Arborist are we skilled or semi skilled

[Stephen Blair]

i just came on here for a nosy at a tractor and they have been stuck with me ever since, i had spent 17 years wearing a helmet and earmuffs not talking to anyone and keeping myself to myself, and i very rarely met any other tree cutters unless i was subbying or at the APF, and hardly anyone ever had a chat. i too am fascinated with other stories and opinions, and knowledge certainly is power, i have learnt so much and it has really opened my mind to other peoples views.

[Mesterh]

Appart from NPTC's which don't make you skilled all the quals and learning that I have done were for my own benefit, not anyone elses. I know what I can and can't do and so long as i'm making money I dont really care how that relates to others in the same game.

 

I think this is a pretty pointless debate. Its just semantics, you can put me in any pidgeon hole you like...I couldn't care less

 

 

Totally agree Tom, if I make the money I do as an unskilled or semi-skilled worker, I'm doing even better than I thought!!!!

 

As far as working for the council goes, I know how much I would want to do my job, if they won't pay it I won't work for them. What others are earning is of no interest to me and what I earn is no one else's business.

 

If the councils can get cutters and climbers for the money they are offering they will not pay more (why should they??)

 

Tube drivers get over £34K, why?? because they could not get enough staff when they paid them less, so they had to up the rate till they could get enough staff to operate.

 

WE are the ones who should set our wage, I will only work for those who will pay me what I ask.

 

Unfortunately our profession is all too popular (you only need to read all the threads on hear from people wanting to get into our job) the more of use there are the less employers will have to pay.

 

I could see a time when grass cutters get more than climbers, because who wants to cut grass?????????

 

This thread runs and runs doesn't it.

 

Whether you own a business or are employed you are still effectively in business. The skill of business is persuading people you are worth what you want to be paid. Whether thats by doing the best job or by being the quickest.

If you can do a job in a way that means you can make a good profit (or wage) whilst finding enough people who want you to do it, you have won. This is a skill just as important as climbing.

 

I see myself as a business man who, for 7 years, made tree work his business.

I have certificate, diploma and degree level qualifications but on days I had nothing to do I would take out a mower, strimmer and blower and cut grass. I would usually charge about £40 a pop and do about 4 or 5 gardens a day. On those days people saw me as a bloke who mowed lawns for a living. I saw myself as a bloke with a couple of hundred quid in my pocket that I didn't have at the start of the day.

 

Stephen, Rupe and Skyhuck seem to have it pretty much sorted. Do your thing and who cares what anyone else thinks. Skilled or semi-skilled, who cares.

 

I appreciate i'm new to this forum and my opinion prob isn't the most popular but its just my opinion.

 

:congrats:

 

Yes yes youre all right and I'm completly wrong.

 

Does this make you all feel better now?

 

Oooops sry why would you, you all dont care anyway

[Stephen Blair]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxAPKtOe0fQ]YouTube - McEnroe tantrums[/ame]

[Mesterh]

 

Aaarr sry mate theres no need for you to throw a tantrum because I left you out of my above post:crying:

 

 

once again you are dramatising what i said, i dont mean a hobbo mesterh, a fit guy with a bit of common sense and a willing to learn can be brought up to speed pretty quickly, yes maybe the basics but he wont need to go to university or have intensive one on one training. Maybe its just me, maybe i dont see the glamour in this job like some do, maybe i am just happy with my own ability and dont care what others think.

 

:congrats:

 

There ya go, I forgot you dont care either.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

By Dr. Alex Shigo

Arboriculture is a science and an art

Science is an orderly process of collecting, connecting and recording information about

natural systems. Science is understanding. Science is mind.

Art is a process requiring skills to produce a product or performance considered

attractive or pleasing. Art is doing. Art is muscle.

Arboriculture is the cultivation of trees. To cultivate healthy, attractive and safe trees

both mind and muscle must be used. Arboriculture is an art and a science.

Arboriculture emerged as an art

Arboriculture emerged primarily as a skill, or art form, done by strong, working class

people who were not afraid of hard work. It is time now to add science to the cultivation

of trees.

[arbclimber]

By Dr. Alex Shigo

Arboriculture is a science and an art

Science is an orderly process of collecting, connecting and recording information about

natural systems. Science is understanding. Science is mind.

Art is a process requiring skills to produce a product or performance considered

attractive or pleasing. Art is doing. Art is muscle.

Arboriculture is the cultivation of trees. To cultivate healthy, attractive and safe trees

both mind and muscle must be used. Arboriculture is an art and a science.

Arboriculture emerged as an art

Arboriculture emerged primarily as a skill, or art form, done by strong, working class

people who were not afraid of hard work. It is time now to add science to the cultivation

of trees.

 

Nice quote but doesn't really reflect what commercial arb is about does it. If you really want to make a difference go and help save the rain forests or something. Very few of us on here want to hack a tree when it could be done another way but equally not many have customers who would appreciate the extra effort.

 

If you dont like it get out of arb, getting a degree will not make you happy. As a t/o or consultant you will spend your days telling people if they can or cant hack bits off their trees, not much more than that.

 

You seem to want to make some kind of grand contribution to the Arb world. You cant do that round here. Like I said go and save the rainforests or venture off somwhere to discover something new.

[munkymadman]

you seem to post alot of angry posts arbclimber. a positive contribution is more beneficial than a negative one regardless whos right or wrong. somethings knocked the wind out of your sail.

[arbclimber]

you seem to post alot of angry posts arbclimber. a positive contribution is more beneficial than a negative one regardless whos right or wrong. somethings knocked the wind out of your sail.

 

You misunderstand my post mate. That was a genuine piece of advice for Hamadryad. Yeh the save the rainforest bit was an exaggeration but I think for someone with his passion for what he does, commercial arb is never going to make him happy. Maybe he cant save the rainforests but there must be loads of companies or even charities out there that need people who actually want to make a difference.

 

I'm quite a blunt, straight to the point kind of guy mate so if my posts seem blunt and to the point, thats just me.

 

Hows the leg by the way?

[Stephen Blair]

you seem to post alot of angry posts arbclimber. a positive contribution is more beneficial than a negative one regardless whos right or wrong. somethings knocked the wind out of your sail.

 

sounds a good bit of advice to me, not blunt at all, and Hammy will be on it in a second when he reads it, could make this evenings forum quite interesting:001_rolleyes:Tony is on his own journey, he knows where he wants to be and i hope he finds what he needs at the end of it, whether its the job of dreams, appreciation and recognition or peace with in himself:001_smile:

[arbclimber]

sounds a good bit of advice to me, not blunt at all, and Hammy will be on it in a second when he reads it, could make this evenings forum quite interesting:001_rolleyes:Tony is on his own journey, he knows where he wants to be and i hope he finds what he needs at the end of it, whether its the job of dreams, appreciation and recognition or peace with in himself:001_smile:

 

Thanks mate, glad you understood my post. I did mean it as genuine advice for Hama. I cant imagine him happier than in some far flung destination doing his bit surrounded by trees and fungi. Think doing something worthwhile and appreciated might be just what he's looking for. And I too hope he gets it.