Why do no employers pay the rate any more?

Hardwired · Feb 21, 2015

I don't know if this is just a Scotland specific problem but all the big domestic electrical firms either pay you below the SJIB rate or you work on a price system which amounts in some cases to you doing a full weeks work for £250. It's doing my head in and I'm thinking of quitting the trade. All the companies I have worked for in the last few years are vastly under paying their staff while putting massive amounts of pressure for results. Rant over. But my question is how can they be getting away with this?

Plonker 3 · Feb 21, 2015

NVQ & Courses for Fully Qualified Electricians Explained
https://www.electriciancourses4u.co.uk/how-to-become-an-electrician/
http://www.**********************/electrician-course.html

These and others are the very reason why this is happening.

Welchyboy1 · Feb 21, 2015

^^^^^ I think the Electrical Trainee thing is a bit of a witch hunt, like blaming immigrants and hating people on benefits

if youve got competition from someone whos done a single course with no experience then you have to take a step back and look at yourself

Its not just the electrical industry, its the whole world of new business

having all your staff on no contract hours, no rights, no sick pay and low rates, maximises profits

simplifying the skill of the work to the most basic level it can be ensures there is no end of numpties waiting to take your place should you not toe the line

thats what the bottome line is, its not likely to go back to the good old days of '9-5 till your 65' anytime soon

The line between the haves and have nots is growing faster all the time, its the business owners on one side and the workers on the other

if you want to make a decent life for yourself in these times you need to stand on your own feet and do it for your self, you cant rely on anyone else in these times my friend

Hardwired · Feb 21, 2015

Unfortunately I just can't get the customer base. Lot of big companies doing the small jobs at small prices to keep their guys going. Keep hearing it's picking up too. That's a laugh. Out of work less. But wages are dowwwwwwn.

Pete999 · Feb 21, 2015

Dillb said:
NVQ & Courses for Fully Qualified Electricians Explained
https://www.electriciancourses4u.co.uk/how-to-become-an-electrician/
http://www.**********************/electrician-course.html

These and others are the very reason why this is happening.

Right on Dillb

Leesparkykent · Feb 21, 2015

Are you qualified? Do you gave a JIB card?

Plonker 3 · Feb 21, 2015

Leesparkykent said:
Are you qualified? Do you gave a JIB card?

How do they help him get work when he is self employed?

Plonker 3 · Feb 21, 2015

Welchyboy1 said:
^^^^^ I think the Electrical Trainee thing is a bit of a witch hunt, like blaming immigrants and hating people on benefits

if youve got competition from someone whos done a single course with no experience then you have to take a step back and look at yourself

Really? The people who are short course trained will undercut prices just to get the work. Is that the OP should do? Like the drive by EICRs there are alot of them in the industry now. So competitin is feirce, yet those who went down the correct route and trying to make a honest living are struggling because of this.

baldsparkies · Feb 21, 2015

Where house bashing is concerned, the incentive (not the need) for skilled tradesman is on a decline.
And I say that because I have seen the kind of work left behind by so called electricians.
Thankfully most of my bread and butter comes from the commercial sector, and that's a very different world.
No matter how you look at it, domestic is rife with semi skilled persons working for peanuts in a very competitive market.
You seriously need to look at the backgrounds of your Electrical Trainee's because like it or not most are not qualified time served electricians.
You see young lads chucking cables in, super fast, with a boss pressuring them to get in and get out all in the name of profit.
To pay JIB rates you have to be qualified to the rate.
And if your a qualified electrician what the hell are you doing house bashing for.

Guest77 · Feb 21, 2015

Hardwired said:
I don't know if this is just a Scotland specific problem but all the big domestic electrical firms either pay you below the SJIB rate or you work on a price system which amounts in some cases to you doing a full weeks work for £250. It's doing my head in and I'm thinking of quitting the trade. All the companies I have worked for in the last few years are vastly under paying their staff while putting massive amounts of pressure for results. Rant over. But my question is how can they be getting away with this?

Believe it or not, Margaret Thatcher killed apprenticeships and the rate when she allowed sub contract labour, when that happened the rates and training were finished.

Dcf · Feb 21, 2015

There is no short course route in scotland.so you can't blame them in this case.
the drive on wages has been about for years.
as was neatly put in a previous post the rise of the "specialist "to cut your skill level to the lowest it can possibly go without being a labourer is probably the main factor.
maybe the op can have a sit back and work out what market he wants to target and go into that.
working for these outfits for buttons is never gonna get him out of the bit

Leesparkykent · Feb 21, 2015

Dillb said:
How do they help him get work when he is self employed?

Really?

Plonker 3 · Feb 21, 2015

Leesparkykent said:
Really?

Yes really!!!

How many customers ask for either of these when looking for a electrician?

Engineer54 · Feb 21, 2015

Anyone that remotely thinks that the 17 day and Electrical Trainee influx into the domestic and small commercial sectors don't have an affect on salaries, wages and hourly rates can only be described as being at best ''Naive''!! It's time to wake up, so you can see the wood through the tree's!!

Can not a scam DI member not legally carry out work in Scotland then?? Because weve had a few Scottish guys on here enquiring about fast track courses....

ian.settle1 · Feb 21, 2015

Hardwired said:
I don't know if this is just a Scotland specific problem but all the big domestic electrical firms either pay you below the SJIB rate or you work on a price system which amounts in some cases to you doing a full weeks work for £250. It's doing my head in and I'm thinking of quitting the trade. All the companies I have worked for in the last few years are vastly under paying their staff while putting massive amounts of pressure for results. Rant over. But my question is how can they be getting away with this?

If the companies are not a member of the SJIB/JIB then they do not have to pay that rate simple.

You don't want to accept what they are paying they will find someone who will and there are people out there who will accept it, that is why the electrical contracting trade is in such a mess