July 2, 2009
The Vacation Fund
We had a short discussion about the vacation fund way back in the early days of this site. There are quite a few more visitors coming around these days and the vacation fund came back up again… so I’ve decided to open up the discussion again. Here’s a link to the original discussion http://weare344.com/are-you-prepared-for-a-strike
Back in the day we had a vacation fund. $1 was held out of our check for every hour worked. The employers sent the money to the hall once a month and every 6 months the hall would deposit the money into a bank account for us… money sure came in handy for vacations, Christmas shopping etc, whatever.
Now as most of the older members remember, the vacation fund disappeared one summer, right before the regular deposit time, thanks to a former B/M. This left a sour taste in the mouth for a lot of members.
This is one of two reasons I don’t think this local will ever have another vacation fund. The other reason being I don’t think a majority would ever agree to taking money off the check to start a new fund, regardless of how safe it is made to be.
Now, here’s the deal… as a member of this local, you are also a member of Tinker Federal Credit Union. What that means is, whenever you work for a local contractor, you can choose to have money held out of your check and deposited into an account at TFCU. You choose the amount to be held out. You start it and stop it whenever you want. Nobody else handles the money, it goes straight from the contractor to your account once a month.
I’ve been doing this 3-4 years now… it’s working out great for me. If you’re wanting a vacation fund, this may be an easier path, rather than trying to convince a bunch of plumbers and fitters to take money out their pocket to start a fund that was horribly abused in the past.
Curious to know what you guys think… and gals.
Comments on The Vacation Fund »
That was a well written article there admin. A solution at hand for those who want a vacation fund.
I didn’t know that we was hooked up with tinker federal credit union, the last I heard is that we used the IBEW’s credit union.
I have direct deposit at my bank. I also have a home improvement loan and my savings account at the same bank. last week I logged on and made a payment, today I will log on and transfer some money into savings. I like the convenience of having it all at one place. If I am strapped for cash I wont put any into savings this time. If I have a transmission that needs to be replaced I can get money out of my savings ASAP.
I’m not smart enough to manage my own money so someone else is going to hold it for me? My parents didn’t even try that. I cant even drive anywhere without a seatbelt now because someone is looking out for my best interest.
I agree with admin.I thought at one point a new vacation fund would be good,but I think that if you can have the contracter put in an account for you,with your name on it than that is best. then no one can steal your money but you. If you save it thats your tuff s$!t.
we were part of IBEW credit but my dad told me years ago they merged with TFCU.
so is there any jobs fixin to start up
Talked to a hand at the meeting that said he was waiting on the Dell job. Dell is building a data center by the hall… supposed to work a lot of time on it.
It’s an out of state contractor, not sure who.
Haven’t heard of anything else big, for sure… United probably has the most work right now.
glad to see JJ on this page, work is still slow dell should be taking some fitters soon per what the dispatcher told me. And Tinker should be taking more members also..
glad to see JJ on this page, work is still slow dell should be taking some fitters soon per what the dispatcher told me. And Tinker should be taking more members also..
sorry about the duplicate commit
It is meeting night tonight, hope to make it.But if you don’t see me it means that my farther-in-law past away,He’s been fighting cancer for some time now and is on his last leg.According to the doc death is near.
So admin I would like to see what went on at the meeting here if possible..
Thanks ahead of time for the info…..