[CAUT] School Politics (Re: LSU SOM position)

[Ed Sutton]

Rick-

Getting it done is our job in life. We each need to find the way and the 
place where we can get it done.

Please let us not forget that there are many people on this list who enjoy 
CAUT work. Full-time, part-time, or contract, it is possible to enjoy this 
work.

Shawn, working in a college can be a great way to hone your skills, 
post-school. Maybe for a year, maybe for a lifetime.

Ed Sutton  (Small-time, contract CAUT, and enjoying it.)


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick Florence" <Rick.Florence at asu.edu>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 1:21 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] School Politics (Re: LSU SOM position)


Jeff, I agree it is  much easier said than done.  I was responding to the 
question of politics, meaning (at least to me) knowing who to keep happy, 
which battles are yours and which will be fought for you/with you by your 
colleagues (faculty), etc.  It doesn't matter how many technicians are on 
staff, keeping the right faculty members happy is paramount to a 
technician's success.

I agree that as a general rule schools are understaffed, including us.  Most 
of us have the protection of the FLSA.  When we are required to work more 
than 40 hours/week, we are to be compensated either in pay or time off.  One 
technician or two, the rules are the same.  Perhaps your position was 
exempt, if so, it should have been with a huge wage increase.

As for vacation and sick time.  Faculty and administration need to be 
educated to the point that they understand you have a life as well.  I am 
aware that some faculty will never get it, we have one pianist like that 
here.  He doesn't understand what he is asking in terms of time and funding. 
I'm hoping he will come around in the future.  Luckily, the rest are very 
supportive and understand our limits.  It all goes back to my original 
premise - "if they appreciate you, they will be strong advocates..."  This 
is why I attend periodic faculty meetings, especially the keyboard area 
meetings.  It allows me to speak to them as a colleague, instead of that 
staff guy who tunes the pianos.  More importantly, it gives me a chance to 
enroll them in my plans to better support them in their mission.

I understand that some schools are a no win situation for a technician.  My 
point is if you want to make it better, it's got to happen with the support 
of the faculty.  Without them, you will fight a losing battle.  It is then 
when you have to make a choice, do I stay and work in an impossible 
situation, or do I leave and keep my sanity.

________________________
Rick Florence
Senior Piano Technician
Arizona State University
School of Music



-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org on behalf of Jeff Tanner
Sent: Sat 6/28/2008 8:25 AM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] School Politics (Re: LSU SOM position)

Rick Florence wrote:
"Evan, I can sum up institutional politics in one sentence.  Keep the
faculty happy, especially the keyboard folks.  If they are not happy, you're
life will be miserable, if they appreciate you, they will be strong
advocates for everything from budgets to travel for continued education."


Now Rick,
That is very much oversimplified.  In reality, this is MUCH easier said than
done, especially when there is only one tech position, regardless of how
many or how few pianos there are.  You've got a second position there who
can cover for you while you're out moonlighting to make up for the
insufficient salary or taking your vacation time on the lake, right?

Activity doesn't stop at the school pretty much year round, and as long as
there is only one staff position, there is nobody to cover for you if you
get sick, down in the back, want to take your vacation time or have to make
extra money, and young, ambitious faculty aren't very patient with that.
But if you have two positions, regardless of whether you have 40 pianos or
400, you at least have someone to cover when one of you has to be gone.

Even when you have holiday leave - Thanksgiving or Christmas - faculty are
doing recordings at the school because that's the only time they can book
the hall for such.  While they might agree to compensate you for the one or
two tunings you do for them, they pretty much expect YOU to do it and give
up that trip to spend Christmas or Thanksgiving with family.  Then, there's
the annual piano festival that conflicts with that continued education...

Being one tech in a situation is tough.  I don't recommend it for anyone,
ESPECIALLY if you have, or are planning to start, a family.

College work is a great training ground for honing your skills.  But it is
no means of providing a living.

Jeff