[CAUT] Reasonable job descriptions

[Paul T Williams]

Richard, et.al,

I'm with you.  I'll take the catagory IV at $200K. ;>)  (like that'll ever 
happen)  Kidding aside.  If we can stick together on this issue,  and it 
has to be ALL of us, maybe we can get the average salary for full time 
large universities up to 60-70K or 80-90K as that would be far more 
in-sinc with the supply/demand curve that is currently warped...-not in 
our favor.  That higher figure seems to be in line with the 
better-than-average college prof who has the same relative education in 
their field.  Our field is so specialized, it should actually be more $ 
for us. 

Who can do what we do??  Architect's are a dime a dozen, and so on. If the 
pianos don't work...the university won't work.(school of music speaking) 
For a good point, our purcussion professor, who is charge of all the 
student convos. invitied me to come in for the meet and greet introduction 
to the freshmen.  I was able to tell everyone what I do and to keep all 
the stuff off the pianos.  He continued after my very short rant as to 
what I REALLY do for nearly 4-5 minutes!!  What a wonderful thing this 
was!!  I was not expecting this at all.  He really does appreciate what I 
do and what the pianos are worth etc,. He told all that I can build a 
piano from the ground up (a little over-emphasized there, of course)  Out 
sourcing is still key to all of us.  Time and space wise.  DO IT all all 
of you!!! It's worth the bucks! 

 It was interesting to see that our UNL chancellor and president were 
overwhelmingly approved for between 15-30% raises when their salaries are 
between 200-350K/year.  Just the raise for the president is nearly  what I 
make in a year!!  And yet they say it's to keep up with other large 
universities in the country.  Yet, WE all stay at nearly the same, other 
than the very pretigious private colleges. I only got a 4% raise for this 
coming year.  Other than full tuition for their offspring, it still not 
enough.  It's still less than the football coach who makes a couple 
million..THAT'S BIG BUSINESS..AND ANOTHER STORY for another day (we'll 
never be a super star)  .... I get a few hours of college credits per year 
that I can use or a percentage of that I can transfer to my wife.  NO 
credit building is allowed year to year.  That, I don't understand.  I can 
build up vacation hours up to a VERY  large amount (to  a limit, of 
course), but tuition credits do not build up.  My son is 12 years old.  At 
this measly salary, it will be manditory for him to get scholarships for 
him to attend a "regular" university or superior private school out of 
state... There is no way I'll be able to cover my son's tuition.

I hope we can all stand together and make our profession worth more than 
what it is, currently.  I don't think "they" know what they have!!".  IT 
SHOULD BE WORTH GOLD!!!!! What we do is getting harder and harder to find, 
and if possible, should get to the point that our "offspring" will enjoy 
what we deserve.  Let's also find more tech students to carry on our 
knowledge, otherwise, we'll all go digital!!  That would be a shame....

Enough said.

On to another week in the grunge!!  A 1926 M in the middle of a "rebuild"! 
 We can't afford a new one!!!!!!

Paul.






"rwest1 at unl.edu" <rwest1 at unl.edu> 
Sent by: caut-bounces at ptg.org
09/07/2008 11:16 AM
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College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>


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Re: [CAUT] Reasonable job descriptions






On Sep 6, 2008, at 11:04 AM, Ralph Onesti wrote:
 
I was hoping you could help Vincent write a reasonable job description for 
the new tech as you are in the trenches and who knows where they are.
 
I think this would be a great exercise for this group, with the results 
being added to the Guidelines for Institutional Maintenance.  Or better 
yet,  the results could lead to a CAUT brochure, "Hiring the Piano 
Technician-A Resource for Colleges, Universities, and other Educational 
Institutions."  

I don't think that there is a one-size-fits-all description.  For example, 
the description for a part-time contract position  would be different than 
for a full-time position in a large, land-grant type university which 
would be different than for a full-time position in a conservatory 
situation.  The many descriptions would let the institution decide which 
description was appropriate.  Salary ranges should be included as well as 
descriptions of the type of person that would apply (see below).  

Having this kind of information available would accomplish several things. 
 First, although the various descriptions may not be all that different, 
expectations should be different, including the pay scale and type of 
applicant that the institution could realistically expect.  Secondly, it 
would leave it up to the institution to determine where it falls in the 
various types and pay scales.  Expectations would match the self-image of 
the institution.  Thirdly it would inform institutions what the pay range 
should be.  I don't think many people outside our group know what 
full-time technicians working in the private sector can make.  Doing the 
math for those involved in hiring would be helpful.  Finally, a beginning 
technician would be less demanding in salary and benefits, than an 
experienced RPT who has been around the block and wants to get paid 
appropriately.  Institutions need to know that all technicians are not 
created equal.

Just to get some discussion going, here are some off-the-top-of-my-head 
ideas about types of technicians that could be matched to various 
descriptions.

Type of technician
I.  Technician, Level I:  $12,500 to $25,000, working part time, less than 
one year experience, tunes fewer than 5 pianos per week
II. Technician, Level II:  $35,000 to $50,000, working full time, three to 
five years experience, tunes 15 to 25 pianos per week
III. Technician, Level III:  $40,000 to $70,000, full time private or 
university, 5 to 10 years experience, tunes 5 to 15 pianos per week, has 
regulated and voiced 10 to 20 pianos over several years, regularly 
schedules full or partial action regulation
IV. Technician, Level IV:  $50,000 to $200,000, full time private or 
university/conservatory, 10 to 15 years experience, tunes 5 to 10 pianos 
per week, has regulated and voiced pianos in concert venues,  is familiar 
with restringing, new parts installation, action geometry, hammer 
selection, key weight, piano touch, and dealing with the concert artist 
concerns.

I would add that I think it's time for CAUT to develop an alternative to 
the Guidelines document.   It has been helpful, especially to technicians. 
 But it is, IMHO, too long for most administrators to deal with, and, also 
IMHO,  the document's underlying message is too self-serving.  A brochure 
is a better alternative.

Richard West, retired but still working



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