Deseret News | Welders stay on the job in down times

Reader comments
Welders stay on the job in down times

Chris J | 2:22 a.m. Feb. 7, 2009

What an inspiring story. Thanks for sharing!

Cool | 4:59 a.m. Feb. 7, 2009

Great story. Great job Mr Gingras.

California Andy | 7:08 a.m. Feb. 7, 2009

Every member of the fascist party claiming employers are nothing but a bunch of overpaid Ess Ohh Bees and only the government, under fascist control of course, can properly employ people should be forced to read this article then place a copy in the Congressional Record. Those of you living in Utah should send copies of this article to your Congressional delegates requesting just that.

Comments continue below

Tekakaromatagi | 8:48 a.m. Feb. 7, 2009

This guy is really cool. If I had some welding to do I would go to him first.

The fact that he's trying to help his workers out tells me that doing the right thing is important for him. If he's treats his workers good, he'll probably treat me as his customer good.

This sort of thing could be good for business.

I hope that he stays in business.

Tekakaromatagi

Anonymous | 8:59 a.m. Feb. 7, 2009

The writer of this story missed something. I great welder is a artisan. No everyone holding a torch can weld. Many burn two pieces of steel together. Someone should let the writer try to weld.

I great weld has penetration. You will see even flow and a even swirl pattern on the weld's bead. Welding stainless isn't the same as welding copper or aluminum. All metals require a different approach.

Great welders are also metal fabricators. They have skills to bend and shape metals.

This nice employer is no fool. He has put together a group a artisans that would be difficult to replace.

Anonymous | 10:01 a.m. Feb. 7, 2009

This is a perfect example of an employer who is putting his employees before profits and should be commended for his actions. Stories like this are inspiring to hear in our current economic times.

All we read is doom and gloom in the news and to read this story makes you realize that there are still companies out there who are trying to do the right thing.

Anonymous | 10:22 a.m. Feb. 7, 2009

I AM GOING TO SCHOOL TYO BE A WELDER. WHEN I GET ENOUGH SCHOOLING FINISHED THAT IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST PLACE I WILL SEND MY RESUME. THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!

Good Money Manager | 11:12 a.m. Feb. 7, 2009

It sure is nice to see a business that doesn't live on credit, and has money set aside for a rainy day. To be able to retain a quality work crew through a down time is certainly a mark of an excellent money manager. He should be teaching business at the MBA schools.....in addition to running a good shop of course. All of us as individuals would do good to manage our money like this guy does.

Vancouver Aggier | 12:36 p.m. Feb. 7, 2009

Nice article. Way to go Randy! Thanks for having the courage that many don't. Keep it up!

D | 12:43 p.m. Feb. 7, 2009

Loved this good will story!

Way out west | 12:48 p.m. Feb. 7, 2009

Well yeah, it's nice and laudable, and the workers still have jobs for now, so kudos to the owner. But the end result is something the owner will keep for his own personal use so before some of you keep pushing his pedestal higher and higher, it isn't all that different than hiring a contractor to do the same thing, thus keeping some other company's workers employed. He just gets the job at cost instead of retail. Anyway I'm not criticising the owner, but let's have some perspective... he's not losing his valued workers for now, and he's getting a shiny new toy.

Randy | 2:57 p.m. Feb. 7, 2009

I sincerely appreciate the positive comments. I believe the employees that continue to have jobs and yes, are still employed at this time have had fun with these projects, especially with virtually no work going through the shop. However, in the end it costs more to have individuals do work they are unfamiliar with doing or donï¿½t do every day and still cover overhead. As far as a shinning toy, we joke around about the hammock, makes it fun, but the real purpose is creating a small green space in an industrial complex for employees to use at break time. Something they made and can enjoy. In the end, I hope the family continues to support the losses to bridge this hopefully short bad economic time.

Adam K. | 3:35 p.m. Feb. 7, 2009

Great story. I wanted to see more photos of these fat palm trees. Deseret News would do well by finding more of these kinds of stories instead of just layoffs here and there. The author made it feel like you were touring the shop with him. Good angle, but it was a bit long.

Anonymous | 3:48 p.m. Feb. 7, 2009

I'm sending a copy of this to my employer before he lays us all off! What a story, but I don't think other businesses can afford such a gap in real work. The owner and Deseret News should be proud of this one. I'm going to learn how to weld and apply at Legacy Stee.

Lola | 9:22 p.m. Feb. 7, 2009

Randy you are an inspiration! I hope others follow your lead. What goes around comes around, I'm sure business will pick up.

Way out west | 11:47 a.m. Feb. 8, 2009

I appreciate Randy's feedback. Sounds like his intent was for good reasons not selfish ones. Good point about the new tasks to be learned not necessarily making this project a bargain either. I stand corrected. Hope for all the best to you and your employees. Hope you are able to weather the storm.

cm | 8:42 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

Thanks Randy for all you have done for us. We appreciate and admire your generosity.

Bill Blackburn | 8:51 a.m. April 14, 2009

I remember Randy in Hawaii, he was an inspiration there also. If I remember right, he returned to SLC to help his parents' company, that was having a difficult time. He has helped many such businesses as a consultant over the years, and always with a good heart, and not much profit for himself. Kudos to a good man, and thanks for the good article by Deseret News.

Anonymous | 12:22 p.m. May 12, 2009

I think its funny how through all of this saving employees and finding ways to keep them, but I don't hear anything about the people that did get layed off after in December EVERYONE was promised a job. Us as employees are expected to give a 2 wk notice when leaving the company. Why is it that the company made the discion in Dec. And didn't tell anyone til Jan. 17 But didn't bother to give the same respect that they expect. The employees that were layed off didnt find out til that day (fri.) at the end of their shift.? When they thought They had no worries and was going to be returning Monday. Some of the people that got layed off had been there for 15 years, Some was an verry important part & helped the company get to where it was.I'll never understand why they did what they did??

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2 photos

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Doug Barron grinds a piece of steel at Legacy Steel in Salt Lake City on Friday. Welders have remained busy constructing elements for a Hawaiian village at the business.

Gallery (2 photos)