T&D machinists never seem to get the credit they're due. It's considered a blue collar job, so there's no glamour involved. What most people don't understand about that particular avocation specifically, and other skilled labor jobs in general, is that some of the most brilliant people you'll ever meet are in that profession. Because they don't wear a suit and tie and have initials after their names and credentials framed on the wall, they are dismissed as working class.
As a former pro HD truck and car mechanic, now turned degreed Electrical Engineer (Construction Management), I've seen the bias and discrimination first hand. In my line, I've actually found the more credentials an individual has, they more incompetent they tend to be, LOL! I'll stick with the tradesmen who work for and with me. The good ones are brilliant, and give an honest days work for an honest days pay (my IBEW journeymen electricians get paid a bunch more than me an hour as well!).
