Got sacked today

old_mate · 05-11-2007, 09:59 PM

/begin rant.

Basically, at the start of this year I left my trade with an airline to do a 'conversion' type apprenticeship and become a electrical fitter/mechanic (ordinary sparky). The company I worked for was high end electrical and data/comms, charged out at top dollar, expected top rate work and paid us all very well. Even took into consideration my previous trade when working out my wage under the AWA.

Since about April, the company hasn't done too well. Data side has been good, electrical side not so good. Our apprentice numbers are now 4, one who is a supervisor data guy and gets paid management salary of $80k (his wife is HR manager and associate director, but has no financial interest in the company), another guy who has lots of fibre experience and a mate i brought with me from the planes. Our electrical manager is found out to be under quoting jobs and pocketing some cash, he is soon fired and we keep soldering on.

By july, there is no sparky work, and we are sent out to emerald/alpha/aramac/barcaldine for a couple of months doing data cabling work for Qld health. Wasn't interested to go but they threatened me with my job if i didn't. Not good for my electrical apprenticeship but reasonable experience none the less.

Today, with the electrical side of the company now in tatters, data/comms not terribly busy and having the axe swung on several employees, the boss informs me I have a weeks notice of termination. Of course, there is the issue of terminating the apprenticeship contract but i think he has the idea he wont have to worry about that too much. Funny thing is, he only wants to sack two apprentices citing financial and lack of electrical work as reasons. The Department of Education and Training wants to investigate why they are only firing two and not the other two, why my training records are not existant and so on and so forth.

It annoys me that they cant fulfill the requirements of the training contract, (yet were more than happy to send me away for work when no-one else wanted to go) i have a mortgage and other responsibilites now and while the company have tried to get me other work, no-one wants to hire me because i simply cant earn less than $22/hr and most guys choose to pay the award minimum ($16/hr for adult apprentice) even though my TAFE is 90% done for the whole apprenticeship and with the right practical training and experience i could be licensed within a year to 18 months.

So now, i have a week or so to door knock, beg and try figure out how to survive on less money, or dump the whole idea and go back to fixing planes which even then is somewhat of a wage drop.

And under the AWA with less than 100 employees i have no further means to appeal, thanks workchoices.

If anyone knows of anyone looking for a sparky apprentice please let me know. Otherwise, thanks for reading my rant and any advice is muchly appreciated.

DoreSlamR · 05-11-2007, 10:06 PM

Know how you feel mate, i got sacked in my apprenticeship 6 months before it finished. It is heart breaking but chin up and hopefully something better will come along!

trick_xd · 05-11-2007, 10:07 PM

Well no advice
But
Bad luck mate and I hope something comes around quick for you .

and if you want some work , I need 30 power points and 5 lights and 10 fans put in within the next 4 weeks and all the sparky s here are flat out .

Jobs your if you want.

Work Horse · 05-11-2007, 10:11 PM

Sorry to hear you're out of a job mate.

On the up side unemployment is low so hopefully something will fall in your lap soon.

Scott · 05-11-2007, 10:11 PM

Call Stowe. There is a major shortage of electricians in Brisbane with forecasted hole of 600 for up to 15 years based on State & Federal Projects alone. Any electrical company with no work in SEQ (or anywhere for that matter) is doing something terribly wrong. Just got wind of a major blow out in another big project today - from $600m to $1.2b and climbing.

You'll be right and when your apprenticeship is done, you'll be commanding numbers from $70k upwards.

Walkinshaw · 05-11-2007, 10:12 PM

Spewin Garth. Chin up buddy, sparkies are in demand.

LUXO_8 · 05-11-2007, 10:13 PM

yeah that sucks Garth, sorry to hear mate

RIPGMH · 05-11-2007, 10:22 PM

I've got a mate that owns a small plumbing business and he has taken on two more tradies and one more apprentice because of workchoices. Its not all bad news.

Authorised by the Liberal Party Brisbane
Spoken by J.Howard

cupic · 05-11-2007, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old_mate

/begin rant.

Basically, at the start of this year I left my trade with an airline to do a 'conversion' type apprenticeship and become a electrical fitter/mechanic (ordinary sparky). The company I worked for was high end electrical and data/comms, charged out at top dollar, expected top rate work and paid us all very well. Even took into consideration my previous trade when working out my wage under the AWA.

Since about April, the company hasn't done too well. Data side has been good, electrical side not so good. Our apprentice numbers are now 4, one who is a supervisor data guy and gets paid management salary of $80k (his wife is HR manager and associate director, but has no financial interest in the company), another guy who has lots of fibre experience and a mate i brought with me from the planes. Our electrical manager is found out to be under quoting jobs and pocketing some cash, he is soon fired and we keep soldering on.

By july, there is no sparky work, and we are sent out to emerald/alpha/aramac/barcaldine for a couple of months doing data cabling work for Qld health. Wasn't interested to go but they threatened me with my job if i didn't. Not good for my electrical apprenticeship but reasonable experience none the less.

Today, with the electrical side of the company now in tatters, data/comms not terribly busy and having the axe swung on several employees, the boss informs me I have a weeks notice of termination. Of course, there is the issue of terminating the apprenticeship contract but i think he has the idea he wont have to worry about that too much. Funny thing is, he only wants to sack two apprentices citing financial and lack of electrical work as reasons. The Department of Education and Training wants to investigate why they are only firing two and not the other two, why my training records are not existant and so on and so forth.

It annoys me that they cant fulfill the requirements of the training contract, (yet were more than happy to send me away for work when no-one else wanted to go) i have a mortgage and other responsibilites now and while the company have tried to get me other work, no-one wants to hire me because i simply cant earn less than $22/hr and most guys choose to pay the award minimum ($16/hr for adult apprentice) even though my TAFE is 90% done for the whole apprenticeship and with the right practical training and experience i could be licensed within a year to 18 months.

So now, i have a week or so to door knock, beg and try figure out how to survive on less money, or dump the whole idea and go back to fixing planes which even then is somewhat of a wage drop.

And under the AWA with less than 100 employees i have no further means to appeal, thanks workchoices.

If anyone knows of anyone looking for a sparky apprentice please let me know. Otherwise, thanks for reading my rant and any advice is muchly appreciated.

Send this to the Labor Party

Att: K .RUDD

and he'll kill the AWA"S

and Sack johnnie boy once and for all

cupic · 05-11-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIPGMH

I've got a mate that owns a small plumbing business and he has taken on two more tradies and one more apprentice because of workchoices. Its not all bad news.

Authorised by the Liberal Party Brisbane
Spoken by J.Howard

To me it seems that AWA is a businesses best friend

and normal everyday workers mortal enemies unless your in the mining sector

flappist · 05-11-2007, 10:46 PM

If you are bris based and have no ties, try up here (hervey bay) or the sunny coast. Lots of work at the moment.

old_mate · 05-11-2007, 10:47 PM

It wasnt a terrible thing for me, the AWA. Just meant i had to do everything they said or cop the consequences. It allowed for the better pay though.

I have emailed Stowe but I might call them. Have emailed all the big contracting mobs, hoepfully the phone starts ringing within the next few days

old_mate · 05-11-2007, 10:56 PM

mortgage and fiancee are my ties.

If things go real bad i'll sell up and head north

mickvxbs · 05-11-2007, 11:03 PM

Try richardsons as well there a fairly big company so could probably take on a adult apprentice. I wouldnt worry to much theres plenty of work out there.

Scott · 05-11-2007, 11:24 PM

PM Sent..... I know he is looking for plenty of sparkies atm.

old_mate · 05-11-2007, 11:32 PM

Thanks for the info so far guys, muchly appreciated.

Licensed sparkies are in the prime seat at the moment, there are heaps of apprenticeship jobs around its just that my circumstances limit me in what I can and cannot do. Luckily for me i have my other trade to fall back on, i just wish they were more 'aligned' (Maintenance Engineers do not earn the money they used to because it becomes cheaper for offshore maintenance and so on)

Sam_Boss260 · 06-11-2007, 09:47 AM

Sorry to hear the bad news mate. It's not good to hear stuff like that.

It's been mentioned a few times, but have you considered working away from home for a while? I know that around the Gladstone / Mackay area they are just dying for tradesmen / apprentices and are paying very good money. I was up that way in July. And goto any Macca's or KFC at around 6pm and you'll find the carpark full of HSV's, XR8's, FPV's etc and there are kids driving them.

If I had a trade behind me that is where I would be right now...

Worth a look and youo might make some extra dollars.

Chin up, things happen for a reason in the end.

old_mate · 06-11-2007, 09:57 AM

It has been something I have considered. I have been offered a position in blackwater for a serious amount of cash but my fiancee is not really interested, i would have to leave the house empty due to first home owners grant requirements and at this point in life i do not really feel the timing is right.

100k packages are like big carrots though, i can tell you.

dan.76 · 06-11-2007, 11:14 AM

you could travel back on your days off, its only about 9 hrs lol.
what mine is the job at? i just heard a rumor that curragh is looking for another 41 rear dump drivers.

NGN 351 · 06-11-2007, 11:55 AM

People need to wake up to AWA's.
I am sorry to hear of your sacking however this is exactly what the Libs want, the ability to sack you for "operational reasons" i.e. no reason needed.
While the economy is ok and there are plenty of jobs people will sign an AWA.
Just wait until there is a slow down and jobs are harder to get. With AWA's you will find that the job will go to the lowest bidder...boss will offer you only 2 weeks annual leave, wont offer as much money etc etc.
You only have to look at what happened in the US when such laws came in over there. The minimum wage has not gone up in over 20 years, it is still $4.75 per hour. No wonder people sell drugs etc etc to make ends meet.
Is this the kind of working conditions we want our kids to inherit ???
I think not...

FORD3V · 06-11-2007, 12:26 PM

Very well said ngn 351,there is nothing wrong with awa's while there is plenty of work,but economic booms dont last for ever and neither will this one,when things go bad and they will,alot of people are going to get burnt by awa's mainly due to the fact you have very little if any bargaining power.

I dont understand why a country that as a majority is middle/working class continues to vote in a conservative liberal government,70% of labors front bench might be ex trade unionists, but im pretty sure they are more in touch with the average joe then the 70% of ex lawyers who make up the majority of the liberal frontbench,who there whole life's have fitted quite nicely into top wage and tax brackets.

scoupedy · 06-11-2007, 12:42 PM

And you will still vote for the Libs? Leckies are so overpaid and you think it is from the AWA? ever heard of the ETU? I wish my Trade had a decent union instead the trade has been deregulated so any knob of the street can work in the industry.
Oh and there are heaps of jobs out there mostly crap ones that pay less than what i got ten years ago

flappist · 06-11-2007, 12:49 PM

Spoken like true believers.....

This is how it ACTUALLY works in small business.

Economy is good. Income is good. Need lots of staff. Pay high rates as the best cost more. Lesser skilled people have jobs at a lower rate. If they get better then they earn more. If they bludge or are not as good they earn less. We are not all equal.

Economy slows. Income drops.

Option 1) Reduce wages to each employee but everyone has a job.
Option 2) Retain wages but reduce workforce some still have a job.
Option 3) Retain wages, retain workforce, go broke then NO ONE HAS A JOB.

There is no free money and the employer in a small business is the one who is risking their house and everything they have in the business. The employees risk very little relatively.

I will agree to the idea of "wrongfull dismissal" when there is a way for the employer to sue the employee who quits for a better job leaving the employer in the poo.

I am sure this will not go over well with the union die hards but it is the way the real world works.

Donut King · 06-11-2007, 12:58 PM

Drop the political crap & get back on topic else thread gets closed.

||| · 06-11-2007, 01:11 PM

sorry to hear about your situation.

as a rule AWAs are good. if someone can do your job better than you for less money you need to work harder. no free rides in the world.

GT0336 · 06-11-2007, 01:14 PM

Well said flappist!

gozza · 06-11-2007, 01:43 PM

If anyone knows what its like to employ staff and run a small business they will understand what Flappist has said.

Jason[98.EL] · 06-11-2007, 01:44 PM

sorry to hear about the little prob mate

keep your head up ..... all good thing come to those who wait

jason

devilracer_01 · 06-11-2007, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old_mate

Thanks for the info so far guys, muchly appreciated.

Licensed sparkies are in the prime seat at the moment, there are heaps of apprenticeship jobs around its just that my circumstances limit me in what I can and cannot do. Luckily for me i have my other trade to fall back on, i just wish they were more 'aligned' (Maintenance Engineers do not earn the money they used to because it becomes cheaper for offshore maintenance and so on)

Were you a LAME or and AME???? What airline???

old_mate · 06-11-2007, 03:39 PM

lol. Start another thread if you want to talk politics.

I was an AME for the flying rat.