I�d like to thank Scott for starting this thread. When I wrote that article I wanted to generate discussion but I had no idea it would be carried out here, yet this is probably the best place to discuss it. The idea of this discussion, as I understand it, is to decide if the information should be available to all, reserved to professionals, or reserved to just IUEC members. You already know that I am pro-Union, but to move the discussion along, a line added to the profile showing if you�re an IUEC member might help to know who�s asking the question. However, even if you don�t answer a specific question, nothing stops a novice from reading the other post or every other tidbit of information out there for the harvesting. If the administrator feels we are able to tell which post are from elevator people and which ones are not then is he suggesting we should restrict what we say and to whom? I get the impression that perhaps he agrees that some information should be kept private. All it would take is to have the technical form for members only (in my opinion, IUEC) and have a general form open to non members.
I am not anti non-union, some of my Locals best mechanics and strongest Union men have come from non-union shops. I want to give them every incentive to join with us, into a Union, be polite and friendly sure but I am not going to provide the tools to compete with me or my brothers. The automotive and computer forums makes my point, when I have a problem with one of my vehicles or computers, I Google it to see if I can fix it for less. Is this what is going to happen with elevator repair?
I don�t believe non union mechanics are the enemy but they can eliminate your job given half a chance and having a higher tier for the IUEC mechanics would be another incentive to make the jump to Union and be able to access that higher tier. I worked for the majors for over 20 years mostly in service. The past 5 years I�ve been working for two of my friends, IUEC members that started their own Union elevator company and kept it Union. If it wasn�t for other mechanics having taught me I wouldn�t have any elevator knowledge at all. I like giving back to other mechanics whenever possible and yes I like to share ideas and information with non-union techs, building managers, consultants, inspectors and the general public but not technical and definitely not �how to� information. This website should not become the �doityourself� website.
Does anyone out there have any expertise on ways to setup a multi-tiered website? It would be helpful to have more options available.
