Thread: I'm now FIFO scum

Nothing wrong with fifo. I used to do 4/2, 6,2, 3,1 as a driller out of Perth and lived in sydney. It's great if you are single or have an understanding partner, where it really hurts is when you have children that are too young to understand why we have to work and too young to even remember who you are when you return. Got the better of me so I went dido in the hunter valley coal mines then someone coughed at the mines and exploration drilling got the flu so I jumped into construction and loving it. Home every night, weekends, public holidays with my kids and wife. I'll probably go back to fifo but not until the kids are older or I have to.

Originally Posted by EchiDna

if you don't do FIFO for the money, why would you do it?? it rips families apart, you live in some pretty dodgy places and there is nothing to do but drink, gamble and catch diseases from the woman that 45 of your work mates slept with last week.

From experience?

Maybe people do it because their current job has evolved into it, maybe some people do it as opposed to being unemployed.

Some people can't live in anything other than large cities for the fact they wouldn't know where to get a latte.

Regards
Andrew

Originally Posted by Andrew D

Sounds like you have few pigeon holes, or maybe just one.

Not all are scum, bastards or there for the money.

The upside is, in time this will be a personal realisation.

Regards
Andrew

I know not all are scum, bastards or are in it for the money, but as I said, I'm native to the area and having to deal with the **** that comes with a transient workforce brings, at less than half the income, you'll have to forgive me for putting the entire lot of them in one basket, the good are massively outweighed by the bad....

try getting abused and threatened by someone when you're trying to fix an issue theyre threatening to go on strike over.....

try having some drunk, drugged up ****** front you and tell you he wants to "fight you for your missus"

try living in an area where there is a VERY visible dividing line between the haves and have nots, and where the locals are discriminated against by employers and the transient workers

I couldnt really care less what people think about my attitude on the topic, if you take a job here and hate it because its nothing like the suburbia you fly/drive back to.... either shut up and think yourself lucky you've got an obscenely well paying job, or **** off

Originally Posted by Andrew D

From experience?

Maybe people do it because their current job has evolved into it, maybe some people do it as opposed to being unemployed.

Some people can't live in anything other than large cities for the fact they wouldn't know where to get a latte.

Regards
Andrew

AKA, doing it for the money... if you chose to live in a city or town, you can get a latte and see the tin lids every day, but you might just get paid less... each to their own i guess, but there is far far more to life than chasing money.

Originally Posted by Sprint

try getting abused and threatened by someone when you're trying to fix an issue theyre threatening to go on strike over.....

try having some drunk, drugged up ****** front you and tell you he wants to "fight you for your missus"

How do you know that these people you refer to are not just the load mouth local hicks?

Were they wearing clothing stating FIFO scum? Even if they were wearing said clothing who's to say they were not locals.

You don't have to be FIFO to exhibit the above traits.

Also, the larger companies out in the boonies have policies for conduct and for one, drugs is a tough one to dodge, ******* not so much.

Regards
Andrew

Live here long enough and you learn to spot them from 100 paces.... Others are more obvious... Esp when theyre talking about "home" being elsewhere or abusing the locale and asking why anyone would willingly be here....

Drugs is easier than you think, have 3-4 days rostered off, get out of your mind on pills the first couple of days then down to the chemist for a detox pack.... **** in the pot first day on and you're VERY unlikely to fail..... And thats before factoring in the rise of other ways to beat drug tests.... Synthetic weed was VERY popular up here, especially with the shift workers.....

Originally Posted by EchiDna

if you don't do FIFO for the money, why would you do it?? it rips families apart, you live in some pretty dodgy places and there is nothing to do but drink, gamble and catch diseases from the woman that 45 of your work mates slept with last week....

its been around for 30+ years but its only recent that cleaners etc get FIFO contracts - it will not last for the next 50 years in its current form though, maybe 5-10....

Well I think you are purporting myths. 3 out of 4 marriages fail now days and no where near 3/4 couples work as FIFO. The figure is actually around 5% total. Not saying there is no promiscuity at sites but no more than in any other town. If we do find a person selling their wares they are terminated along with any of their customers. Alcohol is mid strength only. Gambling is prohibited as it is illegal and same applies to anyone found undertaking this pass time.
Yes I would rather work at a location close to home but that is not possible for me, unless I want to halve my wage and do some unskilled work. Sorry, only recent times cleaners are FIFO. Has been that way for many years, it is only recently that they are getting semi decent money and rosters.
I would much rather be residential but that is just not possible as the existing govts will not put any money into infrastructure outside the Geraldton to Albany corridor.