Damn it, Eric, I'm just a Tech! All this contractually stuff confusses me!
I thought I pretty much had that supply and demand thing down to a science! Let me see if I understand the situation. If there is a shortage of a commodity, the price Drops?...
OK here ya go putt'n words in my mouth (or on my monitor) - never said the price drops - it only goes up with a shortage
...Bonuses are easier to deliver CONTRACTUALLY! Who's Contract? Bonuses of a buck an hour are Chump Change! Start the bidding at the DC Cook range of $3000.00 per outage, and I'd even be interested!...
Yes bonus's are easier to get signed off by a client than an overall contract change increasing wages and diem, regardless of the amount the utility is willing to sign off on - be it your "chump change" or a $3000 deal and anything inbetween
...By the way, What's the DC Cook Bonus this year?...
dont know yet, still wait'n on all the outage info for the newly aquired contracts
...In your theory, the earlier the Techs commit and the sooner you fill all the positions, the more the industry is willing to offer? Seems like your contradicting yourself? ( Those who go without, will pay more )!...
Once again your putt'n words in my mouth - I don't have a theory, I have my observations from staffing 32+ outages seasons over the years - I never said the sooner the techs commit the more the industy is willing to pay.
- No contradictions at all - as I stated from MY perspective I would of course prefer people to sign up early, from MY standpoint its a hell of lot easier on what can be a difficult job. "But hey thats just me" (a recruiter)
- As far wages getting increased - plants that have techs sign up early normally are the ones that have better packages, and/or are better places to work - those that have a hard time staffing are normally those that have moderate to sub-par packages and/or are considered undesirable places to work - those plants that fall in the second catagory will, in time, have to A. come up with a better package and B. become a desirable place to work in order staff. "Those who go without, will pay more"
...I believe everybody knows where they want to go, getting there is sometimes a problem. Like you said, it's a double edges sword, jump to early and you miss a bunch of better opportunities, not priorly offered. Jump to late and you may miss an extra three weeks of work...
commit early for what you wanted and not have wages increase, or hold out to try and force wages up and get your spot taken by someone else - double edged sword - each tech will have to make his/her choice and do what they feel the need to do in order to support themselves and thier families - be it confirming in early or holding out for ones ideals - either way is commendable.
...In summation, with your company holding the major majority of contracts, you believe that when the utilities can't meet their minimum staffing, via your company, they will once again turn to your company and ask for more Techs, at an increase Wage and Per Diem?...
In summation I belive that this industry is driven by supply and demand, we've held the majority of contracts(commercial HP/Decon) for several years now and I've seen it happen - when a site can't staff thier packages get increased - over the past several years wages that ranged from $12-$14/hr for an 18.1, $14-$15/hr for a 3.1, $16/hr if you were >7 years or NRRPT and $1/hr bonuses to rates ranging from $18-$20/hr for 18.1, $19-$25/hr for a 3.1 and higher and bonuses that can reach as high $5-$6/hr st time and 1/2 for OT - I've seen diem go from $35-$50/day to double or more what they used to be to average between $85 to $110/day - all of this under deregulation where the plants have cut back on the money they spend because they arent guarenteed that "golden egg" each year -
In the past I've seen plants give $3000 bonuses because they couldn't staff, because the techs had committed for other jobs - it will happen again - its the nature of the industry
...
I haven't bought a Bridge in years, which one you Selling? 
no bridge - just work, thats all I offer, take it or leave it.
Eric
