How to Talk to a Union Dispatcher on the Phone

Here's exactly what brothers in the trade have learned to say — and not say — when calling a dispatcher. The dispatcher decides who works. Treat that phone call like a job interview every single time.

THE OPENING

"Good morning. This is [first and last name], book [number], calling to check the out-of-work list and see what's dispatching this week." That's it. No life story. No complaints about your last job.

WHAT DISPATCHERS RESPECT

Brevity. Showing up to the hall in person when they ask you to. Knowing your book number without looking it up. Saying "yes" when work is offered, even if the call is to a job you don't love. Saying "no" with a real reason if you have to — never with a complaint.

WHAT DISPATCHERS REMEMBER

The brother who turned down three calls in a row because the per diem wasn't right. The brother who showed up drunk to a job and got the local a bad name. The brother who called every Monday for a year and never once whined about how slow it was.

Two of those brothers stop getting calls. The third one gets the next good job. — UnionBoomer.com