I went from a diesel mechanic to electrician. Much better accommodations lol. I'd rather have dry wall dust and some insulation on me vs scrubbing grease off my hands for an hour everyday. Working over a blazing hot engine or out on a road service call with the sun beating on your back is not a fun time.
My GFs uncle delivered beer for 30+ years, and even when he retired just last year, they only had 4 trucks in the fleet with air conditioning. Coming from the mechanic field I know why. Air conditioning systems fail alot on those larger vehicles. More expensive parts AND the down time would cost the company literally millions a year. They'd rather sacrifice the health of their employees than have us airgunners pissed we didn't get our new toy on time!
I too was a mechanic for 15yrs before starting the electrical trade. I can relate to the heat not only from the hot engines we worked on, but from the steel roofs and zero insulation the shops we worked in had. I would much prefer driving an ups truck with the doors open like they do, to working in a toasty shop, or a new build house with no insulation. That being said, you won’t see us complaining to our non existent unions about the lack of a/c. I’m guessing there’s more to this than is coming out. It’s the reason unions aren’t more prevalent in the trades.
That, and they're basically a mob.
The last time they went on strike was in 1997 for 15 days. As others here already said they play this same game every time they negotiate a new contract. Hopefully they will reach an agreement.
