Jimbo I do feel for you, but that is not what being Union is all about. Don't mean to Hijack this thread, but it's about the group, not the individual. The individuals do make the union, and I wish we ALL had work ALL of the time, but that's just not practical everywhere. If possible, why not contact the hall about transient work in other locals?
It's not about the "sitting around with others who can't find work", it is about staying with your brothers and sisters instead of promoting only yourself. There is a list of out of work members and the signatory companies are required to go off of that list. Hope everything works out for ya.