Let's start a Calibration Union!!!!

[PMEL_DEVIL-DOG]

As I sit behind my desk writing a list of stuff to take on my calibration trip to the UAE 2moorow, a glorious thought crossed my brain housing group: Why don't we form a PMEL Union? If we all stick together, we could greatly reduce the amount of slave-serching PMEL companies looking to bend over good, knowlegeable, honest family men like ourselves by posting bogus cal jobs paying pennies on the dollar with crumbing benefits. Old Navy, Doc, and Thraxas could head it up, while In-Like-Flynn, myself, and Flew-da-Coupe could be in charge of employing strong-arm tactics of these multi-million dollar companies. We can have the whole PMEL industry on lock. Who's with me?

[docbyers]

It might be an interesting way to a) 'calibrate' the salaries out there, and b) educate our employers and the public as to just what exactly we do.

Walk up to 100 people on the street at random and ask them what a metrologist does.
You'll get 100 blank stares...  ...followed by "A weatherman!"

That attitude pervades the workplace, as well.  Some employers don't have a good idea about just how demanding and technical our job is, and therefore pay you "pennies on the dollar," because that's what they think you're worth.  My pharmaceutical company can't ship product unless the equipment we calibrate here is 'dress right dress' and working as advertised.  How valuable is that?!?

It would be interesting to get paid what I'm worth.  Maybe then I could afford a six-pack of beer and Hoopty would let me on his boat...

[Hoopty]

Doc, you're more than welcome on the boat... just bring that 6-pack and some of those stories you're holding out on.

BTW, when you guys get this set up, keep a cushy union rep spot open for me when I retire!

[coastiecappy]

That would be great, but how are you going to get past the stupidity of those we work for ?
It's taken me years to beat it into thick heads that a single point verification is not a calibration.
The real cure is to force all managers and engineers to work at least 2 years in the metrology lab before they are allowed to design or to implement anything, once they find out that they can't get there without us maybe they would take us a little more seriously.
And yes each year I end up fighting the same old battles, just different adversaries.

[flew-da-coup]

Thraxas and inlikeFlynn has heard me preach this before. I hate unions, but something has got to be done. Right now I have a very well paying job, but I have not forgotten all my friends and coworkers who have not been as lucky. Even though I am very happy with my pay I still get pissed to hear a tech only getting payed $25 - $27 an hour. Even though I hate unions ( and everything else liberal ) I think I would back one for our profession. Make the move and I will have your back on this one.

[PMEL_DEVIL-DOG]

Roger that....I'm on it like skank on, well, you know....We're going to be unstoppable! Hoffa who?

[docbyers]

Some random thoughts...

•   Lab managers should be making $35-$50/hour depending on experience, numbers of techs they manage, military/civilian, etc.  Bonuses would apply to a manager who consistently scores well on lab evaluations (and since they're a good manager, the bonuses would also apply to the techs doing the good work on the equipment!);
•   Special duty, such as QA, TODO, TFCU (on the road) would garner a $5/hour bump for a tech's salary;
•   New techs would start at around $20-$25/hour depending on schooling, experience, etc.;
•   COLA would apply as necessary (a California tech would make more than one in Montana, for example);
•   A "skill level" system could be implemented to evaluate a tech based on education, years of experience, special schools, special assignments (i.e. AGMC, PMEL School), areas worked (i.e. I have worked everything except radiac, so I would be worth more than a tech who has worked only K1), etc.;
•   Deployment to fun spots like Afghanistan, Iraq, or Minot would bring in serious salary bumps (I'm just kidding about Minot- nobody shooting at you there unless it's hunting season and you're in the way of the Vice President);
•   401K and/or retirement plans should be portable (our kind tends to move around a bit);
•   Health insurance might be gotten at a nice group rate if we had a few thousand members in a union; it also needs to have an international reach for our brothers and sisters overseas;
•   Relocation allowances would be the norm, rather than the exception (if you have a talented K6 tech in Georgia, and a client wants them in Ohio, they should pay to get them to Ohio)

These are things a union could fight for, and maybe we would get the pay and respect we deserve.  We are a unique, highly intelligent, highly diversified group of people, and maybe we deserve a little better than we're currently getting.  Collective bargaining works for football players to air traffic controllers, so why not for metrologists?

Any feedback?

[NRA4Life]

Step promotions

[MIRCS]

Some random thoughts...

•   Lab managers should be making $35-$50/hour depending on experience, numbers of techs they manage, military/civilian, etc.  Bonuses would apply to a manager who consistently scores well on lab evaluations (and since they're a good manager, the bonuses would also apply to the techs doing the good work on the equipment!);
•   Special duty, such as QA, TODO, TFCU (on the road) would garner a $5/hour bump for a tech's salary;
•   New techs would start at around $20-$25/hour depending on schooling, experience, etc.;
•   COLA would apply as necessary (a California tech would make more than one in Montana, for example);
•   A "skill level" system could be implemented to evaluate a tech based on education, years of experience, special schools, special assignments (i.e. AGMC, PMEL School), areas worked (i.e. I have worked everything except radiac, so I would be worth more than a tech who has worked only K1), etc.;
•   Deployment to fun spots like Afghanistan, Iraq, or Minot would bring in serious salary bumps (I'm just kidding about Minot- nobody shooting at you there unless it's hunting season and you're in the way of the Vice President);
•   401K and/or retirement plans should be portable (our kind tends to move around a bit);
•   Health insurance might be gotten at a nice group rate if we had a few thousand members in a union; it also needs to have an international reach for our brothers and sisters overseas;
•   Relocation allowances would be the norm, rather than the exception (if you have a talented K6 tech in Georgia, and a client wants them in Ohio, they should pay to get them to Ohio)

These are things a union could fight for, and maybe we would get the pay and respect we deserve.  We are a unique, highly intelligent, highly diversified group of people, and maybe we deserve a little better than we're currently getting.  Collective bargaining works for football players to air traffic controllers, so why not for metrologists?

Any feedback?

Hell no on the QA getting $5/hr more.......sorry I just have a bad taste for that one.  Maybe if they could perform all the task without needing assistance and put in a full days work.....etc. Not bringing write ups to me and asking what happened in the cal after 9 months have elapsed

Bonus programs should award those that are doing the work the most.

Remember Avionics are a higher payscale than PMEL in civil service. Making those people understand that it is not the price of the stuff you work on that sets the pay scale but the nature of that work..........sorry if we fix and calibrate everything in Avionics then I would think that the two fields would be on atleast equal footing.

[Gatdula]

Count me in, if not a Union at least a professional organization

[Thraxas]

It's a nice thought. However, I'm not a management type, and I dislike unions in general.

[PMEL_DEVIL-DOG]

It's a nice thought. However, I'm not a management type, and I dislike unions in general.

Don't look at it as a typical union. What would happened to the industry (everything from aviation to biomed field) if we all just said,' Ok that's it. I fed up with this crap!" The problem is that the higher ups don't really know our worth. We're not common field hands or peasants (sorry if any of you are, I love corn...I really do), we're highly trained professionals. Most of these guys don't know a fuse from a battery and the they take everything for granite. If you guys are like me, I tired of jumpimg thru hoops. Calibrate your own sh*t.

[Thraxas]

At least with a union we actually get a voice.   

Yeah, but whose voice?

[Freezer]

   The basic problem with a union, and I'm in one, is that you have to be willing to say "No F-ing way, I'm not going to work and not getting a paycheck" for whatever you want to negotiate for.  That's the basic problem.  You have to be willing to strike for what you want.  When it comes down to it, very few are willing to go that far. 
   That basic failing is also its greatest strength.  the company (the MAN!) thinks you're willing to chuck it all over any little thing.  It's a balance, a line that must be walked by all, some might say...a dance.  The other advantage is that any disciplinary action must be thoroughly scrutinized by management.  Less likelyhood of getting fired for something stupid.  It also creates a situation where people who should have gone a long time ago, have the opportunity to stay.  The union says it isn't in the business of keeping bad employees, but if one wants to fight, the union almost HAS to go down that road.  Waste of time for all involved. 

   I think a union has it's uses, but don't think it'll solve all your problems, cause it won't.

[USMCPMEL]

I say we all quit are jobs and start a calibration monopoly. We can be just like Wally world. We will charge people less until we drive out all the competition then we can raise our prices!!! Who's with me!! mwuuu hahahahahahahaha