benchmark wages for the tree industry

[davefal]

Hi all I just started work with local authority after 15 yrs contract climbing. I'm try to get more money for our tree crew as we are only earning general operative wages, disgraceful pay for chainsaw use {wouldnt live on them}.I have approached our union rep. we discussed bringing the tree crew into the semi-craftmanship rates. He said i would have a better chance if I could bring forward rates of pay which are earned in the industry that we could bench mark against, is the anywhere i can find this as i dont even think anything like this exists. taking into account im in ireland and rates here vary....100 -130 euro for groundie and anywhere between 150-250 climbing dep. on experiance

[mattyboy]

what are they paying you working for a LA then?

[sloth]

I'd suggest, particularly if you are a member, that you contact the AA, I imagine this will have come up before...

[treequip]

He said i would have a better chance if I could bring forward rates of pay which are earned in the industry that we could bench mark against, is the anywhere i can find this as i dont even think anything like this exists.

 

You are probably right. It's unlikely that such a data set exists and if it does it's unlikely to be anything like current.

 

Why not generate your own data? Get the union involved and mail shot other authorities for payscales. You can get private industry info from situations vacant adverts.

[davefal]

pay for the local authority is around 420 euro a week after tax....

[inthewoods]

A mate was on the books with Worcester city council & arbs were paid the same rate as the binmen & expected to fill in on the bins when short of staff. Unless you're their lead Climber or a masonic brethren then good luck to you :-)