Being a unionized public servant fatcat is pretty tough

[Throckmorton]

Bite the bullet and decide to leave Maui and work in some hicktown where the cost of living is low, and the pay is reasonable.

We all make choices and you have made yours.

I have no intention of staying here. I've been trying for a few months now to get a job in Texas.

 

[werepossum]

I think you have to get on with the federal government or perhaps a coastal state government to find the fat cattery. Look around though at the private sector; you'll probably find that your salary and benefits are average or above for your position. But as mentioned, you're in a relatively low skilled job in a very high cost of living area.

When you get out of the safe, secure government area where people actually get fired and leave for better jobs, you'll find an easier time moving up. Private companies also tend to hire and promote based on performance rather than seniority, so you'll have a much better opportunity for advancement if you work really hard. In a unionized government job, working really hard simply pisses off your union steward.

Good luck with it.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

I'm constantly applying for jobs.

what jobs?
what skills do you have?

 

[Throckmorton]

what jobs?
what skills do you have?

GIS jobs. I have a geography degree and 4 years experience. 3 years doing oil & gas lease mapping, 1 year cartography, GPS, digitizing.

There is a decent number of jobs but apparently being 4000 miles away seems to hurt.

 

[werepossum]

GIS jobs. I have a geography degree and 4 years experience. 3 years doing oil & gas lease mapping, 1 year cartography, GPS, digitizing.

There is a decent number of jobs but apparently being 4000 miles away seems to hurt.

Well, it DOES make the interview process a bit awkward . . .

 

[boomerang]

While I'm a public servant I really want to be a greedy fatcat. So how do I do it?

In a few weeks my health insurance contribution goes up to $154/month. Where is the damn fatcattery?

The best way to become a fatcat IMO, is to stay on the internet constantly during your workday. It really shows the boss the depth of your work ethic and how wisely you prioritize your tasks.

Now that I've finished yanking your chain it's time to tell you, as others have, that your constant whining is really annoying. My guess is that it carries over into your work environment and that's why you're parked at the level you're at.

You keep telling us you're moving back to Texas. Why not concentrate on that and quit bellyaching about the job you've got in a state many of us would give our left arms to live in.

I told you one other time that you needed to hustle and find a secondary job, but you didn't seem real interested in that. You're like the boy that cried wolf. I don't think there's really a wolf.

Edit: No politics or news in this post of yours. It belongs in OT.

 

[Throckmorton]

The best way to become a fatcat IMO, is to stay on the internet constantly during your workday. It really shows the boss the depth of your work ethic and how wisely you prioritize your tasks.

Now that I've finished yanking your chain it's time to tell you, as others have, that your constant whining is really annoying. My guess is that it carries over into your work environment and that's why you're parked at the level you're at.

Errr I haven't complained to anybody at work. I told my boss I'm planning to leave because I can't afford this job, and he said he understands because we all make "slave wages" and I'm at the very bottom.

Not sure how it would affect being "parked" where I'm at. Do you really have no idea how county jobs work? You don't get raises. You don't get promotions. If someone quits/retires/dies you can apply for his job.

I got a good performance review a few months ago, and my salary is exactly the same as if I got a bad performance review.

I do a lot of work that isn't part of my job description, like fix computers and help people with their hardware issues, even installed diesel engine diagnosis software once... There is no way for my salary to reflect that because my position is what it is.
Over the past couple weeks I got through the bureaucracy to change the method of GPSing roads, so that our precision is much better, as in 3m down to 50cm--- that's not in my job description but it benefits the public so I did it. Is that going to make me get a bigger raise? No because there is NO SUCH THING as a raise.

You keep telling us you're moving back to Texas. Why not concentrate on that and quit bellyaching about the job you've got in a state many of us would give our left arms to live in.

I told you one other time that you needed to hustle and find a secondary job, but you didn't seem real interested in that. You're like the boy that cried wolf. I don't think there's really a wolf.

Edit: No politics or news in this post of yours. It belongs in OT.

If you'd really give your left arm to live in Hawaii on $1970/month you're insane.

I've looked and there are are no secondary jobs for people who work from 8:30 to 5:30, can get called to work overtime, and don't have certain skills like bartending. If I had $1500 I could buy an ArcMap license and do freelance mapping work for about $10 an hour (competing with Indians running pirated software), but obviously I don't.

Of course this is politics. Do you not notice the public worker bashing by conservatives on this forum? I don't get it. How are we greedy fatcats when this GIS technician job doesn't pay enough for the cost of living?

 

[Throckmorton]

Well, it DOES make the interview process a bit awkward . . .

In the year 2011 they should be willing to do phone interviews, and if they really need to talk to you in person fly you over.

 

[JockoJohnson]

In the year 2011 they should be willing to do phone interviews, and if they really need to talk to you in person fly you over.

Well, Throckmorton, do you look like one of the cast of Baywatch? If so, you could be making six figures as a unionized lifeguard in CA.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ch-Baywatch-lifeguards-paid-210-000-year.html

I know the site might be slanted, I just did a google search. Lots of site show up with the info. I could have picked any.

 

[Throckmorton]

Those lifeguard salaries are insane.

Lifeguards here only make $12 an hour. http://www.co.maui.hi.us/jobs.aspx?isEmployer=False&jobID=286

 

[JockoJohnson]

Those lifeguard salaries are insane.

Lifeguards here only make $12 an hour. http://www.co.maui.hi.us/jobs.aspx?isEmployer=False&jobID=286

I know. It's specifically Newport. You're right, of course, about the normal avg. salary of lifeguards.

 

[boomerang]

If you'd really give your left arm to live in Hawaii on $1970/month you're insane.

I'm going to be real blunt with you. I wouldn't move to Hawaii if I knew I couldn't afford to live there. It's really as simple as that. Further, if I was dumb enough to make the move, I wouldn't be broadcasting far and wide about the ignorant move I made.

Once, maybe twice a week, we get to listen to you wail and moan about how bad you've got it. You've got a bad case of the entitlement mentality IMO.

You moved to Hawaii.
You've got a low paying job in your opinion.
You're worth more in your opinion.
There's little to no room for advancement.
Yourself, your co-workers, your boss all think you're underpaid.

What do you want us to do about it?

Get the fuck out of Hawaii - hello!

Boo-hoo, you meanies think I make too much money but I really don't!!!!!! WTF does this accomplish?

I'm betting you'll be pissing and moaning when you're back stateside. The victim mentality runs deep in you. Find a way to turn that around and you'll be far more successful. I'll bet on it.

 

[bfdd]

If the private sector laid off 15% of its workforce, how did unemployment go from 5% to 10%? Is the private sector only 1/3 of the economy?

The Hawaii unemployment rate is 5.1% btw. Maui County's median income is $60k.

because the largest employer of Americans is government. something that makes little to no sense.

 

[Throckmorton]

I'm going to be real blunt with you. I wouldn't move to Hawaii if I knew I couldn't afford to live there. It's really as simple as that. Further, if I was dumb enough to make the move, I wouldn't be broadcasting far and wide about the ignorant move I made.

Once, maybe twice a week, we get to listen to you wail and moan about how bad you've got it. You've got a bad case of the entitlement mentality IMO.

You moved to Hawaii.
You've got a low paying job in your opinion.
You're worth more in your opinion.
There's little to no room for advancement.
Yourself, your co-workers, your boss all think you're underpaid.

What do you want us to do about it?

Get the fuck out of Hawaii - hello!

Boo-hoo, you meanies think I make too much money but I really don't!!!!!! WTF does this accomplish?

I'm betting you'll be pissing and moaning when you're back stateside. The victim mentality runs deep in you. Find a way to turn that around and you'll be far more successful. I'll bet on it.

I don't know how many times I have to say this. I'm TRYING to leave Hawaii. What do you expect me to do, quit my job so I make $0 and have no health insurance and move in with my parents and mooch off of them?

Stop pretending public employees have it great and I'll stop telling you how much it sucks. I get frustrated reading that crap on this forum, because here I am in the real world at a full time tech job and I have to use debt and raiding my IRA to survive, and people act like we're living the high life swimming around in vats of taxpayer money. What is it going to take to get you idiots to understand that we're in reality underpaid and most of us don't get benefits any better than the private sector?


Stateside? You ignorant dumbass. Hawaii is a state in the United States of America. It's not a different country. It's the 50th state. The president was born here.

 

[bfdd]

I don't know how many times I have to say this. I'm TRYING to leave Hawaii.

Stop pretending public employees have it great and I'll stop telling you how much it sucks.


Stateside? You ignorant dumbass. Hawaii is a state in the United States of America. It's not a different country. It's the 50th state. The president was born here.

I think by stateside he meant "mainland". No reason to get super hostile there

 

[Throckmorton]

because the largest employer of Americans is government. something that makes little to no sense.

There is no way the large proportion of government jobs can mean that the private sector laying off 15% causes a rise in unemployment from 5% to 10%.

BTW, those private sector layoff victims get to collect unemployment for doing nothing for a whole year.

 

[EagleKeeper]

In the year 2011 they should be willing to do phone interviews, and if they really need to talk to you in person fly you over.

If you have the desired skills; many companies will do so. The problem being the cost of a $400 R/T vs a $2K R/T for someone that has a junior level skill set.
You presently have traded your lifestyle for your "slave wages".

Unless you increase your skill set; you may have a hard sell getting a company to bring you to the mainland.

Using just Dice, I found references to almost 300 positions listed in the past 2 weeks from all over the country (CA, TX, AK, East Coast, CO, LA). 140 actually mention ESRI

Companies like IBM, Parsons and ESRI. Recruiters like TEKsystems, Robert Half, Matrix

Or look into the State and Federal jobs to try and make an improvement.
You will probably have a hard time getting a state job outside of Hawaii; a Federal job may have better luck (bigger budget).

 

[Macamus Prime]

The myth is that every public servant is getting $120K a year and they work only 18 to 20 hours a week, max. They work of 5 years and get a pension plan of $240K a year there after. With bags of gold, jewels and pearls. And, a dozen virgins every month. Also, their kids are given exoskeleton war suits, at tax payer's expense of course, to overthrow the US government and murder all white congress members.

Also, the "thought" is that when a public servant puts in 30 plus years of his or her life into a shitty job, they shouldn't get anything out of it. They should have spent that entire time building up savings (off of their $2K a month salary) to save up for retirement.

Wake the fuck up people. Open your Tea Party/Republican semen soaked eyes and look at what is actually happening.

 

[sunzt]

The myth is that every public servant is getting $120K a year and they work only 18 to 20 hours a week, max. They work of 5 years and get a pension plan of $240K a year there after. With bags of gold, jewels and pearls. And, a dozen virgins every month. Also, their kids are given exoskeleton war suits, at tax payer's expense of course, to overthrow the US government and murder all white congress members.

Also, the "thought" is that when a public servant puts in 30 plus years of his or her life into a shitty job, they shouldn't get anything out of it. They should have spent that entire time building up savings (off of their $2K a month salary) to save up for retirement.

Wake the fuck up people. Open your Tea Party/Republican semen soaked eyes and look at what is actually happening.

but.. but.. hannity tells me they all get more paid than me to do less than what i do!!! I DON"T BLIEVE YER LYZ

 

[zsdersw]

The "haves" assume the "have nots" are lazy and whiny... the "have nots" assume the "haves" are greedy and uncaring.

The truth is of no importance or relevance to either.

*yawn*

 

[Mursilis]

I just canceled my disability and sickness insurance because I can't afford the $85/month, not when my monthly take home pay is $1960.

How do I get the awesome public worker benefits and fatcat salaries I hear so much about?

You're already getting them - you live in Hawaii!! If you fail to appreciate that fact, and the fact that's part of your compensation package, that's not my fault.

 

[werepossum]

In the year 2011 they should be willing to do phone interviews, and if they really need to talk to you in person fly you over.

As Common Courtesy said, there is little incentive to do so to fill a low level job. If you develop a scarce and valuable skill set, then employers will certainly do so, but at this point, and especially in this job market, there is no incentive for an employer to spend extra money and accept a less useful phone interview for a position they can easily fill from a range of qualified candidates.

 

[rudder]

Public service should be about dedication and wanting to better your community... not fatcattery.

What type of work do you do? If you are a janitor... your pay is more than enough. If you are the governor, I would see about voting yourself some more benefits.

 

[rudder]

Also, the "thought" is that when a public servant puts in 30 plus years of his or her life into a shitty job, they shouldn't get anything out of it. They should have spent that entire time building up savings (off of their $2K a month salary) to save up for retirement.

.

Public service salaries are published. If one does not like the compensation package then one is free to decline the position. If at the end of a 30 year career someone is still making $2000/month... they probably took the position to skate through life with minimal effort.

 

[lord_emperor]

Straighten out your credit

In other words suck it up and live with your current situation for 7 years.

Once credit is fucked, there's no fixing it until the bad stuff is legally removed from the record.