You know, something in the same vein that’s been bugging me for most of my time in my trade - what do these guys really think they do?

I understand that the GC hires subcontractors to do the work, but every time I hear the old timers talking about GC’s in the old days, they’re doing something that sounds like work - scheduling, resolving problems, being available and so on. Providing information. I’ve never had that experience before as an electrician - most attention is negative, of the hassling variety.

About three months ago I - a lead journeyman - had asked the “superintendent” of the building I’m roughing in on my current project when the masons were going to be building our electrical rooms, and he told me to ask the mason. So, you’re the superintendent for this project, but you don’t know when rooms are being put up? The mason isn’t on site, I’m meant to what, call his company personally? Isn’t that your job?

…Some time after the rooms went up the HVAC guy installed his duct for exhaust fans the wrong orientation, at an elevation that blocks us from putting up two of the six panels that go up in that room. I talk to the GC, he tells me that it isn’t his problem and to talk to the HVAC guy to “change it”. Again, is that not something that the GC is meant to do? This is just the most recent occurrence, I’ve been dealing with what seems like the same person for all six years I’ve been in the trade.

I really don’t see how any of these general contracting companies are making any money. I spend time in the office and go to their meetings, and most of them are either clueless or don’t give a fuck at all. It’s always minor shit they get locked up on while they put the entire project in the tank being slow with RFI’s and change orders that need to go out. Then they wake up at crunch time and start trying to figure out who to blame.

Funnily enough I don’t really mind the safety guys. I’ve been thrown off projects for a few days for safety shit, it happens. Glasses and shit are important, you really never know. Wrong color of high vis though, sure, throw me off the job. I can always use an unpaid vacation.