Getting a pay rise

[pistonbroke]

I'm in a bit of a situation at work. 4.5 years ago I started working at a car dealership as a mechanic. I took a bit of a pay cut to get there but was told "we'll start you here and review it in 6 months". Well after about 2 years I moved to another department where the work is easy and conditions are good. At this time I brought up the issue of a pay rise and was told "you won't get a pay rise in that department". So I rolled with that for the past 2 years or so and enjoyed my work and the freedoms I had there.
But a couple of months ago I was "asked" if I could help out back in the workshop for a couple of weeks. Well that was a couple of months have gone by and I'm still there.
So I've been working well and getting back into the swing of things. All has been quite friendly until now. All the time the manager has been asking me to stay and telling me "just let me know what you want to do" and "it's up to you". So I thought it was a good time to ask for more money. After 4.5 years I'm on the same money as when I started. All was going well until I knocked back their second offer and said "forget it, I'll go back to the other department". Then it got nasty with threats to my job and some insults to my intelligence.
A few things in my favor(as I see it); a lot of senior guys keep leaving including their senior tech who leaves in a few days.
They also have long running adds for mechanics that they just can't fill.
When I ask if someone else can fill in for a few weeks I get told I'm the only one with the skills to do the job.

So next week I'm pretty sure they are going to tell me that I don't have a choice and I have to stay. They are going to fuck me. Now I don't mind the work and can do well there but I just want a fair pay rise for the extra work I will be doing.

HOW THE FUCK DO I GET WHAT I WANT?
And yes I am looking for other jobs.

 

[John U]

My experience is to be happy with your pay when you start your job. Fuck all of getting a decent raise in a job unless you change positions, giving you a chance to negotiate more dough.

You're best option to get more pay is move.

Sucks balls.

Other option is to get them to pay for your training if they want to keep you, skill up, become more valuable to your workplace, and others. That could be worth more than a few dollars in your pocket in the short term.

Good luck

 

[camoshop]

Sounds kinda fucked up, think it's time to move on man. With each new job I moved on to I've up my pay about 15k started out on about 30k now close to tripple figures if they havent given you one in that amount of time I think it's time to move on and get rewarded for you skills and experience.

Hope that makes sense because I've had 7 beers, can't really see the screen haha

 

[pink poodle]

I'm in a bit of a situation at work. 4.5 years ago I started working at a car dealership as a mechanic. I took a bit of a pay cut to get there but was told "we'll start you here and review it in 6 months". Well after about 2 years I moved to another department where the work is easy and conditions are good. At this time I brought up the issue of a pay rise and was told "you won't get a pay rise in that department". So I rolled with that for the past 2 years or so and enjoyed my work and the freedoms I had there.
But a couple of months ago I was "asked" if I could help out back in the workshop for a couple of weeks. Well that was a couple of months have gone by and I'm still there.
So I've been working well and getting back into the swing of things. All has been quite friendly until now. All the time the manager has been asking me to stay and telling me "just let me know what you want to do" and "it's up to you". So I thought it was a good time to ask for more money. After 4.5 years I'm on the same money as when I started. All was going well until I knocked back their second offer and said "forget it, I'll go back to the other department". Then it got nasty with threats to my job and some insults to my intelligence.
A few things in my favor(as I see it); a lot of senior guys keep leaving including their senior tech who leaves in a few days.
They also have long running adds for mechanics that they just can't fill.
When I ask if someone else can fill in for a few weeks I get told I'm the only one with the skills to do the job.

So next week I'm pretty sure they are going to tell me that I don't have a choice and I have to stay. They are going to fuck me. Now I don't mind the work and can do well there but I just want a fair pay rise for the extra work I will be doing.

HOW THE FUCK DO I GET WHAT I WANT?
And yes I am looking for other jobs.

Time for a strike! Call a stop work meeting with your colleagues and form a union. Then make the new pay and condition expectations clear. Chain yourselves to the gates and make it hell. You can do it.

Or make it clear you are going to leave the dealership if things don't improve. Start asking managers there if they will be a referee etc, all professional like...not up your cunts I'm out! They will either put the cash up or let you go.

 

[pistonbroke]

Not sounding good.
I will also add the workshop is booming and is ranked as one of the best in the country. So their bullshit about no money in this mythical bucket doesn't fly with me.
As for training, I've been asking for it for years and it's given out on the drip feed. I haven't done any training in 3 years despite it being part of the job description and their public advertising campaign about "factory trained technicians".
But I have made it clear that if I do come back I want access to all the Master Tech training.
Manager also got pissed when I said I want it in writing.

I can't see this ending well.

 

[Flow-Rider]

Mechanics is just an industry where you get fucked over, I know, worked as one for over 14 years. If you want money in mechanics, you need to specialise in one area or field. If you go over to the heavy side, the pay is a lot better but the work is physically a lot harder and washing diesel oil off your skin and clothes is no easy feat also. I stayed in my first job for over 7 years, it was a 2 man show, my boss and I, there was no way of climbing any ladder. The only way I received pay rises was by changing to other jobs. After the 14 years I went to another industry and haven't looked back.

 

[fedor346]

re: payrise

Pistonbroke,

honestly it doesn't sound that good. I'd look elsewhere. If you get another offer elsewhere you can ask your present employer whether they might match it if you feel that inclined - though doesn't sound like your manager is really looking after you - to be honest if I found somewhere else and it was paying more I'd just go.

cheers,

Gav

 

[pistonbroke]

Mechanics is just an industry where you get fucked over, I know, worked as one for over 14 years. If you want money in mechanics, you need to specialise in one area or field. If you go over to the heavy side, the pay is a lot better but the work is physically a lot harder and washing diesel oil off your skin and clothes is no easy feat also. I stayed in my first job for over 7 years, it was a 2 man show, my boss and I, there was no way of climbing any ladder. The only way I received pay rises was by changing to other jobs. After the 14 years I went to another industry and haven't looked back.

Same same. I worked in small two and three man shops for close to 10 years and then moved to here. And I've been at this for 14 years. I actually enjoy the job but now feel the pressure to provide for my family.

I have thought about changing industries but don't know what else to do. What are you doing now?

 

[steve jobs' pancreas]

You've seen their true colours now.

Work in the department that is aligned to the type of job you are looking for.

Keep looking for anothery.

Burn no bridges

 

[skinnybeans]

I've always found its way harder to get a pay rise at your current job than a new one.

Really don't know why employers are so tight with rewarding their staff... Costs them way more in the long run..

 

[link1896]

sounds like the culture at this dealership is rotten. One thing I've learnt is a corporations culture flows downhill from the top, if the CEO/GM/MD is a chunt, everyone below will learn to follow suit. You cannot swim against the tide.


My advice, keep hunting for a new job, do NOT burn any bridges at the current place, suck up the utter bullshit knowing you're better then them and will be departing, it's the ultimate FU to them. The economic climate is NOT healthy, whilst you know you need to provide more for the family, do be grateful you still have a job, I've had a few staff self destruct and I was on their side trying to help.

Many of my clients, fellow suppliers and friends are reporting very tough conditions. I've noticed half of the employment agencies have stopped calling me monthly, whilst the other half have doubled their amount of marketing.


Statistically, the average person will have three distinct careers in their working life. Jumping to the next one can be scary as fuck.

 

[Flow-Rider]

Same same. I worked in small two and three man shops for close to 10 years and then moved to here. And I've been at this for 14 years. I actually enjoy the job but now feel the pressure to provide for my family.

I have thought about changing industries but don't know what else to do. What are you doing now?

I was also once very passionate, the low pay was the only reason I left the industry. I had mates at the time that had just started driving a forklift and were on simular money to me. It's a bit of a slap in the face after completing a 4 year apprenticeship on very low wages.

I switched over to mechanical fitting working on industrial machines. Mechanics needed a stronger union, I don't know about other states but at the time it wasn't so good. If I knew what I know now, I would have left after my apprenticeship and went straight to UNI or completed courses so I could bridge across to it.

 

[ajay]

I switched over to mechanical fitting working on industrial machines.

Good move, I know a couple of mechanics who did that same. Better pay, better conditions. Like many trades, they're great to start with, but don't stagnate too long if you want move up.

 

[Flow-Rider]

I've always found its way harder to get a pay rise at your current job than a new one.

Really don't know why employers are so tight with rewarding their staff... Costs them way more in the long run..

I found this also but I warn people, sometimes employers trick you. You end up loosing the extra couple of dollars you make because of tooling up to suit the job.

It happened to me in the 90s, an employer expected me to buy a lot of tools that were supplied to me for free in my previous workshop and the extra distance I had to travel meant I was on the same money as the previous job. When we reached our bonus target, he turned around and said that was last months target now it's gone up. Quickly exit stage left for me, with a big "Fuck you" after 3 of us worked in our own time to reach those figures.

 

[pistonbroke]

I've always found its way harder to get a pay rise at your current job than a new one.

Really don't know why employers are so tight with rewarding their staff... Costs them way more in the long run..

This is true here too. I know people who have just started and are on more money than most of the blokes that have been there many years.
And I think my price just went up.

 

[Markee]

Educate yourself. Find out what you wage should be for your industry and experience level, it will take some effort but then once you know go to your boss and discuss it with the facts in your hand.
If they're still playing hardball a phone call to Fair Work Australia should be your next call, once your employer gets a call from them everything wil change.
In the mean time find another dealer who employs people with your skill set and find out what they pay and if there's a role there for you. Having a back up plan is the key.

 

[pistonbroke]

I have a weekend job which is also in the automotive industry. Today I asked around a bit if anyone is looking for staff. Most people said yes.
So there is an industry wide shortage of guys with half a clue and they still won't pay.
The crap thing about our industry is there is no standard and no union. Sure there is an award wage but it's pretty pathetic and not enough to feed the family. Every mechanic negotiates his own conditions and plenty get shafted. Most of the clever guys leave. The rest live at home with mum their entire lives.

 

[Flow-Rider]

I have a weekend job which is also in the automotive industry. Today I asked around a bit if anyone is looking for staff. Most people said yes.
So there is an industry wide shortage of guys with half a clue and they still won't pay.
The crap thing about our industry is there is no standard and no union. Sure there is an award wage but it's pretty pathetic and not enough to feed the family. Every mechanic negotiates his own conditions and plenty get shafted. Most of the clever guys leave. The rest live at home with mum their entire lives.

You bring back nightmares. :fear: