General Music Chat

It's no wonder folks are bleeding the unemployment benefits for all they can! We've now got places offering salaries that would match what one would take in just sitting home and collecting! I've been in the industry for over 30 years and it's just amazing what kind of salaries are being offered! I've been cut down to 32 hours a week and haven't seen a salary increase in 4 years...this is why I'm putting feelers out for employment in my field but it's just CRAZY what they're willing to pay someone with soo much experience! I could understand a few bucks less but at least a 40 hour work week....but they are offering salaries that were offered over a decade ago!

Here's my response to the latest offer:

"...hence the reason for reduction of quality and disdain between employees and employers.. the workers honestly don't give as much as they used to, being as there's no incentive anymore... lousy salaries..no salary increases, heavier workloads, more responsibilities, etc... make for a depressing work ethic.. those of us who have given all to try and obtain the American dream all of their lives have been shafted in the end and the owners are the only one's who can sleep well at night knowing they can pay a helluva lot less for thrice the amount of work... After 30 years of giving it my all, I have nothing to show for it but less hours and no advancement but also now take on the duties of others just to keep food on the table. I used to just operate the press.. now I do all bindery, all janitorial services, Have more knowledge than even my employer when it comes to the mechanics of the machines in the shop while he just lives a decent life and I'm just trying to survive... No appreciation for the over productive, underpaid worker anymore! Just telling it like it is from mine and thousands of others' perspective! The owners are thriving by using the "economy" as their reason for such actions. Many lives have been ruined and the workers are the one's living in poverty and have to pay the price.. either that or live on unemployment for a while.. either way, we're screwed! I don't know about you but the majority of Print shop owners are still enjoying the fine things in life while the hard working laborers are just trying to keep a roof over their heads! Forget about the days when a pressman can buy a decent car, house or other normal "luxuries" that our predecessors with 30+ years of experience used to be able to in the past.... No pensions or 401k's anymore.... no dreaming of retirement...ever... anymore. When I was younger, I remember being told that a press operator had a secure and safe future... maybe not upper class, but a safe and secure job... In order for the owners to live comfortably, they take advantage of the present situation and only give a crap about their own profitability... The new saying is" if you don't like it then leave" which they well know won't happen because the the employee can't collect unemployment, let alone find and honest and fair employer! I hear many a horror story from other press operators and paper delivery men. My boss just bought an new: house, car, motorcycle, etc... and eats out every night...but, according to him, we're hurting! I'm now taking on the jobs of 3 workers we used to have and with much less pay! WHO'S GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK? This is why we are looking at such high unemployment levels!"
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Nice letter. I only hope that it doesn't get you blacklisted in your field, Kerry.

Sometimes a simple non-response is better. If he actually wanted to have you work for him, he may have come up with a better offer, & played it off like it was a typo or something. Now, he likely thinks you're some sort of activist, & someone to be avoided at all costs. Let's hope that the word doesn't get out over this.

Do you think it's possible that your field of endeavor is becoming obsolete? Or perhaps it's being over-run by ppl fresh out of college, which tends to lower wages as they flood the market.

It may be time for a second look at your choice of career. Plan on making a move to something more profitable, if you find yourself stuck in a failing market.

Just my worthless opinion...

Best of luck. Hope things get better for you.

He hasn't a clue as to my name, addy, etc... I just answered an ad looking for someone with my qualifications only to fly into an internal rage when he made me that ridiculous $$ offer after telling him of my experience.... I even used a new e-mail addy to respond... I may be furious but I'm not stupid! Never let them know where you presently work or give them any personal info that will bite you in the ass later on down the road!

Smart!

Kick butt, man!

Yeah, things are getting ridiculous in this country regarding fair wages, bennies, etc. My wife's co has been jerking her around for years.

They even laid her off for a month, once. Evidently, it was done to keep her from getting her $10, 000 bonus, since they did it 2 weeks before Xmas, a cpl years ago.

She recently tried to shift positions within her co, but some higher up prevented her move, after everything was set, including HR. The person in question made it look like there were problems with her work, though she's one of those ppl that makes copies of everything, & has her butt covered for any & every contingency. She cannot seem to get a meeting with the jerk that flooked up her chances from making a good career move, probably because her immediate supervisor is backing her (my wife). Unfortunately, the position she wants is filled now.

Meanwhile, they've cut her bennies each of the last 5 years.

I'm about ready to give up & go work for Wally World. So are about 70% of my construction working buddies.

Actually, I want to break into doing inspections, cuz I'm just getting a little long in the tooth for the hands on stuff...& the money's way better. Now...if only I could find a way to DO it!

I have been repairing computers off and on for the last 6 years.
I just found out that the company is going under and the owner is going to go Chapter 11.

So, I just applied to a company I have worked with in the past and that know my work. They offered me a 3 month probationary position for 7.50$ an hour with no bene's. At the end of 3 months, they give you the YAY or NAY and some kind of offer that is not discussed until you hit 3 months.

I asked the interviewer, who I have worked with previously, "how am I supposed to pay bills @ 7.50 an hour?"

She said in a low voice, "don't make your problems, my problems."

I just got up and walked out, never said another word.

In short, I think they may lower the minimum wage around here.

Phil, wages and bennies are getting clocked by all the hidden taxes the average employee does not see. Even with the best employer in the world if the taxes keep going through the roof he may have to give it up to the government. It's a very vicious cycle that causes companies to bail and move operations out of state or country. STELLA DORO cookie company in the Bronx sold out to a SC corp they moved all the equipment to Ohio.
General motors , you know the company you helped bail out.... Plans to open an 800 million dollar plant in MEXICO Why, because they can't stay competitive paying a line worker 75 per hour and another 50 per hour in bennies and unemployment insurance and FICA and any local laws and taxes that are applicable.
In N.Y. the local electric co charges a delivery fee for triple phase electric starting at $1500 for a small factory and up and that doesn't include the electric used. One triple phase machine and you get whacked. that doesn't include fuel fees[tax] line fees[tax]
Unemployment insurance, as an employer you have pay at a maximum rate and if none gets laid off you start to pay at a lower rate. The minute some one has to be laid off it's back to the higher rate.
N.Y. New MTA TAX some one making $50,000. The boss had to shell out another $2000 payroll tax to pay for the Choo Choo train.
Not only that but it was enacted retroactively.
The tax list goes on and on about $30,000 for every $50,000 in pay
This is the truth no one comes out and screams about ,cigarettes $5 in taxes almost 9% sales tax this is crushing everyone, maybe that's the plan , but don't just blame employers, blame the government .

I have been repairing computers off and on for the last 6 years.
I just found out that the company is going under and the owner is going to go Chapter 11.

So, I just applied to a company I have worked with in the past and that know my work. They offered me a 3 month probationary position for 7.50$ an hour with no bene's. At the end of 3 months, they give you the YAY or NAY and some kind of offer that is not discussed until you hit 3 months.

I asked the interviewer, who I have worked with previously, "how am I supposed to pay bills @ 7.50 an hour?"

She said in a low voice, "don't make your problems, my problems."

I just got up and walked out, never said another word.

In short, I think they may lower the minimum wage around here.

What happened to Ye Olde left jab?

Kerry the next time you don't have any work come out with me for a couple hours and see if it is might consider doing.
Also there is a Sign shop on jerichoe (25) over by blackbeards restaurant in Smithtown just west of (347) looking for a Sign mechanic.

I'll keep eyes out but the only other thing I can do is try and put another bunch of customers on to grow biz again. But like I said trying to keep up with all the taxes is killer

One little gas station $30,000 in certificates everything from toilet inspection to cigarette sale.
And Now We have to pay the state to collect sales tax. You get a beautiful little certificate. YA GOTTA BE KIDDING

I have been repairing computers off and on for the last 6 years.
I just found out that the company is going under and the owner is going to go Chapter 11.

So, I just applied to a company I have worked with in the past and that know my work. They offered me a 3 month probationary position for 7.50$ an hour with no bene's. At the end of 3 months, they give you the YAY or NAY and some kind of offer that is not discussed until you hit 3 months.

I asked the interviewer, who I have worked with previously, "how am I supposed to pay bills @ 7.50 an hour?"

She said in a low voice, "don't make your problems, my problems."

I just got up and walked out, never said another word.

In short, I think they may lower the minimum wage around here.

What happened to Ye Olde left jab?

I have to pay bills somehow. I have also taught, tutored, landscraped and a few other things to avoid collecting UNEMPLOYMENT.

I don't think too many MMA types are F/T unless they really shine in the ring.

I got docked a couple of points in my last fight for "illegal moves" after I got kicked in the "goods". LOL

Needless to say, I didn't get the "W" but I felt better and the other guy definitely was more beat up than I was. I just couldn't finish him in time allotted.

Translation = Personal "w", but you don't make anyone happy when you don't follow the rules. That especially includes the management or so I found out.

I say, "if you do not like headbutts, don't kick people below the belt."
I really wanted to "return the favor."

I think if someone has a habit of kicking the "goods", they should just let it progress to the "anything goes" level.

You are supposed to get 5 minutes to recover, but if you've ever been kicked squarely, it's really not much time to shake something like that off.

I am quite sure there are people richer and poorer than I am. Glad to be in the middle.

"That cup is NOT used for coffee and no one should ever drink from it".

What occurs when struck in the eye, groin, throat, spine, ( level I target zones ) is the difference in competition and combat. If not incapacitating it is debilitating.
In short ... dang that hurts
Been a while since I tested myself like that.

Our economy has been kicked in the groin and the consumer / worker / tax paying individual being the bottom of the food chain will be the one to pay.
Owners / management will always pass any additional business expense down the food chain to preserve their cut.
Not a far stretch of imagination that between competition and regulation a large swath of American employers will move or perish.
There are too many of us for a agrarian subcultures to support.
The result could be a " dust bowl " style depression with accompanied civil disobedience and unrest.
We are already being cornered into protectionist subcultures not far removed from those that exist in third world populations like the ghettos of Brazil or Lebanon. While many of the "rich" are harboring themselves in "gated communities" in order to hide from the crime and corruption that greed vs need inevitably produces in deteriorating economics cycles.

Cap'n.
If you don't want it? I could sure as eggs do with it. Any chance you'd send me an Email with info please?

Cheers.

I have been repairing computers off and on for the last 6 years.
I just found out that the company is going under and the owner is going to go Chapter 11.
So, I just applied to a company I have worked with in the past and that know my work. They offered me a 3 month probationary position for 7.50$ an hour with no bene's. At the end of 3 months, they give you the YAY or NAY and some kind of offer that is not discussed until you hit 3 months.
I asked the interviewer, who I have worked with previously, "how am I supposed to pay bills @ 7.50 an hour?"
She said in a low voice, "don't make your problems, my problems."
I just got up and walked out, never said another word.
In short, I think they may lower the minimum wage around here.

Glen...I think maybe a double-check is in order. GM is no longer hiring ppl under the old pay scales. The few ppl left that are making those outrageous wages are being bought out daily. The new ppl are making FAR less, think starting salary of $13/hr, yet they are STILL gonna move their new plants to Mexico, for greater profits at the cost of AMERICAN JOBS, & NOT just because of high taxes. It's just biz, man. How much profit is enough? No one's gotten there yet.

I still say if you move your co out of the country, you should only be able to SELL your sh*t there, NOT HERE.

It's the new biz model - workers get the least that a co can get by with, while the investors (& usually mgmt) get huge profits.

Don't try to play me with those political rants. Taxes have a huge impact, I'll agree, but the main reason we aren't getting fair treatment is the unconscionable acts of corporate owners.

At your level, I'll agree, the taxes are killing you. At the mega-corp level, they play the politicians to get those huge profits, & you & I, the small guys, carry the cost of running the country while they skate by.

Employees & small bizes are getting swamped by the big guys, who own the gov't. When will you get it?

The middle class is the driving force and "sustainability" of the economic process. The economic value threshold of middle class shifts constantly yet when it disappears chaos and revolution result from the have / have not split.
Squeezed in the middle between producers / financiers and government interference via regulation / taxation. Our middle class shrinks daily.
When the difference between those whom pay in and those whom collect goes into the negative. The economy comes to a halt.
This has already occur ed here and is being artificially propped up by printing of moneys not backed by assets.
It's not about if, it's about when and how disastrous the results are.

I can't even get in this rant because it would get me too worked up and it would be too long. It's bullshit. But I'm glad people are getting angry. It's like a medieval shakedown. What sucks, is I make a lot but because of lame ass California, I live at a poverty level just paying regular bills. And I don't even have car payments or credit card bills. I have friends with college degrees and more qualified than I being forced into minimum wage jobs. We haven't been watching Survivor Man for nothing.

When I was in England back in the 80s, all of the musicians I knew were on the Dole and lived in squats where they didn't have to pay rent or utilities. I see us going the same way, except we don't have squats here. But people will be forced into community housing, and communal living. Which is smart, people need to band together. The politicans want us all to be at each other's throats because it keeps us from calling them on their sh*t, and the politicians are paid by whom, the corporations whose pockets they're in.

It's all going to collapse, it's just a when. The problem is when times get desperate, groups come in and take advantage. That's what people have to look out for.

Chaeya

I can't even get in this rant because it would get me too worked up and it would be too long. It's bullshit. But I'm glad people are getting angry. It's like a medieval shakedown. What sucks, is I make a lot but because of lame ass California, I live at a poverty level just paying regular bills. And I don't even have car payments or credit card bills. I have friends with college degrees and more qualified than I being forced into minimum wage jobs. We haven't been watching Survivor Man for nothing.

When I was in England back in the 80s, all of the musicians I knew were on the Dole and lived in squats where they didn't have to pay rent or utilities. I see us going the same way, except we don't have squats here. But people will be forced into community housing, and communal living. Which is smart, people need to band together. The politicans want us all to be at each other's throats because it keeps us from calling them on their sh*t, and the politicians are paid by whom, the corporations whose pockets they're in.

It's all going to collapse, it's just a when. The problem is when times get desperate, groups come in and take advantage. That's what people have to look out for.

Chaeya

This is a very accurate historical reference.
With a pending recurrence of the DARK AGES.
Lets pray for a RENAISSANCE !!