Oops... David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, CA 94044 ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: "Jim Busby" <jim_busby at byu.edu> To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org> Received: 9/8/2008 12:19:41 PM Subject: Re: [CAUT] Reasonable job descriptions >Paul, >I'm posting this to you privately because I don't want it in the "public". I'm currently >at $48K but the benefits package is incredible. They say it's worth about another >20K. still it's not enough for me to live on due to some stupid debt I have. >Essentially, I have to earn about 1K a month more to maintain my life style (which is >modest!) and I still don't have enough time to do much in the way of personal/family >time. >Knowing that, if I were making about 20K more it would be about where I should be, >IMO. We all would like to make more, but this is where I am... >Now, in your last paragraph you state that we should stand together. Therein is the >problem, as I see it. There are so many technicians (hacks, most) that would jump in >here in a heartbeat that I don't know how we can try to push our way around in the >least bit! Our profession seems to be one of about 30% incompetent hacks, about >20% top notch and everyone else somewhere in the middle. But here is the problem; >No one (administration) can tell the difference!! At least, not with the middle of the >road techs. A colleague of mine goes in an toons the piano and when he >S through it's not top notch. But no one cares! Even some of the best pianists seem >to let things go. It's not too bad in that I think it would clearly pass the RPT test >(that says something, doesn't it?) but it's a pretty close SAT tuning with some not >too wild but out unisons! And he's a CTE!! >My heart sinks when I see what people think are good tunings. It makes me wonder >why I even care sometimes. >Soooo.... What does this have to with the price of rice in China?? I just wonder how >we can stick together when only about 1 in 5 are PTG members, and about half of >them are green or not soing high level work! What is the key to making a better >living here? >I dunno. Sometimes I get frustrated and seeing a post like yours get's me hoping >and wishing for more, but then my pragmatic evil side kicks in and I write rants like >this. >Best. >Jim >From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul T >Williams >Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2008 2:15 PM >To: College and University Technicians >Subject: Re: [CAUT] Reasonable job descriptions >Richard, et.al, >I'm with you. I'll take the catagory IV at $200K. ;>) (like that'll ever happen) >Kidding aside. If we can stick together on this issue, and it has to be ALL of us, >maybe we can get the average salary for full time large universities up to 60-70K or >80-90K as that would be far more in-sinc with the supply/demand curve that is >currently warped...-not in our favor. That higher figure seems to be in line with the >better-than-average college prof who has the same relative education in their field. >Our field is so specialized, it should actually be more $ for us. >Who can do what we do?? Architect's are a dime a dozen, and so on. If the pianos >don't work...the university won't work.(school of music speaking) For a good point, >our purcussion professor, who is charge of all the student convos. invitied me to >come in for the meet and greet introduction to the freshmen. I was able to tell >everyone what I do and to keep all the stuff off the pianos. He continued after my >very short rant as to what I REALLY do for nearly 4-5 minutes!! What a wonderful >thing this was!! I was not expecting this at all. He really does appreciate what I do >and what the pianos are worth etc,. He told all that I can build a piano from the >ground up (a little over-emphasized there, of course) Out sourcing is still key to all >of us. Time and space wise. DO IT all all of you!!! It's worth the bucks! > It was interesting to see that our UNL chancellor and president were >overwhelmingly approved for between 15-30% raises when their salaries are >between 200-350K/year. Just the raise for the president is nearly what I make in a >year!! And yet they say it's to keep up with other large universities in the country. >Yet, WE all stay at nearly the same, other than the very pretigious private colleges. >I only got a 4% raise for this coming year. Other than full tuition for their offspring, >it still not enough. It's still less than the football coach who makes a couple >million..THAT'S BIG BUSINESS..AND ANOTHER STORY for another day (we'll never >be a super star) .... I get a few hours of college credits per year that I can use >or a percentage of that I can transfer to my wife. NO credit building is allowed year >to year. That, I don't understand. I can build up vacation hours up to a VERY large >amount (to a limit, of course), but tuition credits do not build up. My son is 12 years >old. At this measly salary, it will be manditory for him to get scholarships for him to >attend a "regular" university or superior private school out of state... There is no >way I'll be able to cover my son's tuition. >I hope we can all stand together and make our profession worth more than what it >is, currently. I don't think "they" know what they have!!". IT SHOULD BE WORTH >GOLD!!!!! What we do is getting harder and harder to find, and if possible, should >get to the point that our "offspring" will enjoy what we deserve. Let's also find more >tech students to carry on our knowledge, otherwise, we'll all go digital!! That would >be a shame.... >Enough said. >On to another week in the grunge!! A 1926 M in the middle of a "rebuild"! We can't >afford a new one!!!!!! >Paul. >"rwest1 at unl.edu" <rwest1 at unl.edu> >Sent by: caut-bounces at ptg.org >09/07/2008 11:16 AM >Please respond to >College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org> >To >College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org> >cc >Subject >Re: [CAUT] Reasonable job descriptions >On Sep 6, 2008, at 11:04 AM, Ralph Onesti wrote: >I was hoping you could help Vincent write a reasonable job description for the new >tech as you are in the trenches and who knows where they are. >I think this would be a great exercise for this group, with the results being added to >the Guidelines for Institutional Maintenance. Or better yet, the results could lead to >a CAUT brochure, "Hiring the Piano Technician-A Resource for Colleges, Universities, >and other Educational Institutions." >I don't think that there is a one-size-fits-all description. For example, the description >for a part-time contract position would be different than for a full-time position in a >large, land-grant type university which would be different than for a full-time >position in a conservatory situation. The many descriptions would let the institution >decide which description was appropriate. Salary ranges should be included as well >as descriptions of the type of person that would apply (see below). >Having this kind of information available would accomplish several things. First, >although the various descriptions may not be all that different, expectations should >be different, including the pay scale and type of applicant that the institution could >realistically expect. Secondly, it would leave it up to the institution to determine >where it falls in the various types and pay scales. Expectations would match the >self-image of the institution. Thirdly it would inform institutions what the pay range >should be. I don't think many people outside our group know what full-time >technicians working in the private sector can make. Doing the math for those >involved in hiring would be helpful. Finally, a beginning technician would be less >demanding in salary and benefits, than an experienced RPT who has been around >the block and wants to get paid appropriately. Institutions need to know that all >technicians are not created equal. >Just to get some discussion going, here are some off-the-top-of-my-head ideas >about types of technicians that could be matched to various descriptions. >Type of technician >I. Technician, Level I: $12,500 to $25,000, working part time, less than one year >experience, tunes fewer than 5 pianos per week >II. Technician, Level II: $35,000 to $50,000, working full time, three to five years >experience, tunes 15 to 25 pianos per week >III. Technician, Level III: $40,000 to $70,000, full time private or university, 5 to 10 >years experience, tunes 5 to 15 pianos per week, has regulated and voiced 10 to 20 >pianos over several years, regularly schedules full or partial action regulation >IV. Technician, Level IV: $50,000 to $200,000, full time private or >university/conservatory, 10 to 15 years experience, tunes 5 to 10 pianos per week, >has regulated and voiced pianos in concert venues, is familiar with restringing, new >parts installation, action geometry, hammer selection, key weight, piano touch, and >dealing with the concert artist concerns. >I would add that I think it's time for CAUT to develop an alternative to the Guidelines >document. It has been helpful, especially to technicians. But it is, IMHO, too long >for most administrators to deal with, and, also IMHO, the document's underlying >message is too self-serving. A brochure is a better alternative. >Richard West, retired but still working
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