I have had no luck getting a job on my own, so I decided to go to school and get some education. I decided on the Paul Hall Center with SIU. I have a ship date in December, so now that I am “in” what should my realistic expectations be? I’m looking at the engineering department so far, but I’m still not 100% sure where I will fit in. SO my question is what is the employment situation like with SIU these days. I’ll be out of the Jacksonville Hall when I complete my trainning. Also do you have any recomendations on what departments have better empleoyment outlook with SIU?
Bump: Still looking for answers for this one.
[QUOTE=gatorzeroone;84007]I have had no luck getting a job on my own, so I decided to go to school and get some education. I decided on the Paul Hall Center with SIU. I have a ship date in December, so now that I am “in” what should my realistic expectations be? I’m looking at the engineering department so far, but I’m still not 100% sure where I will fit in. SO my question is what is the employment situation like with SIU these days. I’ll be out of the Jacksonville Hall when I complete my trainning. Also do you have any recomendations on what departments have better empleoyment outlook with SIU?[/QUOTE]
I don’t know how many SIU members are on here, as far as I know the B books are getting out ok. Seems like you should be able to get good info at the school.
K.C.
[QUOTE=gatorzeroone;84007]I have had no luck getting a job on my own, so I decided to go to school and get some education. I decided on the Paul Hall Center with SIU. I have a ship date in December, so now that I am “in” what should my realistic expectations be? I’m looking at the engineering department so far, but I’m still not 100% sure where I will fit in. SO my question is what is the employment situation like with SIU these days. I’ll be out of the Jacksonville Hall when I complete my trainning. Also do you have any recomendations on what departments have better empleoyment outlook with SIU?[/QUOTE]
My cousin just finished the trainee program. He registered for the first time as a B book oiler Monday in Houston. I stopped by the hall for a visit today. I didn’t count the number registered but there were at least 20 A and B books ahead of him. There were at least 3 times as many deck as engine registered. Things seemed to be slow. I didn’t stay for job call. But that’s the way it is…Feast or famine.
[QUOTE=injunear;84524]My cousin just finished the trainee program. He registered for the first time as a B book oiler Monday in Houston. I stopped by the hall for a visit today. I didn’t count the number registered but there were at least 20 A and B books ahead of him. There were at least 3 times as many deck as engine registered. Things seemed to be slow. I didn’t stay for job call. But that’s the way it is…Feast or famine.[/QUOTE]
My info is third (or forth) hand, so I’m not the person to ask but… I carry 6 ABs and 2 oilers so 3 to 1 deck to engine reflects the ratio of jobs. The other thing is not all contracts are created equal, there are jobs lots of guys wouldn’t take. Lastly, two ships having crew change and 10 of those guys will be gone.
Having said all that I am not a good source on the “how’s shipping” question.
K.C.
Thanks for all the info gentlemen. I did ask the school and at the local hall. The school and hall said the wait time is not that long, but its up and down. I’m looking forward to school.
[QUOTE=injunear;84524]My cousin just finished the trainee program. He registered for the first time as a B book oiler Monday in Houston. I stopped by the hall for a visit today. I didn’t count the number registered but there were at least 20 A and B books ahead of him. There were at least 3 times as many deck as engine registered. Things seemed to be slow. I didn’t stay for job call. But that’s the way it is…Feast or famine.[/QUOTE]
So where does one stay while waiting for a job at an SIU hall? Do you have to pay for a hotel?
Back in the day we used to carpool and share rooms. I live in Mobile but the hall here was always slow. You would go broke waiting on an all ports call. If a ship came in for shipyard work the regular crew would reclaim their jobs. We used to register in New Orleans, Houston and Jacksonville at whichever hall was jumping at that time. When our cards got to the top of the list we would get someone who just got home to drive us over and we would share cheap motel rooms. You spend a week with 3 or 4 guys sharing a room until you all got out or it was a bust. Then we either hop a bus home or get the guy that drove you over to come back. It was always hit or miss that’s why I started working mud boats. I wanted a steady paycheck with steady rotation. It was also nice to not have to share my wages with Rocco and Guido anymore.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;84648]Back in the day we used to carpool and share rooms. I live in Mobile but the hall here was always slow. You would go broke waiting on an all ports call. If a ship came in for shipyard work the regular crew would reclaim their jobs. We used to register in New Orleans, Houston and Jacksonville at whichever hall was jumping at that time. When our cards got to the top of the list we would get someone who just got home to drive us over and we would share cheap motel rooms. You spend a week with 3 or 4 guys sharing a room until you all got out or it was a bust. Then we either hop a bus home or get the guy that drove you over to come back. It was always hit or miss that’s why I started working mud boats. I wanted a steady paycheck with steady rotation. It was also nice to not have to share my wages with Rocco and Guido anymore.[/QUOTE]
Having to wait too long could be a problem for me since I live in Mexico. I go to the states to work only and I use my sisters address in Indiana. Would I still be able to go and wait for a job at the SIU hall in Houston since that would be close to me? I’m thinking ahead since I haven’t even started the SIU apprenticeship program yet.
[QUOTE=UltimateMariner;84651]Having to wait too long could be a problem for me since I live in Mexico. I go to the states to work only and I use my sisters address in Indiana. Would I still be able to go and wait for a job at the SIU hall in Houston since that would be close to me? I’m thinking ahead since I haven’t even started the SIU apprenticeship program yet.[/QUOTE]
Why waste time with the SIU? There are oil patch companies operating boats out of the Port Isabel, Corpus, Freeport, and Houston areas. Just go knock on doors and find a steady job within driving distance of you.
[QUOTE=UltimateMariner;84643]So where does one stay while waiting for a job at an SIU hall? Do you have to pay for a hotel?[/QUOTE]
He lives within 30 minutes of the hall.
It’s still a waste of time. I lived 10 minutes from the hall 20 years ago. Based on how many ex SIU people you see working in the GOM I’d say it hasn’t gotten better over the years. It might not be to bad for a single guy but it seems hard scrabble to feed a family now a days.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;84675]It’s still a waste of time. I lived 10 minutes from the hall 20 years ago. Based on how many ex SIU people you see working in the GOM I’d say it hasn’t gotten better over the years. It might not be to bad for a single guy but it seems hard scrabble to feed a family now a days.[/QUOTE]
This is easily explainable.
How many “Standard Freightship” or “Standard Tanker” contracts are left in the SIU? I can’t imagine too many of them.
I shelfed my book with the SIU back in 1998 and the handwriting was clear then. Those “Standard” contracts were going to become extinct in the near future as the union signed contracts with operators that made their earning transporting military cargoes.
SeaLand, Delta Line, Cove Tankers (and a myriad of others) were soon to fade into maritime history as well as those good paying contracts. Man, don’t even get me started on the inland outfits and their contracts.
It’s an SIU almost unrecognizable to me anymore.
Regarding the topic of this thread…
I made a pretty good living off the “All Ports” board. Made some interesting ships, even as a C & B member.
I always said, if you really want to go to work, you will.
No doubt! It was a struggle for me and I was single. If I had been married my family would have starved while I slummed around port to port trying to get out. All ports jobs were few and far between thats why I never relied on the Mobile hall. I was a trainee at Piney Point in 91 and saw the writing on the wall in 95. I got tired of having to hustle a ride or take a bus to one of the I-10 corridor halls to get out. The standard tanker and freighter contracts were getting scarce back then. I was looking for a steady check and found it in the oil field. I was stunned when I found out you could work 14/14. Prior to that it was trip work on MSC ships or 60 day relief jobs. When I showed up at Turdwater I brought enough supplies for 60 days. I was floored when the guy said “the boat we want you on is 14/14 is that ok”?