what would you pay someone for day rate for forestry work

[iainarkle]

Good news Stu. Piece rate, I think, is the fairest way as everyone can see what is going on.

Day rate, this is pretty much up to you I'm afraid! You have the choice to accept what is offered or not or negotiate.

For an experienced cutter I would expect them to earn, on average over a month, £100 per day as a minimum. (I supply the fuel and oil). The challenge here is to trust the guy you are working with to make sure you are not stuck in a sitka stand single select 1st / 2nd thinning and dealing with windblown all the time. Even guys with 20yrs+ experience will struggle to get enough product to the ground to earn a decent rate in there. Everyone knows this needs to be done so they crack on with it knowing that there is better stuff that over the course of the month they will make it up. This is where the trust comes in!

For what it's worth I think you are doing the right thing. Keep your head (and pride) down until you can demonstrate that, on average, you are consistently cutting 8-10 tonnes a day. Then speak to the guy. If no progress there will be plenty of others guys who would take you on when you can show you can cut this sort of volume. Hand cutters seem to be a dying breed and increasingly there is more and more requirement for them. Keep at it.

[tomtrees]

Its a tough world and compertion is great.

 

I used to work in surrey and a farmer turned up and planted a load of strawberries which he needed picking. Local cost of living is expensive and therefore wages for labour was high so he just got 40 poles over and nocked out the local labour market.

 

I think you need to be ready to look for other work even if its just to be able to explain that you have had other job offers to your boss if he wants to keep you he will pay you a bit more or may be he wont and you will have to ask your self if you really want to stick with him.

[scbk]

You could make £50/day out on the hills planting trees, no experience or tools required and you'd probably get a lift to site!

 

 

But if you're happy with what you get paid and your job then thats what matters. If you're not, you need to ask for more or find a new employer

 

£30-£40 a day after you take off your costs is better than being sat on your arse earning nothing