$16.00 an hour? They would have to be crazy to even think about working for that wage!
Even the old excuse's, of being close to home, or that outage lines up with the other one I am going to, doesn't cut it! Any technician who works for that wage, need only look in the mirror to find the guilty party for keeping wages low!
This year, two plants have had some very real problems staffing, Seabrook and DC Cook. Look what happened there! They opened their wallets! I believe Seabrook went to 21/90 with a monster bonus, ( somewhere between $7 and $11 an hour ). Cook went to 21/70 and a $3000.00 show up bonus, plus hourly bonus! Hell, they couldn't get techs at that rate! I guess the $16.00 an hour was more appealing, due to logistics!
Many D&D and DOE sites have also posted for techs, with decent wages and PD. If the responsibilities at home are so demanding, I suggest looking for another line of work, with equivalent pay, like so many other have done! As the utilities get more creative with staff augmentaion, you will find outages getting even shorter in duration, with less staff and lower wages. Although you may not believe it is possible, it is a fact!
Shortage of techs? Overall I have to admit it is true, but not to the degree you may think. Their are quite a number of techs who have focused on the D&D and DOE sector, I would estimate about 2000! Since they choose the full time 40 hour home life, they certainly aren't going to venture back into the outage world, especially when they hear about $16.00 an hour wages!
The contract companies are using that to their advantage. Since the creation of the Co-Employment issue, the contract companies have had their run of the industry, uncheck by the utilities. They can put who they want, where they want, when they want! The utilities are simply told that the shortage of available techs only allows for 80 to 90 percent staffing, at best!
Do you want the time, or the dime? I'll take the dime! I have seen many promises gone by the way side. I have seen them served up on a silver platter, but complete failure on the delivery! Based on that I'll sell myself to the highest bidder! At the present time there are about 10 companies who supply technicians in the field, two in the utility sector. I don't think the others want to get involved with the penny pinching utilities, that doesn't fit into their business plan and I don't blame them!
Mike, I think this is a topic that will probably piss some companies off, but one that is necessary. The one major tool these companies use against the tech force, is communications, or should I say lack of it! In the recent job posting section, I have noticed that many companies have refrained from posting the compensation, again another negative situation!
I've had my say, Thanks!