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| Viewing Page 1 of 1 (Total Posts: 7) |
| Author | Comment |
Sexton
 Jan 25, 06 - 6:18 PM |
Pay! Wage! Moola!
I will try to make this brief. I am a retired state trooper. Upon retiring I took a job at my local Catholic church, which has always had plenty of cash on hand. About 600 families. I have worked there now for 2 years, no benefits (I have my own from retirement) and use all my own tools, except for mowers, etc. I do the following: Area: 2.2 acres. Church: Holds about 300. I clean it, etc. Hall: Seven classrooms, one office, kitchen (many fish frys) and a huge hall. Rectory: Take out the trash, electrical work, plumbing etc. Outside: Mow about one acre, weed whack, fertilize, prune shrubs, plant flowers etc. Other: Electrical, change breakers, bulbs etc. Necessary plumbing. Clean hall restrooms. Build whatever they can think up. Weld, repair mowers, floor scrubber, all equipment: Equipment: Complained and finally got a toro push mower. Riding mower is a 12 year old piece of junk. They just bought a used floor scrubber from Wal-mart for $350.00. Worked on it for about 20 hours to get it decent. Bought a used burnisher from a friend. I started out a $8.00 an hour. Two years later $8.50 hour. Local churches of different denominations start out at a minimum of $10.00 per hour. Any advice on getting a raise to at least $10.00 per hour? The parishoners have said, the lawn has never looked this good! I can't believe that you can keep up with all this, looks great. Signed: Tired of busting my butt for povery wages! |
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clean up woman
Jan 25th, 2006 - 7:38 PM |
Re: Pay! Wage! Moola!
I know what you are talking about. I feel underpaid at almost $13.00 re hr.The head makes appx. 6K more per year and does very little,plus gets a two hr. lunch which he shakes the kids down for. Talk about perks.Plus, he has built himself a nice little apartment in the back hall mechanical room. As per your question,I guess that would in part depend on wher you are located.Also, I would document as best as possible each task and a timeframe in which it takes to do it.Areyou putting in overtime? Investigate with some local cleaning and landscaping companies {usually they will give a ballpark quote over the phone ].Then I would set up an appointment with your boss or whomever.I would try not to highball over the locals and price myself out of a job. Go to the table to negotiate and stay cool. I went on with our county schools at 50 + years of age because they are paying better and have better benifits than just about anything around here. Good luck and let me know how things turn out .In my opinion no matter where you are , with all the things you do you are surely underpaid. |
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Sexton
Jan 25th, 2006 - 8:37 PM |
Re: Pay! Wage! Moola!
You made some good points! There are 5 employees at the church. One part time secretary, part time computer specialist (?) I set up the computers in the hall. One full time rel. ed. coordinator. One part time helper for the rel. ed. coordinaror. My boss is the Priest, who baptized me. I ran 300 feet of cable to the classrooms, set up the computers for high speed internet, got the burnisher, now the floors shine! Spent countless hours repairing junk mowers. I use my truck to haul everything that needs hauled. I guess that I feel that I am being used to the fullest extent. The high school I went to is 50 feet from the church. One building, 7 custodians, 3 floors and a gym, 400 students, 5 minutes worth of grass cutting. They start out at $13.70 per hour here in NE Ohio. The Pastor knows that I am looking for another and sure as hell I know that he doesn't want me to leave as do the parishoners. But being loyal, busting your butt and being the only one who does physical work every day for $8.50 an hour doesn't get it! I would love to have my own business! Those who sit on their ass everyday would get paid a fair wage, but the custodians or maintenance people would make far more! Obviously, greed rules our society! I can honestly tell you, that being a Trooper for 27 years, those that worked hard to get by, got the breaks. Those with fat wallets and big mouths got what they deserved! My hat is off to all of you! I have always had respect for people who do our kind of work. It is thankless, but the end result is we did it, you can't and it looks damn good!! 
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Rick
Jan 26th, 2006 - 10:48 AM |
Re: Pay! Wage! Moola!
You have them on the hook, now reel them in. Just tell yor boss, that you been there two years and that you think you need a minimum of 10.00 an hour,you do a lot of stuff,all they can say is, NO but where are they going to fine anyone that will do all of what you do for 8.50 an hour & no benefits I don't think sooo, maybe till they fine something else.If you like what you are doing,will by all mean's hang in there my friend. Good Luck 
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Jannyinthewoods
Jan 26th, 2006 - 2:37 PM |
Re: Pay! Wage! Moola!
I would go across the street to that high school and see if they are hiring. I know of people that volunteer for a church and volunteering is one thing. I am one my self. But hey man you working looking to be fairly compensated with fair salary. Tell em to take a hike, or just lay off the extras do the bare essentials, mabe that is all they expect. Good Luck. 
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Y-guy
Jun 29th, 2006 - 8:22 PM |
Re: Pay! Wage! Moola!
sexton, i know what your going through. I work for a YMCA and get low pay and lots of work. I was told once by the executive director that being a non-profit employee is more like being a compensated volunteer. That is, it's the greater good that's important. Not the paycheck.(HA HA) helpful hint in non-profits politics. If you want to stay get in good with the church leadership (deacons?) and the preacher's boss(diocese?). let them know what going on mabe they can help your preacher find more money for you. |
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Wayneo
Jul 28th, 2006 - 1:59 PM |
Re: Pay! Wage! Moola!
Johnny Paycheck had a hit song, "Take this job and shove it". But I don't think this is something you'd consider right now. First of all, I cannot say enough how proud I am of your prior employment as a State Trooper. Here you laid your life on the line everyday, especially while confronting someone. My hat is off to you! I agree with most of the responses, you should be well over $10.00 per hour WITH some kind of health insurance assistance. It's too bad when folks like ourselves seem to be at the bottom of the food chain and we end up with the scraps. Maybe consider starting your own cleaning business that is manageable for you? Plenty of good websites to provide free info... plus you might be able to pick up some FREE grants by Uncle Sam or your State small business agency. It's worth investigating... you can pick up a small job lets say for example a credit union. Work four hours a day or night, and charge what ends up being at least three times what you're making now. Plus less strain and pain. Let me know what you think....thanks. |
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