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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yes. I think that is being a
doormat.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>First of all, I did NOT quit in anger. I
finally gave up the fight and my colleages across the country who are content
with less were no help. I quit because I was basically told that the only
way to get change is to be the catalyst for it. I quit because the carrot
being dangled out there kept moving farther and farther away. When I'd
catch up to it and ask for the reward, the carrot moved again.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As employees, it is </FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>encumbent upon each one of us to insist on salaries that are more
reflective of the value of what we do, because it affects everyone else who
pursues this work. Yes, if we just accept what they want to offer and be
happy with it, that's being a doormat, as a collective whole, because we owe it
to our colleagues elsewhere to help support their earnings
ability. Our profession is quite unique in this way. We are
so isolated and job openings occur relatively infrequently compared to
other professions and so we must band together in some way to benefit the
whole. We are as strong as our weakest link, and as long as we have
qualified technicians who accept lower salaries because they don't share the
same perspective on economic issues, then we are a weak chain.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Different perspective on economic issues?
Either we have a market or we don't. If we are going to market our
profession as one that earns a good living (see the PTG brochure on becoming a
piano technician), it is incumbent upon us to support that, even if we do not
require it ourselves. Just because one person can live on a lower salary
is not the reason to accept it. There are others who depend on our
profession to actually earn a living. The reason Wim's son, the CPA makes
half a million is because other CPAs have worked to increase the market value of
their profession. If other CPA's just said, "I'm at a point in life I can
live on $50K," then that's what that market would evolve towards. In
the private sector, if we have a market of technicians who have built their
businesses based on a certain tuning fee, and you have new people move
into the market tuning for half price, in a climate where the costs of
everything else continues to go up, that is an example of
how people in your own profession are cutting their own
throats. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I really don't hear from my self-employed friends
who stay busy full time that they'd like to increase their workload and earn
half of what their making. Many of our colleages would like to do a
college job, but see the pay as degrading to their skill level and hard
work. These college jobs keep coming open over and over and over not
because we have different perspectives on economic issues, but because the work
requires twice the effort for half the pay.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If the trade offs were equitable, I could agree
with you. But after the trade-offs, we're still 10's of thousands apart
(about $30K or so). Wim's example was misleading because it didn't figure
in the costs to the employee, nor the tax advantages of being
self-employed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>As I said, I left my position, in part, for the benefit of the
profession. The next person who comes here will enjoy a higher salary
band. Yes, I'm frustrated that they made no effort to do that for me, but
it was made fairly clear that the only way that change could be made was if I
turned in my resignation. That's just the way the system works. I
suppose I could reapply for the position, but I've put too much effort into
creating something for me to land on when I resigned that I can't go back
now.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#1f497d>I remember well the pressures of a house payment, kids
in school, etc. and I’m glad I’ve lived past that. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Not all the rest of us are financially
independent. You must have gotten to that point during your years you
speak of as a self-employed tech. If I'd stayed on at the university, we'd
never have lived past that. You imply that you are "past"
a house payment. Our was getting bigger because of the
insufficiency of the salary. I don't know your age, but I know that the
costs of basic necessities compared to earnings is not what it was
even 20 years ago. There was no way we could have continued, and I know
how to live cheap.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#1f497d>My take-home is not as great as my former gross
receipts as an independent tech, but somehow I’m living as well or better.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Well, you must have gotten everything paid for as a self-employed tech
before you switched to being an employee.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If anything, because of that inequity alone, we owe it to the next
generation of piano technicians to do our part to support the market for their
work. If we approach it with, "I can live cheaper now", that is letting
our next generation down, let alone those across the country who'd like to be
able to pay their bills now.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#1f497d>These university positions are unique jobs and they
clearly are not for everyone but some of us weirdos are pretty happy doing
it. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It sounds obvious that you'd like to keep it that way.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I suppose if we worked to get the salaries up, we might have some
competition for our jobs.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I don't mean to pick on Dave and I really do rebutt his response with all
due respect, but his post epitomizes why university salaries are what they
are. University positions are being taken primarily by either singles or
empty nesters who don't require as much income. That mischaracterizes the
market for our skill. It undermines the CAUT committee's efforts
to establish a CAUT endorsement and creates a model that makes it
impossible for those of us who are family breadwinners to be able to fit
in.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If that is the collective will of the incumbents in these positions, then
that is fine. But rather than wasting the CAUT committee's time on creating
an endorsement that should have the effect of improving earnings, let's just put
out a statement that says that "Full Time college technician positions are not
intended for people who want to work hard and improve their skills and earn a
good salary. They are for people who don't require much money to
live."</DIV>
<DIV>Jeff</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=dporritt@mail.smu.edu href="mailto:dporritt@mail.smu.edu">Porritt,
David</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=caut@ptg.org
href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">College and University Technicians</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:29
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [CAUT] Louisiana State SOM
Position</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Jeff:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">I hope you’re not saying that
those of us who are happy with what we are doing, and have a different
perspective on economic issues, and are aware of whatever trade-offs are
involved and don’t quit in anger are doormats. I remember well the
pressures of a house payment, kids in school, etc. and I’m glad I’ve lived
past that. SMU has an excellent retirement program (I contribute 5%,
they contribute 10%) I have good health benefits, I work with great musicians
who are also delightful human beings, I perceive that I am appreciated and my
last raise confirms it. My take-home is not as great as my former gross
receipts as an independent tech, but somehow I’m living as well or
better. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">I’m really glad you’ve made
the decision to leave USC as it’s been obvious that you have been unhappy for
a long time. These university positions are unique jobs and they clearly
are not for everyone but some of us weirdos are pretty happy doing it. I
hope your independent business picks up quickly and that you earn the
lifestyle you want and need.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">dave<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">David M. Porritt,
RPT<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><A
href="dporritt@smu.edu"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue">dporritt@smu.edu</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<DIV
style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none">
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">
caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Jeff
Tanner<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, June 17, 2008 9:52 AM<BR><B>To:</B> College
and University Technicians<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [CAUT] Louisiana State SOM
Position<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Yes, I became
bitter over time as I realized I'd been lied to and misled about the
future. I was committed to the university and there was no reciprocal
commitment. That will make anyone bitter. But if it paid enough to live on and
there had been a commitment from the administration for a real program of
maintenance beyond telling the guy they hired to just work harder, I
would have been quite happy to stay there on and
on.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">But the point is,
the earnings situation around the country isn't going to get any better
until we start standing up for ourselves. As long as we are doormats,
that is how we will be treated. If we want to change it, it starts with
us. So, that's what I did.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">If you don't want
to see change, just keep on with the status quo.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Jeff</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt 3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none">
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">----- Original
Message ----- <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <A
title=wimblees@aol.com href="mailto:wimblees@aol.com">Willem Blees</A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">To:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <A
title=caut@ptg.org href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">caut@ptg.org</A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Sent:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Monday, June 16,
2008 9:02 PM<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Subject:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Re: [CAUT]
Louisiana State SOM Position<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt">Jeff<BR><BR>I'm sorry you are
so bitter about your job at USC, and I hope you find what you're
looking for. <BR><BR>Peace<o:p></o:p></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt">Wim<o:p></o:p></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>