I work for a boat company in Louisiana and work the standard 28 on 14 off schedule. And like most others I am paid a daily rate which is standard in this industry. However on the days I come to work I am required to report to my office before being transported to my vessel or heliport in a company vehicle. Unless our company vehicle leaves the office before a certain time early in the morning we are only paid for a half day regardless of what time we arrive at the boat or how many hours we work that day and if we don’t leave the office until later in the evening we get no pay for the day at all regardless what time we arrive or how many hours we work. When we get off the boat to go home it’s pretty much the same. If we arrive at the office too early in the morning we are paid nothing and it’s only a half days pay unless we arrive later in the evening. I don’t see how they can be allowed to legally do this especially when they do not compensate me when I work over my required 12 hour shift. I just don’t understand how they can have it both ways to their advantage.
I would quit if I was you. Stick it to the man.
That’s some bullshit. I would go show up and walk. Put them In a bind if the boat can’t sail?
If you quit post the name of the outfit here in case a member/reader of this forum is looking for work.
As my wife has pointed out to me a few times, if you quit you won’t have a job.
This is standard operating procedure here in the gulf. Always has been and always will be, be happy you have a job. Or, go back north.
We’ve been fighting this for years. It’s pretty much the industry standard down here. Maybe someday it’ll change. Gotta get rid of the… “But that’s how we did it back in the 70’s” mentality that too many of the managers and owners have.It’ll take guys quitting and more importantly: telling the OWNERS Why they’re quitting to get any meaningful changes down here. As long as there are a pile of new guys looking for jobs of any kind down here, I’m not hopeful.
Wetback is right. You just need to learn how to work the system. Proper planning of your crew change and you can put the favor on your check. I always tried to get it like this. You either get a full day coming or a full day going. Leave the office before 0600 so the crew coming gets a full day and the crew going gets a half a day or leave the office before 1800 so the crew coming gets half a day and the crew going gets a full day.
I wouldn’t waste time worrying about if it is legal or not. Evidently it is, because many of the companies do it. Sometimes you have to pick your battles. Sometimes even if you win some battles you may end up the loser.
[QUOTE=wetback;114246]This is standard operating procedure here in the gulf. Always has been and always will be, be happy you have a job. Or, go back north.[/QUOTE]
BULLSHIT! It is exactly that kind of caving in that allows these good ole boy operators to keep getting away with this CRAP!
NO BILGE DOG…DON’T BE HAPPY!
And what the FUCK does the North have to do with any of this anyway? Don’t southern mariners deserve a fair shake from Joe Boss? FUCK THIS SHIT!
[QUOTE=Capt. Lee;114249]I wouldn’t waste time worrying about if it is legal or not. Evidently it is, because many of the companies do it. Sometimes you have to pick your battles. Sometimes even if you win some battles you may end up the loser.[/QUOTE]
Of course it is legal…Lousyana has the most worker unfriendly employment law in the entire country. There is no way to fight his in any court or with the USCG. Since everybody refuses to ever discuss the dreaded “U word” then you can only fight this BS by voting with your feet!
[QUOTE=Bilge Dog;114162]I work for a boat company in Louisiana and work the standard 28 on 14 off schedule. And like most others I am paid a daily rate which is standard in this industry. However on the days I come to work I am required to report to my office before being transported to my vessel or heliport in a company vehicle. Unless our company vehicle leaves the office before a certain time early in the morning we are only paid for a half day regardless of what time we arrive at the boat or how many hours we work that day and if we don’t leave the office until later in the evening we get no pay for the day at all regardless what time we arrive or how many hours we work. When we get off the boat to go home it’s pretty much the same. If we arrive at the office too early in the morning we are paid nothing and it’s only a half days pay unless we arrive later in the evening. I don’t see how they can be allowed to legally do this especially when they do not compensate me when I work over my required 12 hour shift. I just don’t understand how they can have it both ways to their advantage.[/QUOTE]
the short answer to your question is…yep!
[QUOTE=c.captain;114253] then you can only fight this BS by voting with your feet![/QUOTE]
You couldn’t have put it any better. We live in a free country and you can choose to work for who you want. But I am telling you this is SOP. Every company will have something, love it or leave it.
No where is perfect, and there is no workers paradise. Especially a floating one.
Yeah go back north…north of I-10 lol
[QUOTE=c.captain;114253]BULLSHIT! It is exactly that kind of caving in that allows these good ole boy operators to keep getting away with this CRAP!
NO BILGE DOG…DON’T BE HAPPY!
And what the FUCK does the North have to do with any of this anyway? Don’t southern mariners deserve a fair shake from Joe Boss? FUCK THIS SHIT!
Of course it is legal…Lousyana has the most worker unfriendly employment law in the entire country. There is no way to fight his in any court or with the USCG. Since everybody refuses to ever discuss the dreaded “U word” then you can only fight this BS by voting with your feet![/QUOTE]
Only a northerner would complain about this, because everyone from here already knows this… Chill man!
Why don’t you fight it? Sounds like you’ve already lost the battle with that kind of attitude. If you even choose to fight…
Unionize, and then that half day’s pay will go to the Union thugs instead of the Company. . . . .
[QUOTE=cmakin;114290]Unionize, and then that half day’s pay will go to the Union thugs instead of the Company. . . . .[/QUOTE]
Yes, they both suck but the question is which is worse?
[QUOTE=c.captain;114291]Yes, they both suck but the question is which is worse?[/QUOTE]
Agreed, better a thug then a lackey.
Depends on the “union” in question and the company in question.
[QUOTE=wetback;114266]Only a northerner would complain about this, because everyone from here already knows this… Chill man![/QUOTE]
so that is about the same to me as saying that Joe Boss has been forcefeeding us southerners shit for decades so it’s ok because we’re used to it and you Yankees need to eat the same shit as well so we all are eating it alike. BULLSHIT when Joe Boss is worth hundreds of millions (if not billions) of dollars! I won’t name names but they have initials GC, SG, OC(jr), TH, CF et all!
I don’t understand what the fuss is about. You are upset because you only get paid a half a day’s patty when you go to work even though you work a full shift (noon - midnight)? Cry me a river. Are you offering to give back the money you get for the day you leave and don’t work at all that day? The reason the system is fair is because it all equalizes out in the end.