[CAUT] Reasonable job descriptions

[David Ilvedson]

Oops...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Jim Busby" <jim_busby at byu.edu>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Received: 9/8/2008 12:19:41 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Reasonable job descriptions


>Paul,

>I'm posting this to you privately because I don't want it in the "public". I'm currently 
>at $48K but the benefits package is incredible. They say it's worth about another 
>20K. still it's not enough for me to live on due to some stupid debt I have. 
>Essentially, I have to earn about 1K a month more to maintain my life style (which is 
>modest!) and I still don't have enough time to do much in the way of personal/family 
>time.

>Knowing that, if I were making about 20K more it would be about where I should be, 
>IMO. We all would like to make more, but this is where I am...

>Now, in your last paragraph you state that we should stand together. Therein is the 
>problem, as I see it. There are so many technicians (hacks, most) that would jump in 
>here in a heartbeat that I don't know how we can try to push our way around in the 
>least bit! Our profession seems to be one of about 30% incompetent hacks, about 
>20% top notch and everyone else somewhere in the middle. But here is the problem; 
>No one (administration) can tell the difference!! At least, not with the middle of the 
>road techs. A colleague of mine goes in an toons the piano and when he
>S through it's not top notch. But no one cares! Even some of the best pianists seem 
>to let things go. It's not too bad in that I think it would clearly pass the RPT test 
>(that says something, doesn't it?) but it's a pretty close SAT tuning with some not 
>too wild but out unisons! And he's a CTE!!

>My heart sinks when I see what people think are good tunings. It makes me wonder 
>why I even care sometimes.

>Soooo.... What does this have to with the price of rice in China?? I just wonder how 
>we can stick together when only about 1 in 5 are PTG members, and about half of 
>them are green or not soing high level work! What is the key to making a better 
>living here?

>I dunno. Sometimes I get frustrated and seeing a post like yours get's me hoping 
>and wishing for more, but then my pragmatic evil side kicks in and I write rants like 
>this.

>Best.
>Jim

>From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul T 
>Williams
>Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2008 2:15 PM
>To: College and University Technicians
>Subject: Re: [CAUT] Reasonable job descriptions


>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
>Please respond to
>College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>


>To

>College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>

>cc

>Subject

>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