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<DIV><SPAN class=750093917-18062008><FONT face=Arial size=2>My salary
is about what associate professors make, and they all have doctorates
(and most of the young ones have huge student loan debt). They have two months
off (sort of) I have about one month off, but most of them work as hard as
I do or harder during the semester. Many work late in the evening
and many weekends. Some of them (those in the music ed positions) took pay
cuts to come to the university from secondary ed. I took a pay cut to come
here from private work, but the benefits, working conditions, and career
objectives make this worthwhile. That's why we did it. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=750093917-18062008></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=750093917-18062008></SPAN><SPAN class=750093917-18062008><FONT
face=Arial size=2>My position pays much better then any of the trades here, even
the supervisory positions, and I am paid more than most of the
other professional staff (IT people, accountants, and most other
professional support staff). And, most importantly, I love my job. I'd love
to make a little more, but I refuse to make that the deciding factor on staying
in this work or not. It's a really nice place to work, and that's worth a lot to
me!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=750093917-18062008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=750093917-18062008><FONT face=Arial size=2>It's not just our
standard of living as CAUTs that is slipping away, it's most everyone who is
working with their time as the primary means of income. Most of the faculty here
are not supporting families on their incomes, and they have a ton more money
invested in education and debt! Some things pay better than others. Education is
not a field, or a sector people make a lot of money in, and most don't make
enough to support a family as the sole breadwinner, at least not with a large
house payment, car payments, etc... </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=750093917-18062008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Things have changed, and are
continuing to change, maybe even faster. It's not just in our neck of the woods!
I see it everywhere all around me. I feel very fortunate to be as well off as I
am, even though I do find it hard to keep up financially!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=750093917-18062008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=750093917-18062008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thankful and proud
to be a CAUT, and paid about as well as I think I can
expect,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=750093917-18062008><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>Jeff
Tanner<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, June 18, 2008 11:17 AM<BR><B>To:</B> College
and University Technicians<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [CAUT] Market; was Louisiana
State SOM Position<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dave Porritt wrote:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">I was gently trying to mention that you
should not categorize all college jobs as the same. If the situation at
USC is as you describe then you are right to leave and lodge a
protest. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And what that misses is that deans and
administrators don't take that into consideration when establishing salaries
for their position. They assume the job is the same from institution to
institution. You're absolutely right. Not every job is the
same. Heck, the job I left here didn't even resemble the job I
took here. As the inventory aged and wore down the older
faculty began retiring and being replaced by younger more ambitious
faculty who have more energy, higher demands and expectations. But
the dean who wasn't here 10 years ago and hasn't seen the
evolution doesn't look at it that way. He looks at what UGA,
Florida State, UNC Greensboro, etc., pay their piano technicians and sets the
salary here accordingly.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Jeff,
this <I>is</I> the “Market” at work. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Sort
of, in a round about discombobulated way. What I said was that it
mischaracterizes the market for our skill. Look, FT CAUTs represent less
than one percent of all piano technicians. And I would wager that you
charge fees for private work that is comparable to what other RPTs
charge. But what we have here is establishing a market for certain
demographic groups -- not the skill. We are effectively pitting
demographic groups against one another. And what we have allowed to
be created by not being proactive is something quite similar to the
Wal Mart greeter position from a demographic/economic standpoint.
And no amount of effort from the CAUT committee to establish a
skills/knowledge-based endorsement is going to result in any improvement
as long as we don't also address the reality that it isn't so
much skill that is establishing the market here as it is
demographics. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>The
dean here seems convinced that the employer sets the market. I
tried to explain to him that it was certain demographic groups - not the
employer - who were holding the market down, that the market was what it
was only because a small percentage of qualified applicants pursued these
jobs because they could afford to live on less. But he couldn't seem to
accept that. He seems to think (as does the local S&S
dealer) there is an endless supply of qualified piano
technicians in the country who would be happy making $40-$50K with full
benefits, but at the same time plans to become a piano technician when he
retires because he knows it is possible to make 6 figures. (By the way,
he seems to have no immediate plans of learning the trade. I think he
thinks he'll read a book and start making a lot of money the next
day.)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>Watching the Today show this morning, there was a segment on how much
debt this youngest generation will start out life with and this has been
a segment focusing on different generation demographics and debt all
week. The average college loan for current graduates is $19,000, and the
average credit card debt is $5,000. It was pointed out that the credit
card debt was not incurred because of frivolity, but that it was required
to survive. I can easily see that, and am surprised it isn't
at least double that amount. And I've got to wonder how
much today's lottery scholarship assistance (that we didn't have access
to) affects that college loan debt figure. I've noticed myself that
entry level positions for college graduates today don't pay much different
from what was being offered when I was in school 20 years ago. But I
didn't start out life with $26K of debt, the average car payment
wasn't $400/month and rent/mortgage certainly wasn't $1000/month. And
looking at the struggle my parents had compared to the struggle I've had
even with a college education, there is no comparison. My parents
had $10K in personal savings by the time I started college, and I never
had to wear hand-me-downs, we had an average middle class home, reliable cars,
and plenty of good food. Instead of savings, I will have $40K
or more of personal expenses related debt (not including
business related debt) and if it weren't for hand-me-downs my kids would
have to wear clothes from Goodwill. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial
color=#000000 size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>I'm
thinking in terms of the next generation and how much more difficult it is
even going to be for them than it is for our generation.
I think the demand for our work will probably wane in the private
sector over time as fewer and fewer people have time to play the
piano for simple enjoyment. With that, I think the college
positions will probably grow in terms of a market sector
percentage of what piano technicians do. But I think it is
incumbent upon us to make sure the next generation sees our profession as an
attractive one. I mean, my 7 year old son is already looking
at me and saying, "Dad, I wish you sold cars." This isn't just a "7
year old wanting to be a fireman when I grow up" mentality. He
actually already sees that a good car salesman provides better for
his family than does a good piano technician and being a piano technician
requires extensively more training and harder work. Before it's
over, I may well be selling cars, but I'm giving piano sales and service a
good honest effort first.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>If it
is the collective will to reserve the college positions for singles and empty
nesters who don't have the high bills that family breadwinners face, then I
really have no problem with it. But I also think that ought to be
accompanied with some sort of market campaign to let younger ambitious
family breadwinners know that "this probably isn't for
you."</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>Jeff</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </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 2:23
PM</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 was gently trying to
mention that you should not categorize all college jobs as the same.
If the situation at USC is as you describe then you are right to leave
and lodge a protest. I’m just saying not all jobs are like it is at
USC. My pay suits me, the benefits are very good, I work 37.5 hours a
week and have plenty of vacation and holiday time paid.
<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">You said: “</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">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.” </SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Jeff, this
<I>is</I> the “Market” at work. We all go for the positions that have
the benefits we want. No one gets it all. If high income is your
goal you have to find the positions, jobs or careers that offer that.
Everyone can choose the job they want, or the pay they want, but not
both. This choice is always a compromise between many criteria.
That’s free enterprise at work. When I was younger, more energetic and
less experienced I worked hard as an independent tech. I made good
money and handled it well. Now I’m old (68) and less energetic but
more experienced so I’m doing what I do now – happily.
<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">I hope you can find the
right situation </SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">–</SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d"> a satifying nitch in our profession that pays well
so that when you’re my age you don’t have regrets.<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>
<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 11:54 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
think that is being a doormat.</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'">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.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">As employees, it
is 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.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">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. </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">I
remember well the pressures of a house payment, kids in school, etc. and I’m
glad I’ve lived past that. </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">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></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Well, you must
have gotten everything paid for as a self-employed tech before you switched
to being an employee.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">These
university positions are unique jobs and they clearly are not for everyone
but some of us weirdos are pretty happy doing it. </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">It sounds obvious
that you'd like to keep it that way.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">I suppose if we
worked to get the salaries up, we might have some competition for our
jobs.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">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."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Jeff<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></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=dporritt@mail.smu.edu href="mailto:dporritt@mail.smu.edu">Porritt,
David</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">College and University
Technicians</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'"> Tuesday, June
17, 2008 11:29 AM<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><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">dporritt@smu.edu</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></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>