Jeff, Keep it up...this needs to be talked about. It may be a bit annoying to us, but I think alll CAUTs should be taking a hard look at what they making with benefits. Is it really enough? We see openings all the time and the starting salarys are peanuts. Techs applying need to be pushing the envelope for pay... David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, CA 94044 ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: "Jeff Tanner" <tannertuner at bellsouth.net> To: caut at ptg.org Received: 1/5/2010 9:42:40 AM Subject: Re: [CAUT] Piano juries on concert instruments >No, David, I don't think all situations are like U of South Carolina. It sounds like from >you guys, who, by the way, represent a very small minority of CAUT situations, are >happy with your situations, or are at least finding a way to make yourselves happy >with the situation you're in. But private emails to me have indicated there are more >out there than you guys realize. Newton Hunt's post from 2001, as well as Ron >Nossaman's response at that time that were recently referred to by Conrad, who >indicated he felt he was about to be "Newtoned" indicate very strongly that not all >situations are disneyland jobs, and even that those which are, can change gradually >or overnight into a nightmare. And frankly, part of why I think many of you are >happy in your situations is that somehow you are able to be happy working for >salaries that a lot of us can't possibly live on. It costs a lot of money to live in an >area where the schools are decent enough to raise children, for example, and you >can't possibly do that on the salary I was making here, which was ON PAR with all of >your salaries, and in fact, above average at the end. >I think Dr. Nicolaides makes my point. >"Though the initial salary was posted a bit low and equivalent to the swimming pool >tender that was posted at the same time my offer from the Music Director was >seemingly at par with other university postings. " >Considering that most of us have scoffed at the salaries for the most recent >university postings for the past several years, that isn't particularly encouraging. >"My time is "flex time" so I am free to come and go as appropriate as long as I put in >my time and get the work done. I am free to decide what piano needs work and as >long as there is funds I can order parts. I do go in early, late, and on weekends as >well as attend recitals to asses my work and enjoy the company of faculty and >students." >Not trying to burst your bubble, but you're still on your honeymoon. Unless you >have an adequate tech:pianos ratio, you may find that in time, your "flex" time will >become what's expected of you, rather than what's allowed you. >" The faculty have been appreciative and have interest in the expertise I provide as >a piano technician. I started this position at a young 59 and have enjoyed other >careers while tuning/rebuilding full and part time since my late teens and early >twentys." >And quite frankly, the salaries are "on par" with someone your age. Typically, >people your age have gone through the tough financial years of raising children and >paying for homes and are in coast mode. And I don't know if you've run the >numbers, but you guys made more coming along, compared with the cost of living, >than the next generation has. I ran the numbers and my dad made nearly 3x what I >made as a CAUT, and he had a high school education. >" I enjoy and am thankful for the opportunity that I have at SIU. Maybe it shows >not only in attitude but in the work that is done." >And that is a great attitude, and one that I and several others have shared until the >honeymoon was over. I hope that you are able to continue keeping it. >" Yes, I wish my salary was higher and that I did not feel compelled to do private >work to "make ends meet" (though they seemingly never do). " >That's the point. You're having to sacrifice to provide a service to the university - >one that they supposedly "value highly". Great attitude and fantastic repoire with >faculty cannot pay the bills. >" However, that is the way it is at the present. It is also frustrating to know that the >guy that drives the truck for the piano moves and etc. makes union scale for truck >drivers...maybe twice what I make in a year! " >YEP!!!! (and, its not just union scale that's twice what we make, either) >" But what skill he must have to be able to back that truck into a loading dock! " >It isn't that hard. I learned it working on our farm. They learn it in a part-time 6 >month training course. If you spent a few hours practicing it, you could get the hang >of it the first day. He could never learn to do what you do in a part time 6 month >course. >" I still can look with satisfaction on all that I have done and what I am doing >presently. And yes, I do believe CAUTS should have higher salaries and more rapid >opportunities for advancement. How that comes about, well that's another story. " >And THAT is why I continue to post about it. EVERY ONE of you has said, "who >doesn't wish CAUT salaries were higher." Charles Ball just posted something else as >well. >"Having had difficulty recruiting qualified technicians to our staff in the past,..." >BINGO! Change the salary to reflect the real value of their skill, and they will come >out of the woodwork. >" ....and having seen some dismayed responses from young techs to previous >negative threads on this list" >There's the focus of my efforts. I don't think it is the "negative" language used, so >much as the willingness to reveal reality. If the younger techs don't feel they can >live on the salaries, they're going to do something else. I can't tell you what I would >have given if I could have heard the real story before I applied for my jobs. You've >got to consider that my dad started a family with no debt. You older guys probably >did too. You guys bought your first homes and cars at a fraction of what they cost >today, adjusted for inflation. But these kids are coming out of college with huge >college loans to pay back, and if they're considering a salary that's 20 years behind >and the only raises they're going to get are annual cost of living increases IF the >budget permits, versus going out and making it on their own, their not going to pick >the university job "because the benefits are good." You see what I mean? >Now, you should all also realize that the USC job is now nothing like the way it was >when I was there, and it is because I did what I did. I lobbied for years for better >salary and working conditions and one day everything came to a head and I quit, >and I quit right in the middle of Spring semester. They rewrote the job description to >reduce the responsibilities of the head tech to about 40 or so grands, got the >position reclassified to a higher salary band, and offered the next tech 15% more >for a starting salary than I was making, with a 5% bump the next year to make it >20% more. Just Sunday, I heard from the father of the tech who is there now. He >said his son is very happy over there. He spends all day in the shop rebuilding, and >they have someone else come in and do most all of the tuning. He said his son tunes >a few, but not many, and can still make extra money tuning for other departments >on campus, including the performing arts facility NEXT DOOR (which I could not do). >Now, what I did changed the job into an IDEAL situation. Not a "who doesn't wish >things were better" situation. Ya'll can say what you want about how good attitude >and repoire with faculty and students make up for the shortfalls. But you CAN make >it better. And it starts with having the guts to rock the boat and stand up for >ourselves. And I think we owe it to the next generation of techs to do so. >Jeff
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