Thank You

[Ward Guthrie]

Jeff  Stickney (and any Caut who are interested),

>         I wrote this up as a proposal when I got back, and (knock me over 
> with a
>feather) the department chair said, "Sure", and it was a done deal.  My bulk
>rate is now at about 20% with the 2-3 per day rates in between.  Now when I
>go in to tune for a recital, I will get paid my regular market rate!  I
>can't remember who gave this idea, but thank you.  And thanks also to the
>CAUT forum organizers.  I guess sometimes we're just afraid that if we ask
>for more they'll say no, but if you never ask.......

Last summer, I gave up the tuning job for the music department here at 
MSU.  Elizabeth had the contract last year, and I assume will be doing them 
again this year.  Two interesting things happened.  First, Elizabeth 
charges her full tuning amount for all tunings.  I (just like you) had been 
giving them a 25% discount on everything.  Also like you, I was getting fed 
up with not getting paid what I would earn out in homes.

The other interesting thing was that I always worked around their 
schedules.  That meant early mornings, evenings and many 
weekends.  Elizabeth essentially only works M-F, 8-5.  More power to 
her!  This in many cases has meant that if she only has one time to tune, 
and there is a class scheduled for that room, she moves the class out!  I 
never had the guts for that.  I know some of the faculty doesn't like it, 
but they know they won't get the piano tuned otherwise.

So, as you said "we're just afraid that if we ask for more they'll say no".

25 years working for the music department with the lower pay and all the 
scheduling problems that went with the job was enough.  I'm glad I'm done 
with it.  I earn more working in homes only now, and have all the work I 
can handle.

Ward Guthrie