is it Just me?

**Lifer** · July 16th, 2009, 07:38 PM

This is more than I cared to reveal but for the sake of knowing, here it goes.

I'd sure as heck like to know if USIC employee's at other Districts feel like they also have a black cloud hanging over their district as well?

It's creepy, no ones talking and joking like they used to, what FEW e-mails have been coming out have been very formal and cold.

it's like everyone's on HIGH Alert feeling like anything they say to someone just might get back to others.

all that coupled with the things I've read here, makes this the most afraid I've ever been for my job.

so I was just wondering if there are others of us out there feeling the same way?

**TBONE** · July 16th, 2009, 09:49 PM

Most of what we get is negative rva's and imediate action required USIC is so reactive on their safety and so quick to say what you should have done.

**beyond help** · July 16th, 2009, 10:21 PM

T-Bone's pretty much hit it on the head. It's not as laid back as it used to be. But I don't fear for my job. As long I have the time to do my job correctly, and don't have unreasonable expectations, I don't feel threatened.

**cableunderground** · July 16th, 2009, 10:43 PM

I'm guessing that most of the angst is simply related to our economy and the state in which we are in. From what I can tell, USIC seems to be in a very good position, and I don't believe that jobs are in jeopardy. It's not as fun as it once was, but then again, our country doesn't appear to be as stable as stable as it once was. I think we're just "battening down the hatches". As long as we continue to do our jobs correctly, I'm sure we'll be fine, or at least those of us that try to do a good job day in and day out, which represents most of us on this web site.

I wouldn't take too much stock in most of the crap that some people spew on this web site, particularly as of late, however. It's a hot bed for rumors, hidden agenda's, alterior motives, etc. Hang in there. As the economy starts to improve, our doubts will start to wither.

**Wingfoot** · July 17th, 2009, 01:05 AM

I also agree that the camaraderie & freedoms locators exercised 10 years ago are long gone. But I wouldn't call it a black cloud hanging over our heads just yet. Long gone are the paper tickets and Fox Valley solvent based paint. Today, our competition has a throw-away micro-mini 4-cylinder Chevrolet Aveo for a work truck, laptops that only work with the motor running in "Park," GPS to monitor locator's every move and cameras in the cab of the work trucks pointed at the driver. I hope I'm wrong, but we might see this shit coming our way someday. Now that's what I would call a "black cloud" hanging over our heads.

I am confident the USIC owner(s) is/are still compassionate for the locators. We are getting our locked wage increases released (although not retroactive) and a bone-us plan based on team P&L (8 way team members, like the KC metro squad, are going to be cash rich very soon!). We still have A-holes in key positions within the USIC family that enjoy f-ing with the locators, I'm sure. Thankfully not in my District! These bastards will be weeded out soon enough. This much I know, none of us want to be out looking for a new job in this economy........

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**sprayandpray** · July 19th, 2009, 05:58 PM

Wing, are you telling the truth about wage increases and a new bonus plan or just yanking our chains? All we hear down here is how bad we are doing as a Group, District, Company, etc. They tell us business is down but we are working mandatory Saturdays. They say they are "staffing up" - yet business is down and we are working mandatory Saturdays. We cannot afford to buy any new equipment - Mapscos, Trucks, RD's, Couplers, etc. because adding a Major large client here in Texas did not increase our billing!
Now, we hear that Utiliquest may be taking part or all of ATT away from us and that our new customer, Oncor Electric, is pissed because instead of us buying Vac Trucks, our DM bought everyone shovels whick they know will not be used to expose non-locatable primaries 3 - 8 ft deep.
So, back to Lifer's original question, we aren't having a real good time in Texas and aren't anticipating any quick positive changes anytime soon.

**Red105** · July 22nd, 2009, 01:18 PM

sprayandpray, sorry to hear things aren't going so great down south. i work in northeastern ok, from bville to pawhuska, from bville to tulsa.

i don't know about the higher up people in the company, but i know that my DM never talks to us, and even though he might have an issue, he tells my sup and my sup is great. he just got promoted from loc to sup and still remembers all the walking and all the unlocatable stuff that we have to deal w day in and day out, its nice having someone who knows how the real world is as a sup. my point is, that i don't ever hear anything negative unless its from a higher corporate level and not ever too bad, like "be sure to take a lunch" or "be sure to bill your tickets right or you can have your oq for gas taken away." or "be sure to use this gas station, as we are saving .03 cents a gallon."

as far as bad emails and stuff we never get those. everyday i get the safety email, the damages email, my dashboard email and job openings, thats pretty much it. i guess i'm in a bubble. its weird though because just south of me, the guys there seem like broken down dogs sometimes, overworked and never complimented... i guess it depends alot on who your next few levels of mngmt are, on what you hear about the company.

**locator_smbk** · July 23rd, 2009, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by Red105

....and my sup is great. he just got promoted from loc to sup and still remembers all the walking and all the unlocatable stuff that we have to deal w day in and day out, its nice having someone who knows how the real world is as a sup.

I had a supervisor like that once, one helluva guy. He looked out for us a best he could, and would get right out there and locate with us on a busy 6 lane highway...

Needless to say, that's not what our company wanted in a supervisor, so they "recycled him" into a locator...he has never been happier.

A supervisor like that is few and far between, and most companies will give him the boot, especially the high brass in the company I work for.

The companies now days want yes mes, bean counters and sups that are willing to sacrifice locators to make themselves and the DMs look good. My current sup has tired to throw me under the bus countless times since he took over...I have never hated my job as much as I do now....

New term for the locating company dictionary...USIC...Underwear Stuck In Crack....

**Goldenboy** · July 23rd, 2009, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Wingfoot

We are getting our locked wage increases released (although not retroactive) and a bone-us plan based on team P&L

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I haven't heart any of this yet but I am really hoping it's true.

**locator_smbk** · July 23rd, 2009, 10:59 PM

I've had so many promises from my employer "canceled" in the last year...

On my last vacation, they even shorted me 2 days of it.

I don't believe anything I am told about my company anymore, unless I see it in writing. However, just about everything said about them on the "vine" has come true, and yet (Mis-)Management sits there and denies it all until it happens.

Bone-uses would be nice, but I doubt anyone around here will see them in their lifetimes....

**animal** · July 23rd, 2009, 11:18 PM

this is some neet stuf i here from my friends

6 month rookie told to locate phone conduit by laterals on planing tickets don't you think there going to do that on a dig ticket wow 3 fibers speard 500,000 later newbe gone for lying on billing but he did what his forman had said to do in the past
be a dm & explain this to your boss

leson learned never teach a newbe a short cut & think he will never use it

assumed cable ran straight ya for only 50 of the next 1,000' ( i know everyone did this once or trice i have at least once)

yes they are making money if they weren't you wouldn't have a job

**ifinditunderground** · July 24th, 2009, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by animal

this is some neet stuf i here from my friends

6 month rookie told to locate phone conduit by laterals on planing tickets don't you think there going to do that on a dig ticket wow 3 fibers speard 500,000 later newbe gone for lying on billing but he did what his forman had said to do in the past
be a dm & explain this to your boss

leson learned never teach a newbe a short cut & think he will never use it

assumed cable ran straight ya for only 50 of the next 1,000' ( i know everyone did this once or trice i have at least once)

yes they are making money if they weren't you wouldn't have a job

Huh?