Frustrated and ticked off

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January last, I worked at a local fab plant, and thought I had it going well. The first week, I was given some minor instruction on the welds. The second week, 3 different supervisors look at my welds, and walk away without saying anything.The following week, I am transferred to the paint shop to bead blast in preparation for painting, because my welds are not good enough.After literally 30 or 40 seconds of 'training' I am set to blasting.  It is not welding, but it is still the same wage, so I am resigned to it.  3rd day, I am reamed by the paint shop supervisor because I did not clean off the pipe dope, and it ruined the paint job. Guess what was not covered in the half minute of training?But I swallowed it, and kept going. The next week, I was fired because apparently I wasnt good enough at that, either.  No clear communication was ever given to me as to exactly what their problem with me was, and I communicated my displeasure with this to the HR supervisor on my way out.Fast forward 14 months, and the instructor at the local weld school told me to go back, there had been a complete management change, and go talk to so and so. Said they've hired 6 students from the same program I went through, and they are 'hurting for welders'. Said they were paying $14 - $16 an hour to start, and $18 once you passed their metal core test.  In addition to this, my co-ordinator with the State Office of Rehabilitation indicated to me that the State would pay for on the job training, essentially paying half my wage for 3 months. With this, I figured getting a position would be a sure thing. I might mention, I am D1.1 certified in Flux Core, unlimited.So, I go in, and no one has ever heard of so and so. Instead, I meet with a new HR guy, whose secretary I remembered from before. She said there had been no management change at all, and sure enough, I was flat refused a weld test by my previous supervisor, who merely said 'It wasn't working out' the year prior.WTH does that mean? When 3 different supervisors look at my welds and say nothing, that tells me the welds are satisfactory. If it isn't, why don't they tell me so? This severely aggravates me, as I have no idea what I did wrong. I have nothing I can take away and say, I need to improve on this, and this. Based upon a lifetime of employment experience I am forced to conclude that he just didn't like dealing with someone who is deaf.Is this (complete and utter lack of communication) a common problem in the industry?  Am I REALLY going to have to save enough money to start my own business from the bottom end of retail?  I will do it if I have to, and weld small projects to sell on the side until then, but it will take me 5 years to do what I could have done in a single year. And that, frankly, *&)(&*_) me the )(U&* off.MillerMatic 252Miller Xtreme 625Miller Digital Elite
Reply:I wont jump into a business head first, but it's going to cost me $20K to build my first unit, and at less than $10 an hour working retail, well, don't hold your breath. I'll get there. Just really aggravates me, because even just a couple dollars an hour extra shaves years off the schedule.MillerMatic 252Miller Xtreme 625Miller Digital Elite
Reply:Move on, and don't look back. I got fired twice in my career. One time I told the superintendent he was dumber than a box of f_ _ king rocks. The other time, I called the hall because another craft was doing our work. I've quit more jobs than most people have ever had. I quit 3-jobs in one week. 13-jobs one year. For several years my wife had no idea who I was working for!In this line of work, jobs come and they go. Now go find another one!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:The company that fired me for causing union problems, told me I'd never work for them again! I replied I don't give a f _ _k, I never heard of this chicken $hit outfit before this job! Funny thing, they called me back on 4-other jobs. Didn't like my attitude, but loved my work! 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:Originally Posted by 7A749Hell yeah man.I've been fired from more jobs than I've quit. A couple times it was lock stock & barrel my own fault, a couple of times I just got thrown under the bus. It happens. That's just the way it is.Good advice. Just move on & keep looking.If they fired dude for an ambiguous reason & 14 months later, management hasn't changed, it's doubtful their management practices have either. Screw them. You always have to have self respect first.IMHO of course
Reply:Originally Posted by Suitcasedrag up
Reply:I had a guy working for me that said , I quit and get my partners check too !
Reply:Originally Posted by DaeyelI wont jump into a business head first, but it's going to cost me $20K to build my first unit, and at less than $10 an hour working retail, well, don't hold your breath. I'll get there. Just really aggravates me, because even just a couple dollars an hour extra shaves years off the schedule.
Reply:What part of the country are you in? I take it it's not very big on ASL. I worked with a deaf guy for a little over a year and at first the company didn't like it. Once i got to learn some sign me and him could run circles around the other guys. Eventually the company caught on and realized how good of a hand he was. It was a learning process for them. If you go to work for a company find that guy that is willing to learn to talk to you with out the scratch pad. 9 times out of 10 there will be at least one. This whole welding trade is all about networking and I'm sure you can find a guy that is as willing to learn sign as i was. It may take time but it will happen. Send me a PM if you want as i do have some insight on this subject.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPThat saying completely slipped my mind until reading your post. I worked for a guy for years, he told me one time he drug up because the boss called him by his last name.
Reply:Originally Posted by BurpeeHere's your " business". Run with it.
Reply:Originally Posted by BurpeeBolechit. Listen upBuild these and take them to a lumber yard to sell on commission. CASH ONLY. ( If there are any lumber yards in the nation of corporate slaves and cheapskate meatheads).Make THESE.I know in the land of lies there is no 2 x 6 that is either 2 " or 6 " so you'll have to measure the garbage to come up with a measurement.Here's your " business". Run with it.
Reply:I have learned that when you weld for a living, you must be sure you make every weld you make is as perfect as you possibly can. Regardless of what crappy position your in or what junk your welding on. It has to be visually nice, clean and sound. Not to discredit you or cut you down but, the company your working for, when they are only paying $14-$16 hr. It's hard to expect professional work at those low wages. You see this in a lot of places these days. They want you to have all the certs, they expect professional work and results, but are only willing to pay peanuts. Time to move on.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:We have a welder who is deaf. ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST SAFE WORKERS I HAVE EVER SEEN! I learned some ASL and and we can work circles around the others. Hang in the man there will be more jobs. Keep your chin up
Reply:No offense D', but I'm glad your going through this situation.Remember these 3 things:1. If it was easy, everybody'd be doing it.2. A calm sea never made a good sailor.3. You were looking for a job when you found that one. Best of luck.Besides, you didn't really wanna work for those a'holes anyways, did you?Sent from my XT907 using TapatalkLincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:I never was fired from a job...I would quit then and there if it was coming down to it....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:Poor communication is, unfortunately, very common.   As for people not saying anything to you, well, they know better than to cause a ruckus.  They handle it the "safe" way (for them.)Consider that if this is the way the company is, you really don't want to work there.Of course, some of it may have been their expectations when they hired you.   Perhaps they were expecting an expert level worker who didn't need training or supervision.
Reply:If you are a deaf person, and you think you may have been discriminated against because of that, you probably should file a complaint with your state department of employment or other appropriate department to the effect that you think your deafness may have been a factor in being let go after getting shuffled around like that.Your aim in the complaint should be to force that company to provide an explicit summary of why you were terminated.  If it comes down to the fact that there was a communication issue between hearing people and deaf people on the job, I believe it is the employer's responsibility to accommodate and adapt procedures so as not to discriminate against a deaf person.  I'm not sure how the labor laws and ADA laws about various physical conditions that fall under ADA, but I want to believe that deafness can only be used as a reason for denying employment if the job itself exposes the deaf person to risks, endangerment, or hazards that a hearing person would not be exposed to.  I don't believe that simply having trouble communicating between deaf and hearing persons is a valid reason for denying an otherwise qualified person from holding the job.
Reply:I agree walker, and I am not averse to filing a complaint hjust to get the State board of Labor crawling up their butts and making them squirm. Think I will file the complaint this weekend.And when I do start my business, I intend to hire ONLY the deaf. I've met far too many fellow deafies over the years who could not sustain employment through no fault of their own.  As for myself, I've had some 30 odd jobs in my lifetime. Only about 5 or 6 lasted longer than 3 months. It IS a reality I face, and a major inhibitor in a job search.  Seeking a new job every 3 months ruined my life and credit in an earlier incarnation, and instilled a healthy case of the job search heebie jeebies.I can't wait to work for myself, and never need to rely on the patience and understanding of another person for a paycheck.Even now, working retail, I am constantly fearful and wondering when the axe will fall.  It is a hell of an anxiety to live with. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.Soon, I'll be able to afford to buy a tank of gas to go with my welder, and I will be off an running. I'll start with some of the cool items I see here in the welding project pages, such as the pirate chest, and flower containers. The quick and easy sawhorses look like a good idea too, but how much weight can they hold?Thanks for the support, I'm going to get there, just a little more slowly than I'd hoped.MillerMatic 252Miller Xtreme 625Miller Digital Elite
Reply:Daeyel have you ever thought about going to work in a can plant? I worked in Kaiser aluminum can plant in the early 1970's. We could not carry on a conversation out in the plant. Had to go in the lunch room to talk to each other. Just a thought. Hard for me to imagine the obstacles you have by not being able to hear. 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:Don't set your convictions to hire "only the deaf".Doing so simply identifies you as a person who also has some bias issues.Best that your thoughts on employment standards be based on the individual and their talents.If you find folks who hear but also are fluent in Amsign, so much the better as your business will need to be able to interact with the hearing public as well as your own need to interact with your employees.Your aims as a potential employer should reflect the knowledge and experience you have gained so far in life, but should not be a vendetta against hearing folks. Your aim should be to make certain nobody working for you is ever discriminated against because of a "perceived" disability.  I personally dislike the word "disability" because by its very definition implies that the person is somehow "less able" and from what I have seen in my 63 years is that is seldom true of an individual.There were twin brothers in a class ahead of me when I went through an automotive mechanics trade school back in 1970. These twins were blind from birth.  They made sighted students look like hopeless idiots when it came to the hands on shop work lessons.  I swear they could "see" with their finger tips.Then a bit later in life I knew a blind man who worked for the State of Tennessee as a mechanic in the TDOT motor pool shop.  Same story with him, nothing he could not do except drive a vehicle himself.  My wife's family was how I knew the guy.  My wife told me that the man asked his next door neighbor to help him trim some trees around his house.  His neighbor argued with him about who was going to climb the ladder and cut the limbs with a gas powered chain saw, and the neighbor insisted that he was going to climb the ladder and operate the saw.  The blind man said "Hell no, you are staying on the ground and drag the limbs out of the way. You can see the limbs falling but I can't."  And that was the end of the argument.Last edited by walkerweld; 04-04-2014 at 01:36 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by Burpee