Rick, I feel much the same way about my university position. I’m given considerable responsibility and flexibility and feel that the adminstration and faculty appreciate what I do. With all the budget cutting over the past few years, my salary has actually improved and the money that I have control over has not been cut. Our creative funding is this: the piano fund is based on three sources--1/3 comes from our performing arts center for my services there, 1/3 comes from the School of Music operating expenses, and 1/3 comes from the foundation. Yes, our university foundation was persuaded to contribute and has for several years now. It’s a few thousand dollars which is a drop in the bucket for them, but means a lot to me and what I’m able to do. But I’m certainly aware that many universities feel they can cut back on piano technician salaries because they feel that technicians can make lots of money on the side. I was once offered a position for considerably less pay. The interviewer was apologetic but happily stated,”Because you work for the university you’ll be able to get lots of good sidework.” She was literally surprised when I said I didn’t want to have to rely on sidework for my income. I wanted to commit fully to the university and be paid accordingly. I didn’t accept the offer. My point in the previous paragraph is that at that interview I was prepared and knew something about how universities operate. With the Guidelines, and help through the CAUT list, naive technicians can be educated before they get stuck with a poor position working for a college that treats them poorly. Knowledge and education can help technicians make better choices, have the confidence to demand and expect more from their university employers right from the first interview, and even perhaps raise the bar for college salaries and benefits. That’s what makes all the work that the CAUT committee has been doing all the more important. In many ways the Guidelines are more useful for educating technicians than for making administrators see the light. I’d be interested in hearing more “creative funding” sucess stories. Richard West, University of Nebraska Original Message: ----------------- From: Rick Florence Rick.Florence@asu.edu Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 16:29:18 -0700 To: caut@ptg.org Subject: Re: take this job and shove it (was let's cut..) 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ .
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC