Let's start a Calibration Union!!!!

[dallanta]

I am not a union type of person, but we are union here, and they did increase our pay. Other than that, they are not worth much.  I would not strike unless I felt like it was necessary. I definitely would not because they told me too. 
   

[RichieRich]

The thing about a union is you become a commodity.   An hour of a metrologist's time is worth X.   Doesn't matter if you are good at what you do or if you just put in the minimum effort.   You will make X.   If you really want to break out of the low pay problem, become so good that your employer couldn't imagine doing business without you.   Yes, it takes a lot of work.   It's easier to go home and knock down a six pack than to brush up on electronics theory, but it is the only way you will be guaranteed to suceed.   If your employer doesn't increase your pay, take those skills elsewhere.   If you are that good you will be in demand.   Your skills are your security- you never have to worry about losing a job.   

[PMEL Whore]

And then they returned to the real world.   Not sure what you guys are talking about, the unions do alot more than just increase your pay.   If you are working for a contractor at an AF PMEL this is the only way you can protect yourself.   If you think just by being better than the others will get you a pay raise you are sadly mistaken

[RichieRich]

Then find a place to work that values those skills and let the people who have average skills work at a place that gives everyone average pay.   Or if you are one of those average skilled (or below) people - then stay where you are, keep drawing your average pay and be happy.   Not everyone can be a high acheiver.   

[Crayonman]

I know this is a little off topic, but, an alternative to a Union might be starting your own small business.   How many Government owned Contractor run PMEL's are out there?  Where the contractor supplies nothing but personel.   A few dozen qualified PMEL techs could get together and bid on an upcoming contract and when/if they win, they could run the lab and profit the full amount of the contract.   I know i am talking out of my butt a little here, and wouldn't know where to start, but look around at your lab. . . . how many tech's would get on board with you?  It's probably a lot of work, but the payoff would be huge, not only with pay, but with working conditions ect.   I might be a little niave, but it's just a thought.

[docbyers]

Not a bad idea.  Gov't purchasing gives preferential treatment to minority and women-owned businesses, so make the wife the President of the company and go for it...

[RichieRich]

Should anyone want to start their own lab, feel free to contact me by pm on the forum here.   I can probably offer quite a bit of help regarding the mechanics of starting a business, incorporating, financing, etc.   I already crossed those hurdles a few years ago and don't mind sharing my experience.   

[MIRCS]

All I have to say to this recent form your own buisness is...............................


Are you an Alaskan Natvie company??


If not don't even try for the contracts

[Broken_Wings]

Are you an Alaskan Native company??

They really have air force contract awarding set up for exploitation. Is KBR Alaskan owned too?
Halliburton?

Or were none of their contracts for the AF?

[PMEL_DEVIL-DOG]

I think Yulista has that on lock...

The problem with starting your own lab is cost...

[Bryan]

So what you are saying is I should get the same raise some numb-nuts does that spends most of his time trying to figure out how to get someone else to do his work?

I should get my paycheck skimmed and probably part of it will go to promote whatever Democrat is running for President.

What'll happen is you'll find manuals and test programs are easily translated in to Chinese.

Don't mean to sound cold hearted but I work on merit.

[flew-da-coup]

So what you are saying is I should get the same raise some numb-nuts does that spends most of his time trying to figure out how to get someone else to do his work?

I should get my paycheck skimmed and probably part of it will go to promote whatever Democrat is running for President.

What'll happen is you'll find manuals and test programs are easily translated in to Chinese.

Don't mean to sound cold hearted but I work on merit.

You hit the nail on the head...

[MIRCS]

Are you an Alaskan Native company??

They really have air force contract awarding set up for exploitation. Is KBR Alaskan owned too?
Halliburton?

Or were none of their contracts for the AF?

Well look at who has the contracts. Gold Belt Falcon (ANC) has the AFPSL not Bionetics, though you can't tell the two apart because Bionetics is a mentor to GBF. They learned after Yulista yanked the ACC/AMC contract out from under em.

Look to Yulista, which is Calista, which also has Chuelista...etc.

Just saw a company with no calibration experience get a Navy contract.....Alluetiq, they got it basically as a no bid, disadvantage alaskan native corp......oh yeah and small buisness......they have 2000+ employees. They like the others have many other divisions ready to step up.

KBR and haliburton are doing mainly overseas labs.

Ever wonder why the big names are no longer in the military contracts??

[skolito]

Yea lets do it so I can talk to the union rep in his $2000 armani suit manicured hands and $1500 shoes that my dues paid for so he can get me a dollar an hour raise but charge me a dollar fifty an hour in dues

[USMCPMEL]

HMM your post appears to be a bit sarcastic Mr Skolito?? May haps you have had a bad experience with a union in the past? Hey if unions can pay people painting $35 an hour than I would assume they could get us $60-70 an hour.