by JeffT 343 Replies latest members politics
FlyingHighNow:
"XJW4ever, cashiers did not start working for $14-17 an hour, they stayed loyal to the company and earned their way to that wage. Do you know that in most cities, it takes at least $14 an hour to rent a two bedroom apartment and support a family of 2-4?"
FHN, you are very lucky to live in a city where you can support 2-4 people, in a 2 bedroom apartment, on such a wage.
Here, where rents are $1,000 for a 2 bedroom in a low class neighborhood, you simply cannot do that.
Villabolo
Vil, I just sent you a PM and one last night.
I don't make $14 an hour. And I get less than 20 hours a week most weeks. I rent a decent 2 bedroom in a decent neighborhood for $600. I struggle. If I wasn't frugal and very disciplined to keep my tax refunds in the bank, I'd be screwed right now. I don't get food stamps or child support for my grandson who will begin high school this coming year. I live ten miles from the center of a small city of just below 180,000.
Lol, Villa! Now you've got me picturing Sam as Christian Bale!
Sam Whiskey who never reads anything posted carefully:
"Gary, I appreciate your perspective. Believe me, I have been on both ends. But, here's my point, and I hope it's well taken; Rather than blaming the system for our misfortune, what can we do to modify our skill sets to either (a) start a business where there is demand for our product or service, or (b) modify our skill sets to get a better paying job?"
I already gave the example of two non union tool die workers, an extremely skilled job, that could not make it because of outsourcing to China. Now I will repeat it so you can remain blind to it (Just don't bother with the facts that contradict your "Unions caused outsourcing" theory.).
One had to retrain for a completely different job and would not have been able to do it were it not for his wife's money putting him through school.
Another earned $15 and hour in a job that was worth at least twice as much. He fixed low quality tool dies from China. He had to work part time at Home Depot for $12 an hour (Far more than the average wage at that dump) on top of his full time job. Eventually his tool die company folded.
You're made of it to think that there are enough decent paying jobs for everyone capable and willing to do them
So the bottom line is this. Take your worthless advise along with your elitist wannabe, self entitled friends and:
Villabolo
Gary, what kind of engineering work do you do?
I do mostly software engineering using instrument controls. Basically, a Software Controls Engineer but I also have a background in Electrical Engineering and do a little bit of that and some technical support.
Believe me, I have been on both ends. But, here's my point, and I hope it's well taken; Rather than blaming the system for our misfortune, what can we do to modify our skill sets to either (a) start a business where there is demand for our product or service, or (b) modify our skill sets to get a better paying job?
Okay, in all fairness, I would have to say that I support pay bands for different types of jobs with a lower and upper limit. Provided that the limits are continuously adjusted for cost of living increases yearly. But what if an employee modifies his skills and gets the better paying job within the company?
Here is my story:
I started working for my company in the fab department in 2003 making $8 / hour as a temp.
Within 3 months, they hired my full time. Making nearly $9 / hour.
By 2005 I was making $10 / hour still doing electronics assembly work.
A job for Process Controls Engineer became available and I applied for it. In spite of my degree, they did not want to consider me for the job.
After really pushing my credentials (I had a BS in Computer Engineering Technology since 2001) I made a deal with them to demonstrate my skills.
I had to work a week doing the actual work making my still $10 / hour to prove to my company that I had the skills to do the job.
When I literally blew them away with my skillset, they gave me the job.
Going from an assembly line worker to an engineer, I expected a BIG pay raise.
However:
They had a policy that an employee being promoted could only at best get a 20% pay bump.
That's $12 / hour doing software and controls engineering. What a joke!
In their defense, they continued to give me pay bumps that were substantial.
However:
I remember pointing out to HR that school teachers made more money than I. That does not seem right. I was doing SES tuturing at the time on the side, making $20 an hour. That was more than my engineering wages, even at overtime pay (1.5 times $12 / hour).
They pay bumps throughout the years did help a lot, I now make over $40,000 / year.
However:
I am still in the lower 25 percentile for the pay range for my position for a similar job in my area. I live in Hampton Roads.
Gary,
If I may, I'd like to offer some thoughts for you to consider. However, I've got a tight schedule at the moment but would love to come back and talk more about how to expand your options in a little while. I know a lot of people around the country and there may something valuable that I can suggest.
I always enjoy talking shop with anyone who's got the time....
Sam Whiskey to Gary: "If I may, I'd like to offer some thoughts for you to consider."
With Sam it's always about the thoughts he wants you to consider, not about the thoughts other people would like him to consider.
Villabolo
I find the comments by some here (who profess to be christian), positively disgusting. Workers give the bulk of thier waking hours to thier job, no matter what it is. It is their labor that facilitates the owners profit. There is no way that everyone can "improve thier skill set" to get a better job. It's impossible. There only exist so many of those jobs. Every worker should be able to make a living wage. Not to mention that those people spend thier wages and keep the whole ball rolling. You don't see the correlation between our current condition and the stagnation of wages over the last 30 years? Dolts. Brainwashed lemmings. Monsters. Hypocrites.
36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of thesemy brothers, you did it to me.'
Exactly what I think, Beks! Give the people jobs they can live on and money they can spend!
There are plenty of good jobs out there. If you're not educated enough to get them, then get the education that's needed. It's true not eveyone can improve their skill set, but there are plenty of jobs for those will make the effort.
Question is....will they make the effort. Or...is this turning out to be a Boo-Hoo poor me where's my OBama money, Pity Party? Beks, I'll be point blank honest. You work at a Book store and that is admirable, but if you had the choice to combine what you love doing for eight hours a day and making really good money at it, what would that dream job or business look like?
Answer me....honestly. Actually, anyone can answer, I'd love to hear about your dream.
