technology... welding is a side thing for me. However I was told a great story by a former boss about getting mixed up with the shady side of your employers dealings. Basically, he got to watch a black-and-white re-enactment of himself on one of those nationwide evening news magazines. Slow motion, with some whale of a nerd-looking actor re-enacting him writing software to 'jilt the state'. Reality of it was he didn't know enough about the details of what he was working on to know there was fraud at play, but when a large organization is going down or one guy is going down for something naughty...... you were right to leave and not get mixed up in it.
Reply:You did the right thing, report them to DOT. Move on and find another job. Here in the Coastal Bend Of Texas(Corpus Christi) there are several Lawyers that are multi- millionaires because of cases like this. With the Eagle Ford Shale oil boom, there are big truck accidents every day some because of acts of God and some not acts of God.
Reply:so the boss told me to repair/patch the bad spots,
Reply:You did the right thing! I work for a company that builds petroleum tankers. They usually carry about 9,000 gallons of gasoline to service the local gas stations. When I find a bad weld, I have a habit  of pointing it out to our Quality Assurance people. I do have a habit of aggravating management!! But, I too have a feeling of responsibility. Sorry! Couldn't spell that other word. Lol. Do things right! I drove a truck for a lot of years. Saw a lot of bad things happen due to poor maintenance. Don't put your name on something that may kill people! The pencil-pushers in the front office will be hiding behind lawyers, and blaming you!!
Reply:The op isn't a rat as someone mentioned. He did the right thing imo. In my union seniority rules and they can't fire for no just cause. Fight them and get your job back and then leave on your terms.
Reply:Seems to me that if this is a union gig, the company has set themselves up for trouble. If the union does not stand behind the op on this matter, then they are not worth there own good and i wonder where the OP's union dues are going. As well seems the OP can sue the company for false termination. Like mentioned before, the company will word it differently in termination papers and actually call it insubordination or some other BS. The Op should have digitally documented the failures on his phone for reference. And i as well feel that a call to the department of transportation  is in order.
Reply:TITLE OF THREAD: "fired for having a concious (sp)"You got fired for being awake?