Companies with Degree Programs? In reality I guess they all do, so long as YOU pay for it! Name one that will sponser a degree and pay the fee? If you know of one, please let us know! Have fun on your search!
How about the real issues:
Let’s look at the trends over the past couple of years.
Wage increases........Technicians….LESS THAN POOR, Company Management....MOST EXCELLENT!
Per Diem Rates........Below Recognized/Printed/Acceptable Government Standards, but increasing!
Travel Expenses.......CAPPED CRAP!
Training........Best that you can afford out of your own pocket!
Medical........Do I really have to say anything?
Vision, Dental, Prescription........I know, that's Ridiculous!
Vacation Pay........Poor if you can get it and unavailable to about 90 percent of the work force!
Holiday Pay........About three slices of pizza, if your first in line!
Sick Pay……..What a sick joke!
Sorry, just my opinion, but these appear to be the issues of today and probably tomorrow.
Anybody want to debate those?
JJ, you first, join the IBEW, sign a card and pay the dues. There are many organizational options besides joining an existing union. I currently hold a card from the IBEW, also a white card from the Hoffa organization in Philly. I have also been a member of two other unions, due to closed shop rules. The pre existing organizations have their plus's and minus's, but I don't believe many could fairly represent our discipline. All existing unions were founded with a specific agenda, for a specific population of individuals. Health Physics seems to be a mystery to most people outside of a radiological environment. Hell, even using the wrong acronym, at some facilities, draws a blank stare from the workers! What's an HP, RCT, RADCON, RP? Joining one of those organizations, because they already exist and have a contract in place, would probably prove to be unfavorable. I don’t believe a membership consisting of a couple of thousand T&D employees would consider my interests during a contract vote. I will agree that there are probably some existing organizations that have ideals close to ours, but they need to be researched.
Tina, I assume you’re a NO vote, no matter what! Seems that you have some grievances from the past that were not addressed to your satisfaction. How about today? If the situations repeated themselves, what would your course of resolve be? You also offered one very valid point in one of your recent postings, knowing you are receiving the same training, pay and benefits as your union brothers and sister, co-workers. I'll add outages or any other applicable facility! If you have that venue now, I suggest you keep your location top secret. If not, you'll have a hundred techs on the phone, scrapping for your job! By the way, one company is currently flashing the marquee of opportunity for DOE techs to enter the commercial industry, study guide included. I suggest NOT, but the opportunity is there to branch out!
Walt, it took me a little longer on the resume thingy, but I agree in general. Our discipline is primarily based on experience, or "Skill's of the Trade" as it is referred to in ANSI Standards. In my opinion, about 10% education and a 90% combination of public relations, common sense and experience! Stop and think for a minute, what if the education level increased in the work force? Technicians who not only know what their doing in the field, but why they're doing it! The trend of today’s industry is ramping upwards in the number of incidents, which coincidently are repeats of past events. Yep, the same S##T, different decade and it is a recognized and identified trend. Would more training make them a better technician? Probably wouldn't hurt! Diversification would be be my suggestion on the training issue. Technicians that could walk into any situation and feel comfortable. I want to offer Tina the opportunity to Certify an RGD, walk into a TRU project, run a Crit-Safe program, or cover a S/G project and have the knowledge and comfort level to do the job! I surely cant teach her how to carry the meter, but I can draw her focus on the radiological concerns! Walt, I dont know your experience, but I want to be able to drop a part 61 sample program on your desk and expect regulatory compliance in two weeks!
I am also with Walt on the dues issue. That seems to be the world of today, Pay-Per-View. If you want something better, you have to pay to see it! Na, I'm one of those cheap stingy bastards who needs to see the fine print, before signing the doted line. If an existing organization really wants to entice us, let them post their proposal on this site for review! Until then I believe we would do better on our own, coyotes or not! I love that Coyote comment, I've seen them in action!
Walt, your not feeble and I respect your dedication to the industry, 25 +years, KUDOS+ and a pat on the back!
Sorry Alphadude...TRAINING...Divers ified Training in ALL Health Physics Disciplines, for all who want it! That’s a tall order, but the resources are available! I don’t know for how much longer, but they are available today!
Bat Man, what do you want? I hate to be curt, but you keep repeating seniority, seniority and seniority as your primary point of contention! I believe a suggestion was offered on merit based opportunities, driven by the customers request's. Actually as I read back on the thread, it seems that you simply want the upper edge, in all cases! What if the plant wants me, or what if the contract company wants me? This may come as a big surprise, but there are still a lot of high quality techs available in the industry! You may be at the top of the list, but you’re not alone! If a tech worked a plant, over the past ten consecutive outages, do you deserve his opportunity simply because you’re the contract company poster child? Sorry if I offended you, but never ask for more than your willing to give!
You did offer an interesting aspect to the A & B list of the companies. What if you made the A list as number 45, (You can't all be #1), and the customer only requested 44? Looks like the company screwed you, you should have been number 1, 2, 24 or whatever! How do you know this hasn't happened? To date it sounds like you've had a pretty good run on opportunities, but then again what have you been offered vs. what is actually available? Sometimes you just never know! I believe the most important issue with assignments, is to know what assignments are available, not channeled opportunities offered by the companies!
In summation, lets wrap it all up, the bottom line! What have you really aquired from your employment opportunities, the bottom cash figure. Convert everything to cash and figure it out!
Lets go with, $26.00 an hour & $100.00 a day PD, then add your benefit package.
Lets say 72 hours per week!
WOW, $41.50 per hour gross!
Now add benefits, still $41.50 per hour, less if you take the insurance!
Toss in Taxes, per hour, $2.50 ss/med, $1.50 - 2.50 State, $6.00 Federal....Sound about right?
WOW, $31.50 per hour take home....SWEET!
Wait a minute, double living expenses:
Motel, meals, laundry, phone, gas, vehicle ware & tare, tolls and whatever $5.00 per work hour, we always live cheaper on the road!
Now that's the sweet life, take home about $26.50 an hours and a thousand+ miles from the home and family!
Wait a minute, I forgot home expenses! I know you have then anyway, but guess what, your paying for something you can't use, or see!
Toss in another $5.00 per hour, for that vacation place you call home!
Man, now we're talking real gravy, about $21.50 per hour take home, without misc expenses! Anybody wonder why so many of the old timer left the gravy boat!
Respect to all, just my opinion, RG!