National Minimum Wage

[OhmSweetOhm]

Just been on the DirectGov website there, and I find the NMW disgusting! The thought that an apprentice can be paid £2.60ph (the apprentice rate, for apprentices under 19 or 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship) is shocking. That means that if they're working a 40 hour week they'll be paid a mere £104 before tax. Barely pays the bills if you live alone, and it's a disgrace tha t people on the dole can get more than this for sitting on their arses not wanting to work.

Deep breaths.

I'm currently on the NMW myself for my age (£4.98ph) and work alongside people with less experience than me, less qualifications than me, and who my boss trusts less than me, yet they are being paid more than double my wage and why? Because I can't drive and because in my mind, my company sees age as a factor towards wage structure.

More deep breaths. Sorry for the rant, just had to get it out to see other peoples views on the matter. All thoughts and criticism will be welcomed and took into perspective!

 

[ipf]

Complete your apprenticeship and you will be qualified to earn an electricians wage. MOST of us had to go through the same as you. Presumably you are an apprentice. If you are, maybe it doesn't seem fair but be thankful, it is the best way to go.

 

[Guest123]

£104 before tax, when I started my apprenticeship in 1997, I received the heady sum of £30 per week!

At the start of my 2nd year, It was still only £60 per week.


Halfway through my 2nd year I was given a van and told to get on with it, all for the princely sum of £75 per week.


Gotta take the rough with the smooth I'm afraid and looking back, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

 

[manda]

I had to turn down an Apprenticeship I was offered for this reason. Wouldn't be so bad if I didn't live alone I suppose and 2 wages would be coming in, but there's not a cat in hells chance of running a house on that. Still, it lifted my spirits that I was the first person to be thought of for the job.

 

[ipf]

£11 a week. Mind you, less than 2 bob a pint, even if I was under age.

 

[trev]

My first pay packet while serving my apprenticeship contained the princely sum of £18 for a 40 hour week, having the privilege of holding ladders, passing tools to my mentor, being sent to the shops whenever he wanted food/tabs/papers etc, tidying up after him, occassionally being clashed round me lugs etc.
Then he started to teach me things for which now I'm very grateful.

 

[cogsey133]

£45 when all my non apprenticed mates were on double or triple that a week and still had to pay my digs to my parents out of that, ran a car too and still went out every weekend on the lash... good time wouldn't change them for the world.....why because all my mates who took the p**s at the time are not earning nearly as much as i am. You gotta take the good with the bad....that includes the many clips round the lug experienced by so many apprentices...lol

 

[ipf]

My first pay packet while serving my apprenticeship contained the princely sum of £18 for a 40 hour week, having the privilege of holding ladders, passing tools to my mentor, being sent to the shops whenever he wanted food/tabs/papers etc, tidying up after him, occassionally being clashed round me lugs etc.
Then he started to teach me things for which now I'm very grateful.

Like sorting out a decent brew ?

 

[trev]

Like sorting out a decent brew ?

I forgot that bit

 

[cogsey133]

Like sorting out a decent brew ?

and the brew had to be just so or it earned another clip round the lug....geez the dockyards were hard places to learn......lol

 

[OhmSweetOhm]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I know you're all thinking "what a whinger", and I understand that back during all your apprenticeships you woulda been earning much less than I am now.
That being said, that was then and this is now. Things are different, and apprentices are treated differently. Apprentices are never "clipped round the lug" these days, get a fair share of any scrap money, and can give back as much cheek as they are given by the sparks.
Even though I'm still technically classed as an apprentice, I don't see myself as one as I have passed all the necessary exams, had 3-4 years on the job, and have just recently ran my first job for my company.
Surely I'm justified more than what I'm paid?

Thanks again.

 

[cogsey133]

I think we all understand how you feel Ohm what we are saying is it wasn't easy for us either and nobody thinks your a whinger because i think we have all been in the same place you are now. In my case it was just as hard as i got married in my third year of my apprenticeship! When your apprenticeship finishes just enjoy the good times that will come.

 

[OhmSweetOhm]

That's the only way I can look at it really, mate. Coulda been worse. Coulda been born a mackem!

 

[trev]

So where are you from Ohm?

 

[DurhamSparky]

not Sunderland obviously!!!

 

[VoltzElectrical]

in my opinion, there is more than one way of being paid. Sure, wages are what most people think of as being paid in, but experience and knowledge are more valuable and worth more in the long run. This 'payment' will pay YOU back in the long run. You have to take the long view in this situation my friend.

 

[alarm man]

in my opinion, there is more than one way of being paid.

you aswell..

 

[robsparky1975]

To put it inti perspective,what you may earn now is a poor wage as said but think in 5 years time or less what you will be on,a lot more and maybe even start up on your own,there are some out there who have paid £1000s on short courses and are struggling with the practical/knowledge side of things,you have this under your belt already so the lack of wages is made better by what you are learning,part of being young is being skint,wait till you get a mortgage/married/sproggs etc then you can whinge like me lol.You have 40+ years to make your money so dont let the short term bother you just be happy that you are not sitting down watching daytime tv and are learning a lifelong skill that will pay you back in the long term.I used to get paid £50 a week when i was training as a computer engineer back in 97,that was no picnic either,got some good experience out of it and C&G qual,maybe have a quiet word with your guvnor see what he says,worth a go.

 

[kingeri]

I hear ya, I was paid £45p.w. back in 1998, but toughing it out taught me a lot of lessons, not just in sparking but also in life.

 

[TaffyDuck]

You should be paid what your worth, 1st year apprentices in my experience are worth £2.98p per hour, well some of them, some less. Shocking? Go stack shelves at Tesco`s if you want. Most 1st years need so much supervision that you loose a lot of productivity from experienced guys on site who have to babysit them, that its not financially viable so stop moaning and realise that they have an opportunity to learn and earn ( albeit a small amount). If they were at college doing a full time course they would be getting nothing.