Climber V groundie pay ratio????

[skyhuck]

When I started in this industry, over 15 years ago, climbers were on £60 per day (SE) and groundies were on £30 per day (SE)

 

So groundies were on 50% of a climbers wage.

 

I think these days climbers are under payed, manly due to over supply, but I reckon very good climbers still make good coin and always will.

 

Personally I think a good groundie should be on two thirds of a climbers wage.

 

What do others think?????????

Edited October 31, 2010 by skyhuck

[Stephen Blair]

I used to pay a lad £10 an hour 10 years ago labouring and he was worth every penny, he was like a human hiab/bulldozer. He would work 7 days a week, never ask when he finished or bother about set breaks. At the time i was paying his brother £14 per hour climbing.

[Mike Hill]

I think 2/3 is about right.

 

There are probably many reasons to justify the lower pay rate,but reduced chance of personal injury would be one of them.

[Kev Stephenson]

I think subbie climbers brought in for that awkward job will command quite a premium over a subbie groundie (£120-150ish vs. £80 max). I find good groundies harder to find than good climbers that being from a serious hard graft point of view and not rigging/other technical ability. Groundies always seem to aspire to be the climber as they deem the work easier, it is the usual too many chiefs and not enough indians.

 

Employed I would pay a very good hard grafting groundie the same as a good climber - a company needs both. One is useless without the other.

Edited October 31, 2010 by Kev Stephenson

[Stephen Blair]

I only payed the climber more because he brought his own climbing kit, saws and he drove his brother about. They would end up with the same, they worked as a team and could beast jobs very quickly, i wouldnt waste time getting them to tidy up the sawdust, they would get sent onto other jobs to get it on the deck and ready for chipping and uplift.

[Andy Collins]

You're all wrong

[Big J]

I used to pay a lad £10 an hour 10 years ago labouring and he was worth every penny, he was like a human hiab/bulldozer. He would work 7 days a week, never ask when he finished or bother about set breaks. At the time i was paying his brother £14 per hour climbing.

 

I'm more sure than ever that the pay is better up here than south of the border. I do wonder why.....

 

I reckon 2/3 is about right. That said, I think it depends on the job.

[Kev Stephenson]

You're all wrong

 

You are the exception that proves the rule, now please follow tradition and become a premadonna climber:001_tt2:.

 

As I said I would pay a damn good groundie the same as a climber as a company needs both

[skyhuck]

You're all wrong

 

Can you charge as much for a tree that can be straight felled, as one that needs dismantling??

[Stephen Blair]

I'm more sure than ever that the pay is better up here than south of the border. I do wonder why.....

 

I reckon 2/3 is about right. That said, I think it depends on the job.

 

i was cheaper than all my competition, we were just better and a lot quicker:thumbup: