Job offer

[trixtah]

Finally, finally, I have been offered a permanent role in my current job, without having to go through the pain and agony of reapplying for the position. Yay that.

The role is being offered under an Australian Workplace Agreement contract, which is the Government's way of disenfranchising all the workers under the pretence of our being able to "negotiate" fairly. Since the employers are the ones with the job that you need, and it's not often that you're in a position where you're the unique applicant for a role, I fail to see any "fairness" in this kind of arrangement. Also, since one of these things was the way in which I was made "redundant" 10 years ago, I am not comforted by my "power" in this kind of situation. Gallingly, the unions here appear to be useless, and don't seem to offer any kind of advocacy role for those of us who cannot go onto any enterprise agreement. I'd be happy to pay my subs to get access to a lawyer and/or an employment advocate. Bah.

So, while I'm pleased to have this offer, it's not without caveats. Firstly, the contractual arrangement. Secondly, the money they're offering. Ahem. Yes, it's all about me and my ego. The offer is for $63,760. I was earning almost that much while working in my last job in NZ (a university), with less responsibility and a nicer working environment. In short, it's a joke in a place (Canberra) where experienced sysadmins are in a massive shortage.

As a contractor, my rate is $55 an hour, and of course, the contract agency creams a big chunk off the top (which I don't see, so I don't know how much it is). So, even if they paid me that exact sum, my employers would save a big wodge of cash overall. I think between 10-20% of the contractor's salary is a standard amount. $55 per hour x 38 hours a week x 46 weeks of the year (4 weeks' annual leave, and a generous allocation of two weeks for public holidays/sick leave) - 9% for superannuation. If I were really nice, I'd calculate the payroll tax (stupid Aussie tax), but since that comes out of my own pocket at present anyway, bugger them. That sum adds up to $87,487.40. So, I'm wondering where that fairly large gap of $23,737.40 is coming from. Even if we include the stupid payroll tax, at 6.68%, that still adds up to $80,901.81.

While I want to get this role because of the quaint notion of reasonable job security, it will not be at the cost of them assuming they can pay me peanuts and assume I'll chirp along happily. The hell. I might as well stay a contractor, in that case.

Bugger it. I hate having to fuck around with this kind of "bargaining". Why the fuck are they wasting everyone's time with such stupidity? One thing that very quickly wears on me is feeling undervalued in any way, particularly in my work, of course. The money represents the value they ascribe to my work, and it's no wonder I'm feeling insulted. Yes, perhaps this is just the first ploy in the bargaining game, but it's not a game I want to pay at all. You know, I can cruise through life knowing that I'm a bad anarchist, in my paid work, and with my paying taxes and (mainly) law-abiding self, but it's moments like these that I get reminded what a fucking crock the capitalist set-up really is.

Comments

[grey-evil-twin.livejournal.com]

You don't have a choice of AWA or coming in under existing union negotiatied agreement? Ack! At least at the Uni they gave me a choice. The Govt forced the Uni to offer AWAs as blackmail to get funding. As far as I know, one person has taken it up, and she retrired two weeks later.

Stay as a contractor if you want the money. Fuck them and fuck Howards fucked workplace legislation.

[cheshire-bitten.livejournal.com]

Yes, last I heard not a single person at the uni I work at had taken one up.

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

No, no choice at all with this. It's an AWA or nothing. Suxville.

[grey-evil-twin.livejournal.com]

Any chance you can stay on as a contractor till after the Federal elections?

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

There's one due towards the end of the year, isn't there? Hm, it's a thought, although I'm sure it'd take a while to undo the legislative malarky up until now.

If they don't come up to a more reasonable offer, I will stay as a contractor, though, while I hunt around for a permanent role where they're willing to pay what I'm worth in this town (or give me a job where I have a lot less stress).

[ladylamia.livejournal.com]

wow. granted you're probably much more educated than me but i saw that number and my jaw just dropped. that's almost 3x what i made this past year! the offer not the rest of the math.

still job security may not be worth knowing you're not making what you deserve.

the capitalist set up is a crock, but it's easier to play along than go hungry i think.

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

Heh, I'm not at all educated. I finished high school, but dropped out of my first year at university. It's being in a fairly technical male-dominated job, and having a certain level of experience that helps.

The offer they gave me is the equivalent of $US50,000, and really, that kind of money is fine, as far as it goes. It's more the fact that they'd be paying me less for the job that I'm doing right now that is the irksome part. And that I do not want to be valued less than anyone else they'd hire for this and similar roles. If I said "Sure, I'll take the job with whatever you'll deign to give me", I'll lose a level of prestige without much in the way of compensation.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

We have the silly employment contracts style thing going on here too, supposedly to "empower" the workers.

In most cases the "negotiation" goes "here's the contract; take it or leave it", and people take it because they don't know their rights or what their labour is worth.

If the government _really_ wanted to "empower" workers, they'd teach them what their rights are. But if they did that, employers wouldn't be able to fleece them so easily, so they don't.

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I have lots of experience with the initial implementation of the NZ Employment Contracts Act, since that is what led to me being made "redundant" after nearly 8 years in the photolitho trade, with the grand total of two weeks' pay in lieu of notice. It was also the time when the unions had rolled over and were playing dead, so when I told the Engineers' Union that I did want to take the fuckers to court (since the Employment Court judges were actually handing out decent penalties to those employers who took the piss), they didn't pursue it. So much for nearly 10 years' dues (I'd had print-trade jobs previously).

At least the unions in NZ have started getting their shit together, and I'm actually not sorry that the stupid "you can only join the union which is approved for your industry" crap was blown away - it's still the case here. Did you know that most of the cases (like 80%) that went to the Employment Tribunal before the ECA were unions suing each other for jurisdiction over workers? Nice to know that all my money went to my union for so long for that kind of useful purpose.

Yes, I'm quite bitter about all this, as you may notice. At least the NZ unions have got their shit together a lot more in the last decade.

The Aussie legislation has been slowly getting worse, so that it is now worse than the ECA when it was initially brought in. For example, there was a provision that you could not be materially disadvantaged compared to any Enterprise Agreement that might be in effect. That's been taken away now. Also, if you an employer with 20 or fewer employees, you don't have to use proper procedures to terminate someone's employment. It's to "help" the small business owner, although what was so onerous about the "three warnings and you're out" system is beyond me.

But yes, you're right about the level of ignorance, and how little it is addressed by the powers-that-be. And yes, for good reason from the perspective of those with the economic power.

[felix-femme.livejournal.com]

have you seen the tv ads showing how NZ is such a great place to work? looks appealing ...

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

No, I don't have a TV, although I heard they really are campaigning hard. I think the quality of life is better in NZ, but it's actually not quite offset by the relatively low wages and the high cost of housing (in places you'd want to live). No capital gains tax in NZ, so the investment housing market has gone berserk.

But the scenery is awesome, it doesn't take long to drive anywhere (except to work in the morning if you live in Auckland), people are more open-minded on average, and the level of sexism (that I perceive, anyway) is somewhat less. Lots to do in a small space.

For me, once I'm debt-free, the lower-wages thing won't be quite such a drawback... but I've got a couple of very good reasons to stick around here for the forseeable. :-)

[cheshire-bitten.livejournal.com]

Yeah, NZ looks nice.

[saluqi.livejournal.com]

Yikes. Don't sign that as is. By law they are obliged to give you a week to consider anyway. I'd like to take a look at the contract if you don't mind.

In the meantime, see if you can find out what your counterparts in other agencies and GBEs are classified at (ie, a 5, 6 or EL1) and what they are being paid. A hunt through www.psgazette.gov.au should give you some info as would the Government sections on seek.com.au and similar places.

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

No worries, I most certainly want my Expert Advisory Team to be giving me lots of input! Thank you. :-)

Yes, I had a wee troll through Seek earlier, but they suffer from the "no wage range quotation" disease that is getting so prevalent these days. I'm afraid I wouldn't have the faintest clue how my job would be classified, although I think Mr Junior Boss should be able to tell me.

But no fear about hasty signings. I'm not doing nuffink until I'm back from my leave. Given the amount of time it's taken to get this far, I don't think they'll quibble about my need to get reasonable advice (I wasn't given a specific time limit on this, although I expect it'll be when my current contract ends).

I need a bureacracy-fu icon

[saluqi.livejournal.com]

The Public Service Gazette does have the pay rates and classifications and on a quick look, it looks like sysadmins are classed at a 6 and your offer is at the top end of that pay scale.

Still, ask your pimp about your job classification. Your employer would have specified one to her when they sought her services to fill the position because that is the language this whole town talks. Plus she has no reason to bullshit you so it's a good way to check what Mr Junior Boss says it is. It should also be on your AWA offer somewhere.

Re: I need a bureacracy-fu icon

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

Ahah! There's a (internal code) 6 given as the "current level" of the role. I'm also going to get a copy of the current certified agreement for those staff who are covered by it (yay intranet).

Also, you *definitely* need a bureaucracy-fu icon. Some way of highlighting your l33t skillz is definitely in order. :-)

[msss.livejournal.com]

Are they crazy? The point of an AWA is to get higher wages than normal.

I wouldn't sign. In fact, given that it's supposed to be negotiated, demand more money - at least what you're getting now. That's still saving them the amount that the agency is taking. Point this out.

Also, go job hunting.

[msss.livejournal.com]

Sorry, that should have read "The point of a worker signing..."