I may have to quit my $23.00 an hr job due to my back.

[maveric]

I recently started working at NASSCO. A major shipbuilding company in San Diego. Its a great facility with a great history and they pay top wages. I was told that they needed me in a lower supervisory role or in planning/engineering. That changed after my training period ended. They put me in "production" on this huge ship (T-AKE 472), that we are building. This job, as it turns out id about 75% physical, with me having to haul a 125 lb tool bag up 75 degree ladders, forward and aft on a 900 ft long vessel. In my younger days this would not have been a problem. But my previous history of 24+ years of shipbuilding/repair took its toll on my back, forcing me into two lumbar surgeries. My back is very weak, as my doctor told me it would be and this job is getting to be impossible for me.

I'm home today as was I yesterday. The pain is so severe that I cant walk upright. I'm taking 800 mg Motrin, Vicodin and have a Therma Care heat patch on. The pain is killing me to the point of tears and lack of sleep. I fear that tomorrow I will have to resign if they cant put me in a position that I was led to believe that I would be put in.

I hate this! The wages and benefits are great here. Plus its right in my element. If I continue to try to perform as they expect me too, my back will get worse or I face the possibility of slipping/falling to more severe injury of death. The 100% they expect out of me will not be fulfilled in this condition. The doctors told me that me back will be weak for the rest of my life. This is NOT good!

Tomorrow I will speak with the Employee Advocate to see what they can do for me but it doesn't look good. They need me in production and I cant continue the way I am right now. I feel like an idiot walking away from a $23.00 an hr job in these times of employment uncertainty but there may not be anther option here.

SHIT!