Uppo, sorry for the late reply, haven't been around for a bit.

There are non-union companies, and union companies. There is no "law" that any company or mechanic "has" to be union. Generally, the global players are union signatory, as are some of the smaller independant companies, of which we are one. In Los Angeles, I think there are about 20 smaller non-union companies about town. Generally, they don't do new construction, because of the extremely long lead time it takes to get paid for the work, after it has been performed, and also the deep credit line needed to finance the parts and labor, while waiting for payment. The major companies obtain their parts cheaper, since they manufacture their own equipment. So a smaller company has a rough time quoting a competitive price on new construction. These factors have created an environment, where new construction is largely done by the majors.

In California, we have what is called CCCM, and CCCC. "Certified Competent Conveyance Mechanic, and Certified Competent Conveyance Company". Before you can be certified, you must first pass the mechanic's test, after about 4 years of schooling, which course study materials are put together by NEI, Nat'l Elev Industry Education Program. As far as I can tell, these certifications mean almost nothing, because one of my former employees obtained both these certifications, (after failing the mechanic's exam, once, or was it twice?) and he was dumb as a box of rocks. Had the "Mark of the Czar" on him, which is utter stupidity. He would shear off bolts with a torque wrench, then blame our company, because "He wasn't trained properly". Ain't that some sh*t. Couldn't find his arse with both hands, completely unsuited to mechanical work of any sort, but places the blame on the company when he fk's something up. Actually, when he sheared those escalator brake bolts off, he was supossed to be waiting safely for a big socket that was on its way, to check the brake torque, but he saw some smaller bolts, and thought he'd have a go. But I digress...Anyway, that's a bit on CCCM, and CCCC.

You have to be signed up at the union, to work at a signatory company. Since you need to take a State recognized Elevator Mechanic's Course, and since the NEI course, (administered by the Union), is the only State recognized course, I don't see how non-union companies can get their employees certified CCCM. But I think there may be an independant course, possibly recognized by the State, for non-union companies.

thanks vic for the info. im just interested how everyhting works over there as weve been told wages are very high(here is at about base rate 65k) and we are in one of the top occupations in the us. not sure if this is true. dont worry about the bloke who is clueless as weve had discussions about this as well. just cos you passed a minimal test doesnt make you smart, just book retentive. i knew a newly crowned mechanic who was working at the rialto building(which at the time was the tallest building in aus)with a guy who was told to replace the fluoro tubes in the sky rise m/room. at lunch told the lead mechanic yep its all done. we got a call later that day and half the fluoro's were still out and was asked about it and he said 'all you aked me to do was change the tubes!!' this guy was an a grade sparky and lift mechanic. go figure!!

So I take it that the ballasts were burned out?

"All you told me to do was change the tubes..." I wouldn't keep a guy like that for 5 minutes. Used to put up with crap before, not anymore. Too costly.

Our union is called the "International Union of Elevator Constructors", which in effect means Canada, and the USA. IDK about now, but in times past, our wages were calculated as an average of the top wages of the three highest paid wages in other building trades. Say, if sprinkler fitters, plumbers and electricians were the top three trades for wages, then our wages would be an average of those three. Each Local jurisdiction has their own wage rate. I think San Francisco (Local 8) is the highest paid nationwide, allegedly because they have the highest cost of living, including housing costs. I'm not sure that's really true, because Los Angeles and Orange County, (Local 18, just south of LA), has similar housing costs. One of my mechanics made about $120,000 US last year, with just a bit of overtime callbacks.

In 2001, my worst year financially, we had 17 union field employees, (8 crews, and an extra helper), and we had three jobs all over $1 million contract size, all going on simulataneously, as well as many smaller jobs, yet I didn't even make mechanics' wages! I was working my ass off! The more people you have, the less productivity you have, and the more losses due to late show-ups, going home early, inability to solve issues, poor workmanship, lost parts, etc. Plus, I used to get the bench warmers from the hall, who often got laid off their last company, because of their poor behaviour issues. Now we have a much better trained core of good employees, just 4 in the field at the moment, but the profit margin is much better. Our gross is less, but the net is a higher percentage of the gross, than it was before. People come in on time, get to the task at hand, consider it their pride to solve issues when they can, take care of the company tools, etc. So I work less now, and make more, relatively speaking. So there is sort of this invisible line, where if you cross it, and want to get big, you have to lift yourself up by your bootstraps to manage the higher workload, or alternatively, you can stay smaller, and make almost as much money. This is likely why most independants don't get really big. Their owners only have so much energy they can apply to the business in a 24 hour day.

I think Local 1, New York City, is an electricians' union, or maybe it's Local 2, idk, but one of those early union locals there in NYC were electricians. IDK if that's even true anymore, but at least at one time, they were. That sounds similar to Australia in that regard. But nationwide, in all other Locals, we are just elevator mechanics, with no electricians' license.

cheers vic, yes it was the ballasts but it was funny as the lead mechanic was a little indian guy(who was a otis freak. he knew 401's backwards and could strip a selector blindfolded!) and he went off his tree! he said 'so if the globes didnt fix didnt you think to keep going to find the fault. how are you going to fix a lift if you think like that!'

you sound a lot like our company. alot of companies over here have gone down bc they have got to big too fast. we have 7 service rounds with about 90 units on each plus we install spanish lifts to about 50 a year with about 30 blokes on contruction.

Hey Vic... Just to clear up the confusion
Local 1 is part of the IUEC
Local 3 is IBEW and has an Elevator division

Thanks! I grew up in Poughkeepsie, but didn't get into the trade until much later in California. Thanks for clearing that up.

Wow, 30 blokes...That's bigger than we've ever been. The best new package we ever installed, was the Otis LVM 2500, but I can't obtain it anymore. That package went in like a hot knife through butter. So complete, so well designed. Now I've gotta go back to other supply chains, where parts are wrong, or missing, and they have typically an unresponsive engineering staff, etc. Good suppliers are hard to find.

vic thats interseting. does this mean that any company can install any product via sub contractors? the way it is here is you buy directly from the company and they install it, ie otis, kone etc etc. only when the company is not here do you have not the direct co do the install. the reason is you want the service contract afterwards as this is where the cash is.
this is the way we do. we install spanish type macpuarsa lifts.

ps those 30 blokes on constuction are mostly made up of fitters and ta's with about 4/5 electricians/ lift mechanics. i think over there you guys do everything while here there is a demarcation between the mechanical and electricial trades.

I PM'd you some stuff on that

Still need a wiring diagram?

Regards,

Jim

you need to check if C switch is picked, thats the safety switch

The Elevator Division in IBEW Local 3 is called the EE Division(Stepchildren Division).(From A Former Stepchild).

Talk about the company, try being squeezed financially by the boys when your elevator is down. Thank god for the service techs in the trenches. Never sell out for money.

Major elevator go back to the basement door. Problems are reoccurring. If not at least the basement door is good to go.