overworked and underpaid.......

**mikeinnella** · April 20th, 2011, 06:38 PM

so Usic has had the verizon contract for 3 weeks now...what a (chose your word) it is
We have been told it is a MANDATORY 10 hour day and 8 hours two Saturdays of the month with a optional 3 .....
YEA RIGHT.......
Im one of the guys who picked up verizon and the projects that go with it as well as a bigger area due to personnel shift. now I can expect at least a 11-12 hour day, a bunch of past due tickets, pissed off contractors and a endless work week
some got a raise but it is peanuts......
One ticket at a time.....Right away when I get emergencies, no responses. digups etc....
Wonder if Consolodated is hiring??????
PISSED IN EAST TEXAS!!!!

**sprayandpray** · April 20th, 2011, 07:33 PM

At least some people got raises, a lot didn't - just a 1% bonus based on a 40 hr work week. This is a blatant way to get around the overtime laws and I predict it will bite them in the Butt.

BTW, Heath is definitely hiring.

**FiosKing** · April 20th, 2011, 08:02 PM

that is illegal (mandatory OT) are you guys understaffed in that area to not be able to keep up with adding a contract? sounds like you guys are dealing with some major bs over there... hope things get better for you

**Turk182** · April 20th, 2011, 08:09 PM

I still talk to some of the guys from the crew I was on, and I feel sorry for them, they were at least three guys understaffed when I quit, and have only gotten two rookies and a rehire back, they only have five guys for their on call schedule, and all of them are covering three times the area they would have normally covered. On top of that they got saddled with a former DM as a supervisor, and all he does is audit tickets and do damage investigations, he will not help out in the field.

I'm glad I left when I did.

**locator00566** · April 20th, 2011, 08:35 PM

I see USIC hasen't changed a bit. Wonder when they will sell the company??

**dirt fisher** · April 20th, 2011, 08:46 PM

Sups usually take all the clear tickets....

**mikeinnella** · April 20th, 2011, 10:13 PM

Ive really go to tip My hat to my Sup He just got the position not long ago and beside the Sup bs he has to deal with, He is the first to go and do a locate.
He really has earned my respect in the short time I have known him and I help him out anyway I can.
He is one of the few that I have seen that will get there hands dirty.

**ifinditunderground** · April 21st, 2011, 09:00 AM

Some cry Crocodile tears because they can't work overtime and make money, and others cry tears because they have to work overtime and make money...............

**big boots mcghee** · April 21st, 2011, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by sprayandpray

At least some people got raises, a lot didn't - just a 1% bonus based on a 40 hr work week. This is a blatant way to get around the overtime laws and I predict it will bite them in the Butt.

Same here. I got a 3% bonus based on a 40 hour work week. I didn't even get the whole amount paid out - I got half now and I'll get the other half in October (so long as I'm still here). I was told that all the guys that make more than $18/hour would be receiving their "raises" this way this year. What gets me is that every year I've been here I've always been told that 3% was the max raise, yet every year word gets around that some techs got much, much more than the max. One tech last year got an 11% raise, and that same tech got a 7% raise this year. It's like these people think we don't talk amongst ourselves.

**Bad Robot** · April 21st, 2011, 08:18 PM

The only thing that changes with these companies year after year is this: They expect more from you, and you are getting less from them. They can't control most variables of running a contract locating business very well, with one exception. Labor costs. You guys are getting hosed, plain and simple. It sucks, and I sympathize, but you guys can do something about it. It's just going to be extremely hard. Good Luck fellas...

**yahoo** · April 21st, 2011, 08:59 PM

change your situation to underworked and overpaid!!!!!

**GWJ_CAS** · April 21st, 2011, 09:02 PM

Fios, sorry but you are wrong. Mandatory overtime is not illegal and in fact, refusal to work scheduled or mandatory overtime can be grounds for termination with cause. Here is the "plain Language" information straight from Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). http://www.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/013.htm

Federal overtime law under the FLSA does not prohibit employers from forcing employees to work mandatory overtime. In fact, the FLSA doesn't at all restrict the total number of work hours that employers may schedule for employees who are age 16 or older. The FLSA restricts work hours only for employees who are younger than age 16.

In other words, there are no protections under the FLSA for workers 16 and older who refuse to work mandatory overtime. As a result, workers 16 and older who refuse to work it are "legally" subject to employer discipline, up to and including discharge.

**Isotopes** · April 21st, 2011, 09:14 PM

Just say no. They can't fire you, they need you to badly. We had 2 vets and a new quit then one get seriously sick, so one of they other vets said we were under staffed and wasn't going to work all this overtime and walked out no notice. 1 week later he's back like nothing ever happend. He got whatever he wanted.

I sure as crap am not working any weekends unless I feel like it.

**big boots mcghee** · April 21st, 2011, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by Isotopes

Just say no. They can't fire you, they need you to badly. We had 2 vets and a new quit then one get seriously sick, so one of they other vets said we were under staffed and wasn't going to work all this overtime and walked out no notice. 1 week later he's back like nothing ever happend. He got whatever he wanted.

I sure as crap am not working any weekends unless I feel like it.

Wasn't working weekends and overtime a condition of hiring you?

**Jcbro86** · April 22nd, 2011, 02:07 AM

sorry man, it sounds the same as here in Oklahoma, however i can only imagine how bad it would be if we picked up an extra contract and not enough help to come with it. take care, and good luck.