First of all, I spent years working as a "temp." I put myself through the apprenticeship, bought my tools, etc. When I made the jump from "temp" to working for an electrical contractor, I was harassed by other temps- until the contractor stood up for me, and my desire to do something with my life!
That said, as an electrical contractor I am damn choosey as to who I will consider, and for which tasks. Temps are great with shovels, and helpful for pulling wires. For almost anything else, I want someone who cares, has some background, and some committment to his future.
I will admit that unions are quite valuable in controlling the use of casual, untrained, unqualified persons on the larger jobs.
I had one general contractor send me someone to help me troubleshoot- someone who spoke no english! The general thought it perfectly reasonable for me to work with someone who was likely to confuse "open the switch"(turn it 'off") with "open the light" (turn it 'on').
Working as a temp, you quickly find that many of your "employers" are cheap bastards who cut corners, expect you to subsidize them, and consider you disposable. After one guy got hurt- and the OSHA guy noticed the blood still on the floor- we were told to not bleed on the floor! (He was serious, and I'm not making this up!)
The use of temps, like the lack of trash cans or toilets, is a real indication that maybe the contractor doesn't know how to run his business.
Electrical work, perhaps more than any other trade, requires constant judgement calls- something you're not going to get from some guy you found along the roadside!
