Friday, January 5, 2007
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
The Strike Is On!
I hired on @ Raytheon as a Product Test Specialist, 2 weeks before the 2003 contract expired. I remember receiving the $3000 dollar lump sum payment, the .50 cents raise every 6 months until I maxd out in my family (I never did max out because I accepted a salaried job @ Raytheon one year later). And the few other perks that was negotiated with the 2003 contract.
The problem with the 2003 contract was the Union negotiators. THEY gave up. THEY settled, in 2003, for less than what is being offered in the 2006 contract. The Union negotiators negotiated the maximum amount of pay its members will receive. Don't blame your company for your lack of a raise, blame the Union, they negotiate the pay rate for its hourly employees.
Comparatively speaking, Raytheon pays its hourly employees more than most (if not all) employers in Tucson. Notice I said 'comparatively' speaking. Compare the job you perform and the amount of pay you receive at Raytheon with other employers in Tucson (do some homework). I'll bet other employers in Tucson don't pay as well for the same 'type' of job, especially in the 'janitorial' line of work.
Also, there is a maximum amount of pay for each industry across the country. (You will not get rich doing hourly factory work in any state and let's face it, the pay for hourly employees will never keep pace with inflation.)
Reality is: IF you are paid more for the same type of job you're doing now but in another part of the country, it's for a good reason --- higher cost of living, higher taxes, higher premiums, etc., and at the end of the month, you still have less of your paycheck, in comparison.
Here in Tucson, WE (the voters and the politicians) are preventing Tucson from attracting high-paying high-tech industry. For what ever reason, the high-tech industry just doesn't want to set up shop in Tucson.
The bottom line is this: STOP blaming Raytheon for your lack of a pay raise and find a job where your pay 'grows' as you 'grow' in knowledge, skills and abilities; and consider the working conditions (the environment) in which you work at Raytheon. You can make $23.00 dollars per hour pounding the pavement, doing back-breaking work, or you can enjoy your $23.00 dollars per hour sitting on your backside in a controlled air conditioned environment. Think on these things….choose wisely.
The problem with the 2003 contract was the Union negotiators. THEY gave up. THEY settled, in 2003, for less than what is being offered in the 2006 contract. The Union negotiators negotiated the maximum amount of pay its members will receive. Don't blame your company for your lack of a raise, blame the Union, they negotiate the pay rate for its hourly employees.
Comparatively speaking, Raytheon pays its hourly employees more than most (if not all) employers in Tucson. Notice I said 'comparatively' speaking. Compare the job you perform and the amount of pay you receive at Raytheon with other employers in Tucson (do some homework). I'll bet other employers in Tucson don't pay as well for the same 'type' of job, especially in the 'janitorial' line of work.
Also, there is a maximum amount of pay for each industry across the country. (You will not get rich doing hourly factory work in any state and let's face it, the pay for hourly employees will never keep pace with inflation.)
Reality is: IF you are paid more for the same type of job you're doing now but in another part of the country, it's for a good reason --- higher cost of living, higher taxes, higher premiums, etc., and at the end of the month, you still have less of your paycheck, in comparison.
Here in Tucson, WE (the voters and the politicians) are preventing Tucson from attracting high-paying high-tech industry. For what ever reason, the high-tech industry just doesn't want to set up shop in Tucson.
The bottom line is this: STOP blaming Raytheon for your lack of a pay raise and find a job where your pay 'grows' as you 'grow' in knowledge, skills and abilities; and consider the working conditions (the environment) in which you work at Raytheon. You can make $23.00 dollars per hour pounding the pavement, doing back-breaking work, or you can enjoy your $23.00 dollars per hour sitting on your backside in a controlled air conditioned environment. Think on these things….choose wisely.
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