Is the grass greener??

Sheesh!!!!  Let me tell you, to start, the grass is NOT always greener on the other side!!!  Why is that lesson so hard to learn???

So...my husband is a union electrician.  He loves his job!  Great money, great benefits too...as long as he is working!!  He has been laid off and on for about 2 years now.  I'd say he has worked about 9 months out of that time.  In the union, it doesn't mean you aren't good if you aren't working.  It means you had bad luck & got on with a company that doesn't have enough work to keep you busy, or that you worked with dishonest guys that wanted you to give up your integrity & lie (that's a whole other story).  Anyway, Joe  has been applying for jobs outside of the union.  He is so not a lazy guy & loves to be busy.  He is the guy that hates when he isn't able to really provide.  It sure ain't for lack of trying though.

So, he finally gets a call back from a coal powered power plant.  The sticky part is that it is union as well, but a different union.  That means he has to change from one to the other.  He was pretty hesitant when he heard that, but found out he could get back in to his original union one time.  He went ahead and went for the interview, physical, etc.  He never really had a great feeling about the new job, but thought he needed to do it.  In the mean time he was working for a great electrical company.  The new job did mean a large pay cut, but if he would work for the entire year it was MUCH better at year end...kwim??  

This past Monday started orientation for Joe.  He was an hour and a half from home, in Joliet, IL.  He hated every minute of being gone (such a huge family guy---love that about him).  Anyway, on the 2nd day of orientation he had to switch from one union to the other.  He gave the guy his card and was told that within the next 3 months he would likely get another $7 per hour pay cut.  Ummm...NO!!!  Like I said, he was already taking  a huge cut to begin with, but another $7, we could not afford.  Honestly, unemployment would work out to more money because we wouldn't have to pay for a babysitter.  UGH!!  I hate to have that kind of outlook, but how can you not.  Even though his offer letter told him the one amount, the union would be able to come in and over ride that.  Sorry, not okay in my book...or Joe's either!!  He was sick, literally, over this.  He left a job he loved, even though it wasn't consistent, for this?!  Talk about disgusted, both of us. 

Monday evening the kids and I went to stay at the hotel with him. We stayed until Tuesday night since I had to work Wednesday.  Anyway, we were there when he got out of orientation.  We did a lot of talking.  I told him that I thought he should call his old boss, eat his pride, and ask for his job back.  He agreed, but called his dad to get his opinion and his brothers, as well.  His brothers are all union electricians and his dad worked for Com-Ed (big power company in our area).  They all agreed that he should try to get his old job back.  We all kind of felt like "if they will take salary away, after a certain amount was promised, what else will they do?" 

Wednesday morning Joe called his old boss, his response was "Hell yeah you can come back!"  Then he had to call the BA of the union (basically the rule enforcer,boss, sort of guy).  He told Joe that since he never gave up his card he never really left so he could come back!  Needless to say, Joe was thrilled.  Not just to have his job back, but that they are excited to have him back!!!  That means, if there is work, they will keep Joe working.  YAY!!! 

So, if I can give you any advice...the grass ain't always greener!!!!  Pray for my hubby to have peace of mind, would ya?  Sorry this was so long, but I had to share my "mostly" good news!!!