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<DIV><SPAN class=437180922-12062008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Wow, that sounds
very close to my situation here too, Jeff... My take home is about the same...
We do have tuition waivers equivalent to 6 classes a year for the immediate
family, which helps a little. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437180922-12062008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437180922-12062008><FONT face=Arial size=2>I just signed a one
year contract for the same pay I had last year. We are going to get a one time
$400 check in July instead of a cost of living or merit pay raise this
year. Obviously, the cost of living increase (mostly food and gas) has caused
that to be a significant pay cut this year. Thankfully, I live about 2 miles
from school. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437180922-12062008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437180922-12062008><FONT face=Arial size=2>The state of KY has
cut higher ed funding across the board, and it's a miracle no salary lines are
being cut here. All in all, I think we're doing pretty well compared to what a
lot of people are facing, or are about to face. I think it's going to be a rough
season for a lot of folks in this country.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437180922-12062008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437180922-12062008><FONT face=Arial size=2>While I'd rather
have it a little easier, and make a little more, this is still a lot better
for me... In terms of private sector work. I did that full time for 17 years
before I took this position. No insurance, and no retirement (I kept having to
wipe that out), and I worked much harder. My gross income was great, my net was
certainly no better than I make now, and I had nothing for the future, and thank
God none of us were facing major medical expenses. If I were still self
employed, we'd either be completely broke, or very very sick and in a lot of
pain!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437180922-12062008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437180922-12062008><FONT face=Arial size=2>All the best in your
new endeavors, Jeff. I hope and pray things go well.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437180922-12062008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437180922-12062008><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Scott</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Jim
Busby<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:30 PM<BR><B>To:</B> College
and University Technicians<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [CAUT] Position Opening at
the University of South Carolina<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Jeff,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I thought there for a
moment that you were talking about the position here… (Very similar,
overall.)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">It’s hard to stay
motivated when your independent technician friends are making twice what you
are. Benefits and job security in an uncertain economy are sometimes all that
keeps me here. Besides the friendship with the people around me. With your
skills you should easily make much more, with much less stress. Yep, CAUT life
isn’t necessarily the “life of Riley”. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thanks for the info.
Makes me feel like I’m not alone.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Regards,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Jim
Busby<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2>
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] <B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Jeff Tanner<BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:36
AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">College and University Technicians</st1:PersonName><BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> [CAUT] Position Opening at the
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">South
Carolina</st1:PlaceName></st1:place></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dear
CAUTers,</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Yes. After 9 1/2 years, I've
left my position at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">South
Carolina</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. The responsibilities and
difficulties of the situation were growing too fast for one person
to have any chance of keeping up and the salary was never going to
support living in the local community - not for raising a family at
least. The time requirements were getting unpredictable and
increasing moonlighting requirements were making it more and more difficult to
be committed to the unrealistic requirements of the staff position.
I'm planning to compose an email to the list for anyone interested in applying
for the position to know what to expect. In fact, I already have, but it was
too long and involved to send. In the meantime, if anyone has questions
about the situation, feel free to email me privately at this
address.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Important things one needs to know
about this particular situation: The benefits are not free on top of the
salary. Employee contributions to benefits are a significant deduction from
the paycheck. At $52K, my daily take home pay was just shy of $134,
or just under $2900/month. The 2008-09 SC budget only provides for a 1%
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">COL</st1:place></st1:State> increase
for state employees. Just three years ago, we had come through a 2 year period
of salary freezes and I look for that to happen again next year. There is
no tuition assistance for families. Children of employees do not go to college
free or reduced, and USC has a relatively high tuition for state
flagship schools in the region. The employee can take up
to 3 hours per semester if class space is available. Building
outside private business in the local sector is very slow and
often requires traveling well outside the local area. While some
university techs regularly get calls because of their position, I averaged
perhaps 2 calls a year, one of which was asking about the value of their
piano for sale. Do not assume you won't have to moonlight. Unless you are
financially independent, the advertised salary will not support a home, car
payment, utilities, food and clothing in the local area. Do not expect to come
in for a lower salary and get it adjusted upward later. The system doesn't
allow for that type of employee rewarding. You must negotiate the
salary you expect at hire. The system limits performance increases to
10%, but don't expect to ever see a 10% performance increase. You can
only qualify for a pay for performance increase once annually. With the
price of gas and food going up daily, that is a very long wait between salary
increases.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">One technician who called me about
the position opening expected that taking a university job would be an
easier life. I've found it to be an extremely difficult and
stressful means of earning an income. I was working 70 plus hours a week
and still living paycheck to paycheck. If you're young and planning
a family, I definitely cannot recommend it.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Probably the biggest reason I left
was that the performance expectations don't allow for much of a family
life. I wasn't raised that way and I couldn't continue to subject my
family to that kind of home life. If your idea of family life is the only time
you see your wife and children is when you kiss them goodnight (and
often not then) and put them on the school bus the next morning, then you
may be ok with this work. And yes, you get vacation leave, but you don't
make enough money to be able to take your family on vacation. We ran up
a substantial amount of debt trying to wait for the salary to get to a level
we could just pay monthly bills. It was time to stop going
backwards.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Jeff
Tanner</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>