Kent State job

[DGPEAKE@AOL.COM]

I agree that if you add up all of the benefits, it seems like an attractive 
offer. But if I read it right, they are looking for an experienced technician 
in tuning, concert work, repair, regulation, rebuilding, and harpsichord 
experience. (I do not have the post right in front of me so I am capable of a 
misquote.) 

Now if a technician is looking to relocate, he or she must first sell his or 
her house.  Then find a house where he or she is moving to.  At 12.74/hr, it 
totals 25480.00. When applying for a home mortgage, that is not much to 
qualify for a nice home, especially if you need room for the kids. (At least 
not where we live but where you are moving to the market may be lower). The 
mortgage company does not care about how much benefits you have, insurance, 
401K, free tuition. Only salary. I know, because we have sold and bought a 
house recently. Not once did they ask about my wife's benefits, which are 
quite good because she works in the public school system.

So it gets down to what you are worth and I am sure it is much more than the 
university floor sweeper.

Dave Peake, RPT
Portland Chapter
Oregon City, OR

In a message dated 05/22/2000 7:44:13 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
kkean@kent.edu writes:

<< I'm not sure why anyone would find an advertised job insulting (the last
 time I checked, we were free to reject any substandard job offers, free
 market and all that...  ;-). 
 
 The pay level is unfortunate, though, and reflects both the rigidity of the
 civil service system and the lack of support for the arts in our schools.
 The administration dropped back to the very bottom of the pay scale for that
 grade, and I'm not sure how quickly a new hire would advance, pay-wise.
 However, I must say that there are other advantages to working at a
 university. Free tuition for your whole family could add $10-20,000+ a year
 tax-free on top of your salary, plus medical, dental, eyeglasses, etc, not
 to mention a nice working environment and a flexible schedule for doing
 outside tuning/attending classes. 
 
 I don't like defending an administrative attitude I've battled over the
 years, but Kent state has been good for me; it all depends on what you're
 looking for in a position.
 
 Kerry Kean 
 
 
 >School of Music. Wage: $12.74.
  
  Personally, I find that insulting!  As long as someone keeps accepting this
  "McDonald's" wages, Piano Technicians will barely above the janitor...I bet
  the janitor gets paid more!
  
  David I. >>
  >>