> This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Wim, Sorry, I would have replied yesterday, but I was out basking in the sun. I can't take too much credit for the "esteemed" position piano technicians hold here at ASU, much of that goes to my predecessors and Brent Fischer, my partner in crime. Nevertheless, the School of Music administration does consider our positions indispensable. Arizona has gone though just as many budget woes as other states and the university budgets have taken more than their share of the cuts. The fact is, groundskeepers, carpenters, and a few School of Music staff members have been let go. Even some faculty positions have not been filled while we have been told our jobs are secure. The ONLY reason for such security is the fact that faculty would revolt in large numbers at the thought of not having staff technicians on hand to keep up studio pianos and check every piano before every recital. Not so much because they like us or appreciate our hard work, but because it would directly affect their performance. I am not claiming that all institutions feel the same way. What I am certain of, however, is job security comes from such faculty support and not through CAUT guidelines, PTG certifications, or any other program generated by technicians. When I mentioned being creative, I wasn't talking about making our jobs more exciting, I was alluding to finding new ways to working around our financial woes (like endowed positions). I don't know very many university technicians who don't supplement their salaries without some outside work. If your faculty and director are on your side, there is quite a bit of leeway in this field - from extremely flexible schedules, to extra time off, allowing outside work to make up for the wage that the director wishes he could pay you. I am aware there are college and university positions that are thought of simply as a necessary evil. I truly am sorry such positions exist. My point still remains the same, however, if it is that bad, leave. No one is holding a gun to your head. Rick on 6/18/03 3:12 PM, Wimblees@aol.com at Wimblees@aol.com wrote: In a message dated 6/18/03 1:52:35 PM Central Daylight Time, Rick.Florence@asu.edu writes: It seems to me that real job security (and a decent salary) in our profession comes from two sources: Hey Rick This, I think, is what led Jeff to make his comments. Maybe you have a decent salary, but there are lots of schools out there who are not paying enough. Furthermore, job security lasts only as long as the budget holds out. If the state decides to cut the education budget, piano tuning is not going to be at the top of the list. It probably won't make it above groundskeepers, and maybe even the carpenters. So while you might be basking in the sun in your spare time, there are some CAUTs who have to work over and above our regular day job to make ends meet. No matter how good we are, and how much we think we are needed, and how much the faculty might appreciate us, it's when we get complacent that we are the greatest risk. Yes, let's use our creativeness to make our jobs more exciting. But let's not get cocky, either. Wim _____________ Rick Florence Piano Technician Arizona State University, School of Music ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/caut.php/attachments/38/f0/93/ea/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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