My guys getting a taste of life as union dock workers, they will appreciate college in the fall.
They graduate here in few weeks from high school they both have been cyber schooling this last marking period. Yet this was their idea to leave grocery store and take jobs on Union freight dock at a break bulk, last week they both trained this week they are on their own.
And these two 19 and 18 walked into a bid no two hour work call like the old days always by the phone. Reason that the company they can’t find workers who want to this type of work.
So it’s not bad bid for guys with no seniority as in 04:00 start Tuesday through Saturday they both chose same bid they had 11 slots for this 04:00 start and the last two days they have been forced on two hours overtime. Any time after eight is time half and over 40 hours.
I just got in from Queens on my buster brown shift and sitting at the bar having coffee I smiled. Listening to Jake and Elwood complaining sure hope we get out at noon today instead of 14:00. Sure as shit don’t want to do this for next 30 years, yep they will really appreciate university come fall. I tell them bank your cash plan is that I’m writing the checks for tuition.
I do not give them the speech well in my day when I started as dock man for Preston 151 in 87 freight was terrible a lot of floor and hands on today most of it is on skids. Shit that’s why I took Preston up on the chance to get my chauffeur licenses back then to drive truck get off the dock.
Yea lots of bitching this morning as they packed their lunches for today. I love it because these two will really appreciate college come fall as they walked out I hugged them. Told them have good day don’t fork no trailers or hazmat drums or totes full of liquid don’t break any freight Dad humor.
And here is something I find hilarious so I bought this 2001 Corolla to commute I’m now at different terminal for ups and my commute is 50 miles each way. These two commute maybe 70 miles round trip yet they both have gas guzzlers a 4 runner and a pathfinder. So I been driving a Jetta I just bought actually jetta is more comfortable with leg room so it worked out.
And I smiled watching a six foot four 245 in weight and Six foot two 230 in weight yea they lift body build my fellas climb into the Toyota and headed out they needed to get fuel so they left earlier. I come in six foot 140 in weight. So I just text them saying I don’t think you are getting the same gas mileage at around 35 mpg cuz the Toyota is hauling 475 pounds of meat I got no response.
I love them. 
= new reply since forum marked as read
I too am union with over 30 years seniority. Also, I remember my son when he was around the age of your two sons.
Like me, he was a knucklehead and naive about the world and made a few mistakes. A couple of decades later, he's doing very well and has two sons who will be teenagers soon. They'll probably make a few dumb decisions, also. But that's how we learn in life to appreciate good things and the need to plan and work hard to get them.
Best of luck to your sons with their summer gigs and with their college educations. You are right, having to bust their asses and be responsible at their age will prepare them well for the rigors of earning a degree.
Thanks for sharing your story!
That’s some world-class Dad Mojo you’ve got going on there. World class.
🕊thatcrowwoman
Will become fine young men, they already have a great start!
Go Dad! 
Made my oldest go back to college. No way am I doing this forever he said.
It doesn’t hurt to experience as many different aspects of work as possible and you do a fantastic job keeping them on track, Pup. Hats off to you and your hard working gang 
