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___ongo___gablogian t1_j1bou1d wrote

They get paid extremely well for their efforts in these scenarios

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Stoicdadman t1_j1bqptc wrote

Yes, but they still do it. I couldn't imagine missing a Christmas with my kids. I am always appreciative of those who do because they have chosen to serve in one form or another. In these situations, utility crews are just as important as any other emergency response, especially when it's going to drop to 15 deg after the storm passes.

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COLURER t1_j1bya7v wrote

I do not understand why you’re being downvoted for this

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CaptnProlapse t1_j1c39c0 wrote

There's a weird culture with this kind of shit.

They're missing Christmas with their families.

Yeah, but they're getting 45 dollars an hour to do it.

Oh, well, I guess seeing your daughter open her presents doesn't matter. You made a whole bunch of money.

No one willingly takes Christmas or Thanksgiving shifts. They get stuck working them.

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DKdeeks t1_j1cowlp wrote

Much more than $45 a hour

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follysurfer t1_j1d93bo wrote

No it’s no much more. My brother in law is a line man out there. They work incredibly hard and very long shifts.

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FitNefariousness5627 t1_j1dgkj3 wrote

45 an hour is our straight time. Storm duty is double time and holiday pay is double time plus holiday pay, so around 150.00 an hour. I retired from grid before peoples took over as a lineman here in RI.

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follysurfer t1_j1dj1fh wrote

That’s not true anymore. He gets 1.5 times for tomorrow abs double on Xmas.

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FitNefariousness5627 t1_j1e7733 wrote

So I guess the contract from 2021 that goes for 4 years is no longer the contract? He gets double time for Christmas plus the flat rate holiday pay and Christmas eve is a holiday as well. The UWUA took Christmas eve as a holiday while the steelworkers took the day after Thanksgiving. If he is not getting this he needs to get in touch with Phil. Any Sunday worked is 1.5 times and overtime on any Sunday is double time. If his rate is only 30 per hour he is not at the top of the rate or not a lineman

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follysurfer t1_j1eadpm wrote

Honestly don’t know. When you responded, I call him. He just said that it’s 1.5 today and sat and double on Xmas. He may be bullshitting me. But he’s usually straight up. Or maybe he just doesn’t pay that close attention. I do know he’s on duty because my sister is annoyed. Lol.

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FitNefariousness5627 t1_j1ecafy wrote

He is right but it is what he is getting paid for time "worked" he also gets the holiday pay of (8 hours straight time) that everyone else that is off today gets. I worked every Christmas and Thanksgiving for 20 years. I never got to wake up with my daughters on Christmas morning for 20 years, no matter how much you make missing those holidays with family is not worth it.

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Educational_Leg36 t1_j1dudx9 wrote

Not really. Not many were there actually sacrificing family time. Most of us willingly took holidays because pay is good

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Proof-Variation7005 t1_j1dwtmq wrote

Plenty of people willing take holiday shifts. It's good money. Not everyone has kids or even family.

Also it's December 23rd right now. December 24th is not projected to have any inclement weather beyond being cold. I think we can maybe wait and see if anyone actually misses present opening before assuming that's a given?

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bunnybates t1_j1dey27 wrote

They're incredible people. They are willing to do a dangerous job. But, not everyone celebrates Christmas and / or has children.

I work as a server, and I remember when I used to work at a 24 breakfast restaurant, and these guys would come in. Most of them were from out of state. It was awesome to talk to them.

I always worked Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings because it was financially beneficial for me and my family. The current jobs I have now They're both closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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smokejaguar t1_j1cjlu7 wrote

>I couldn't imagine missing a Christmas with my kids.

I'm in that boat right now, and it suuuuuuuucks.

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Educational_Leg36 t1_j1dtujz wrote

Most of these guys are young and don't have kids. We had a couple of foreman and line men but most are just young regular arborists/laborers, especially the ones that traveled. The guys that are local just rotate, Christmas eve and half Christmas day and the other half was Christmas day and the 26th.

Also most of us who do sign up for winter ops don't care. I've done both plowing and tree cutting during holiday storms and nobody was making a sacrifice. Everyone was generally excited as the pay was too good to pass up. Again only a couple of guys who really wanted to go home and they did so after a few hours.

I kinda get why people think it's a huge sacrifice but again pay was good and anyone who was actually "sacrificing" actual bonding time with their families went home🤷‍♂️

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ReggeMtyouN t1_j1dcz6k wrote

As they should

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Ryfhoff t1_j1fbcm9 wrote

I agree. My brother is a lineman and he essentially risks his life almost on a daily basis. The phrase they use “it’s a pencil without an eraser”. He has seen some terrible things happen to his co workers and misses many nights with his family. As others as saying, they do get paid well for times likes this especially, and they should.

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[deleted] t1_j1cc1di wrote

[deleted]

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Dopey-NipNips t1_j1ctyfr wrote

They don't care because what are you gonna do about it, boycott electricity?

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Sodomy_Clown t1_j1bq4vi wrote

If only we had a way to compensate them?!

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CaptnProlapse t1_j1c3qiw wrote

Sure, they get paid. But they're so missing Christmas.

You know a lot of these people get stuck with these shifts.

My boy Nick worked for Public Works for a long time.
He didn't have family, so he took these shifts because he could help. He also took coffees and donuts to he dudes who were stuck missing their families.

Maybe think past the dollar signs and think about the dad or mom who can't see their kid opening three presents they worked hard to pay for.

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AttackonRetail t1_j1c5j2g wrote

I hear you, but there are a lot of folks who have to work. I'd rather go out of my way to show appreciation to someone underpaid stuck in a job (not career) to pay the bills.

I'm not saying we shouldn't care any less for utility/emergency workers/etc. Just pointing out where I like to focus my attention... on Retail workers, customer service gigs etc. To each their own.

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CaptnProlapse t1_j1c69cj wrote

They get stuck working these shifts. What part of that don't you understand?

You wanna honor people who have to work, give your Dunkin worker 100 bucks when you get your iced extra extra Christmas day.

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AttackonRetail t1_j1c7ug9 wrote

Pretty sure I articulated my point. There is a big difference between entry-level 60k (before OT) utility workers and someone making minimum server wage in RI (remember that's still 4 bucks per hour).

Like I said, I'm less inclined to feel bad for that particular group of workers. That doesn't mean I don't feel bad. I could just as easily call YOU or OP out and ask why you didn't mention retail workers in your defensive rant. What makes these people better than everyone else?

But I didn't.

I work the holiday. Sure, I'd love to be home, but my family adjusted a long time ago. Also, I don't frequent retail on holidays to spoil their bottom line.

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MargaretDumont t1_j1cenky wrote

One of the things that keeps everybody down is making a lot out of the relatively small differences between working class people instead of focusing on the fact that they're all getting shit on together. Fighting over the crumbs while the rich are running away with the entire fucking cake.

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Ijustlookedthatup t1_j1d17oe wrote

So is every cop and paramedic out there. People aren’t happy with that company and this kinda feels like propaganda haha

Edit: just to piggyback they can get near $200/hr while your local paramedics are making a fraction of that (~$22/hr for 911) and working every holiday/birthday/funeral, you name it. We need to reprioritize our system.

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drewbooooo t1_j1fqcxm wrote

Tbf, I’m a firefighter emt in the state and I’m forced to work tonight, like I can’t leave and am held against my will. Jobs gotta run but I’m making about $35/hr tonight- ot rate.

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Ijustlookedthatup t1_j1fqxkq wrote

$35/hr for an EMT/firefighter isn’t bad. I don’t believe an experienced ALS provider should make less than $40/hr regular(at the medic level).

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[deleted] t1_j1geog9 wrote

Unless you’re a prisoner of the state you’re not being held against your will

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drewbooooo t1_j1ggpf8 wrote

I mean no one will physically restrain me from leaving work but if I did leave I would be placed on leave and then fired. Also could be held legally accountable for my actions.

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Studio_Lovin t1_j1ce0tn wrote

Doesn’t matter they’re choice and sometime they don’t have anywhere to go so might as well work. Maybe the holidays isn’t for them it’s not for everyone just like myself no kids don’t want to see family so I would prefer to work.

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Locksmith-Pitiful t1_j1d8hw6 wrote

That's so great 😭 truly #inspiring 👍 especially in this crazy 🤪 weather ☃️🌬️

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[deleted] t1_j1dkrld wrote

The sentiment is nice but this looks a bit staged?

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karnim t1_j1eiiow wrote

It is a staging area. They are sitting in wait to fix outages as fast as possible, likely including out-of-state contractors brought in. As power goes out, they'll start rolling.

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riverlilyx t1_j1dekay wrote

Yeah it’s their job

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YodaHead t1_j1dveoj wrote

Very grateful for their work.

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TruthBomb2112 t1_j1e15ym wrote

Sacrificing lol. Give me $100 plus an hour and I'll sacrifice too.!

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milkweed420- t1_j1ezdes wrote

Go apply then

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TruthBomb2112 t1_j1f4xjv wrote

I did my time. I ride a desk as Eversource now ✅

Thanks for playing. 🤡

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unhpian t1_j1biu26 wrote

Where are they from? Canada?

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WeatherInRI OP t1_j1bo9es wrote

Saw quite a few Pennsylvania plates 👀 I’ve seen Canada plates during other storms 🇨🇦 Happy to have them here ❤️💚

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coolstoryglenn t1_j1bs684 wrote

Pennsylvania Power and Light owns RI Energy, so as one would expect.

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tads73 t1_j1duljw wrote

I saw similar situation at hotel off 195 in Seekonk.

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