Spring Season, The Squeeze is on!

[RAD-GHOST]

Now that the search for opportunities has narrowed, it sure adds a different perspective on who's doing What in the Outage World and When!  The run down looks something like this:

January - 3 Outages, already staffed

February - 8 Outages

March - 15 Outages

April - 14 Outages

May - 3 Outages

Looks like someone is going to have to pull the reserves out in March & April!  Add the anticipated 100 to 150 DOE positions to the equation and life will be interesting! 

[Eric_Bartlett]

Now that the search for opportunities has narrowed, it sure adds a different perspective on who's doing What in the Outage World and When!  The run down looks something like this:

January - 3 Outages, already staffed

February - 8 Outages

March - 15 Outages

April - 14 Outages

May - 3 Outages

Looks like someone is going to have to pull the reserves out in March & April!  Add the anticipated 100 to 150 DOE positions to the equation and life will be interesting! 

correction

March - 16 outages

[SloGlo]

yo, eric... my man!  whacha payeen dez daze?

[RAD-GHOST]

You have to Admit, my Math wasn't bad!

Besides, I believe number 16, in March, is the Other Guy's,( one and only )!

Fitz - 3/05

[Surveyors_mato]

Hey Eric,

  Now would be the time for Bartlett to invest in or buy, A cloaning company. Looking at the schedule, B is going to need it. We can't be in two places at once.


   How cold blooded would it be if every tech in the free world, held out every job for The Money? My guess is B will be importing english speaking  foreigners to staff outages here. But alas, SM no habla

[RAD-GHOST]

Insider Information, or just Good Advice?

Trust me, when Utilities need to compete for contract technicians because they happen to have plants going down at the same time, they will get competitive, rates/diem should go up.  When Utility "A" finds out that  Utilities "B" & "C" are paying 2-3 dollars more per hour and 5-15 dollars more per day, they will raise they're rates or go without those that would normally work there. 
Just my opinion - time will tell.

Eric

I'm glad to see your finally comming around to my line of thinking!  I've often felt that you and I, have been on opposite sides of the table on this one, but it appears that I was wrong!  Of course I would expand on the fact, that no matter how many plants were going down, if techs refrained from the early commitments, ( First Offers ), the overall compensation packages would increase!   


Imagine the Scenerio?

Customer call, three weeks before the Outage, " How Many Techs do We have"? 

Answer:  ZERO!

WOW, I can only imagine what would be said next!

( 30/100 would be Nice! )

Bonus...Keep the Stinking Bonus! 
Most of the bonuses today, calculated on a daily bases, equate to lunch at Mc D's and a coke, After Taxes!  Not to mention all the strings attached!

Just my Humble Opinion, RG!     

[Roll Tide]

   How cold blooded would it be if every tech in the free world, held out every job for The Money? My guess is B will be importing english speaking  foreigners to staff outages here. But alas, SM no habla

I remember a utility advertising for espanol speaking HP's for an outage last year (Grand Gulf, if memory serves correctly). If you are going to get Spanish-speaking workers, the coverage might as well be Spanish-speaking!

[Eric_Bartlett]

You have to Admit, my Math wasn't bad!

Besides, I believe number 16, in March, is the Other Guy's,( one and only )!

Fitz - 3/05

Then make it 17

Insider Information, or just Good Advice?
I'm glad to see your finally comming around to my line of thinking!  I've often felt that you and I, have been on opposite sides of the table on this one, but it appears that I was wrong!  Of course I would expand on the fact, that no matter how many plants were going down, if techs refrained from the early commitments, ( First Offers ), the overall compensation packages would increase!... Bonus...Keep the Stinking Bonus! 
Most of the bonuses today, calculated on a daily bases, equate to lunch at Mc D's and a coke, After Taxes!  Not to mention all the strings attached!
Just my Humble Opinion, RG!     

This is where we disagree...If a vendor cant staff I dont see the Pay/diem package getting increased, all i see is bonus money getting increased, its allot easier contractually to add a bonus then it is to change rates, just my observations over the past 15+years.  As far as techs refraining from 1st offers, some do, not all but some.  Its been my experience is that most people know where they want to go, and in holding out they may not get there - its a double edged sword, damned if you do, damned if you dont kinda deal - of course from my perspective the earlier the better - but hey thats just me.

[RAD-GHOST]

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?     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! 

By the way, What's the DC Cook Bonus this year?    

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 )! 

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.

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?

I haven't bought a Bridge in years, which one you Selling?   

[Old HP]

I liked Rad Ghost's last post.  However, in reference to the squeeze is on, it seems more like the experienced techs are being SQUEEZED OUT. 

[RAD-GHOST]

Good Point Old HP. 

Of course they don't want us old independent bastards, who can work for the other companies at the drop of a hat!  Just speculation on my part, but I believe they prefer an entire staff of Newbie, far from us dinosaurs, so they wont become contaminated by the concepts of New and Better Opportunities!  The Mushroom Theory!

Another recent event in the Spring Staffing Game.  I've already gotten calls from two companies, for back up contracts.  I don't know how real they are, but at least someone is fishing!  It all depends on how much CENTS they offer!

[Eric_Bartlett]

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

[Eric_Bartlett]

Good Point Old HP. 

Of course they don't want us old independent bastards...but I believe they prefer an entire staff of Newbie...

Whose "they" - come on now, if it wasnt for you, who would I have all these enlightening discussions with? 

[scruffy]

Whose "they" - come on now, if it wasnt for you, who would I have all these enlightening discussions with? 

Eric Kinda sounds like you are confirming what old hp said in a strange sorta way. LOL

[Eric_Bartlett]

Eric Kinda sounds like you are confirming what old hp said in a strange sorta way. LOL

Not so, my job is to hire any/all able bodied techs available - pending quals & security of course.

[RRhoads]

-10 pts for spelling.
"when a site can't staff thier packages"
"to support themselves and thier families"
"Thier" is spelled as "their" or "there" depending on proper grammar.
......Massachusetts skooling??

[Eric_Bartlett]

-10 pts for spelling.
"when a site can't staff thier packages"
"to support themselves and thier families"
"Thier" is spelled as "their" or "there" depending on proper grammar.
......Massachusetts skooling??

OK, come on now - just a little mind block when it comes to a few words - thier, their is one of them - you got me - this could all be solved if Mr. Mike had spell check - expect to see more "thier"s on my posts just something that happens - I do attribute it to my Masachewsets skool'n - product of public schools push'n me thru - but we can take that up on a political thread about private schools, charter schools and vouchers, etc...

[halflifer]

we can take that up on a political thread about private schools, charter schools and vouchers, etc...

sounds like a good one. Start 'er up

[RRhoads]

ok....just a little ribbin!

i talk "too" u every once in a while!
i agree....a spell check would be nice

[Chelios]

It weren't the skooling, you just didn'twant to learn.

[Eric_Bartlett]

It weren't the skooling, you just didn'twant to learn.

well, that to.  (or is it too) 

[MrHazmat]

Dat B TOO. 

[Eric_Bartlett]

tanx!

[MrHazmat]

uwelcum.

[radman5030]

what do you consider "able bodied"??

To "some" companies it means breathing, others creative writing, the list can go on I am sure.

Just an observation, don't get mad anyone if it hits a little close to home.

Example: Worked with a ANSI 3.1 who had 10 years plus, place working steam generators...with a life time dose of 12mrem.  By the way a Jr. had to explain the difference between loose and fixed contamination to her/him.

Now this was a technician that used both of the above skills, breating and writing, I guess you could say he/she was bi-techual    Not to mention good ALARA practices.