Did anyone see the listing by the New England Conservatory in last months Journal? The search was "extended". The list of qualifications was mind-boggling. I'm not surprised they are having a hard time filling that position, unless they are paying top dollar... I would be interested in what the Directors of other Departments get for salaries? David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, CA 94044 Original message From: "Jeff Tanner" To: "College and University Technicians" Received: 10/9/2007 11:11:40 AM Subject: Re: [CAUT] Job Opening, U. of Michigan, Ann Arbor On Oct 9, 2007, at 8:30 AM, Elwood Doss wrote: It all comes down to educating University Faculty and Administration. Is the head technician at UMich an RPT? I checked his vita on the School of Music website and it stated he was a "craftsman in the Piano Technicians Guild," but said nothing about being an RPT...and there's good reason for that since he is not. He's listed in the 2006 directory as an Associate. That may be why the job description does not mention RPT status. Here the faculty is aware of my RPT status and it garners some respect for me. Even if CAUT members were certified at a higher level of competency than an RPT, who would know what that meant without a huge amount of education on the part of PTG and CAUT? It would be the same as we now find with RPT. I don't think we need more initials after more intensive exams, we need more education about the present designation. We keep wanting to fix something that "aint broke." Joy! Elwood Perfectly stated Elwood. Further, I seriously doubt any more letters after our name will help with compensation. As long as we are willing to keep further certifying ourselves for the same money, the expectations keep growing and the money doesn't change. It's a market thing. If CAUT salaries were better, better qualified techs would be crawling out of the woodwork for these jobs. But better skilled techs with established businesses who would leave what they have for a CAUT position need their heads examined. Another part of the problem is that PTG doesn't recognize other paths which are completely credible and it hurts our credibility. Let's say a Steinway C&A tech wanted to get out of NY and go to some college for a change of pace. Now, an All-Steinway School faculty would consider such a person a perfect match for their inventory. But if he ain't in the PTG, we have no vehicle of recognition of his skills and abilities. RPT becomes self-serving and its merits hold little water. I think not everybody is sold on PTG and the RPT, and that's ok. We aren't the government. We can't require anyone to hold any license or certification. All we can do is endorse those who've taken our exams. On Oct 9, 2007, at 3:01 AM, Richard Brekne wrote: As too the salary. I admit it looks on the surface lower then it should. But one should not forget the value of paid medical and dental insurances, along with the usual reductions in tuition for family members such jobs usually offer. These are not specified in the note posted... but then that wasnt a readout of the job listing perhaps. There might be one objection that one could raise about paid medical insurances I suppose. Insurance companies in America seem to be so capable of finding clever ways of renigging on there coverage deals that many of us out in countries like Canada and some European companies wonder at the continued support for the so called private health system over there.... It just happens that in this case, Michigan is one of the states that does pay the entire cost of employee benefits and provides very good tuition package as well. Or it did at least up until a year or so ago, which was the last time I looked it up. But the salary is also lower to compensate for it. Other states which require employee contribution to the benefits TEND to have higher salaries, but that isn't always the case. Each state has its own benefits formula and each one is different from the other. What is not approximately equal from state to state is the cost of living, and that doesn't seem to be reflected in piano technicians salaries very often. Either way, you can probably cover the cost of similar benefits better as a self-employed tech. Self-employed and business owners get much better tax advantages than employees. Bottom line, there needs to be some education. I'm convinced the perception of our craft is that we are glorified hobbyists. Almost every day when someone asks what I do, their response is "you mean there's that much work over there to keep you busy?", and my stock answer is "more than enough for three of me." And I don't know that the people in this building aren't just as amazed that there is that much work involved here as the country farmer I just had that conversation with earlier today. And, you also have to consider that the other people who make up music faculties don't see their work as an occupation. It is a calling for them, at whatever salary, and I think they expect the same of us. We can pick apart every one of these job offers. The reason they are what they are is because of those of us who hold positions around the country. We have to be willing to make life uncomfortable if we are going to get salaries improved. Unfortunately for some, we're seeing improvement only when a retiring tech petitions for a better salary for the next hire. But it is a market driven thing. And we have to look at it that way. There really aren't that many of us out there, and rather than taking what's offered, we ought to be the ones in the driver's seat, not the schools. It's our fault guys. 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