Felling/forestry work

[Stubby]

Then you're nuts. Two years ago £40 a day was below minimum wage. And you paid for everything??

 

As for dropping the piece rate once you'd improved, if I had a boss do that to me I'd rip him a new arsehole. And I'd expect the same from any of the lads who work for me. That's just not on.

 

I reckon there's trafficked prostitutes in third world countries less exploited than you

 

Mmmm . thats about right !

[eddgaiger]

Yeah right if someone offered me 40 a day I'd tell them where to go I no what I deserve and that's a fair rate whether I'm a newby or someone with ten years experience. I no what my next step is going to be and I thank the people that have left some helpful comments.

 

 

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[karlk]

£40 a day may seem offensive to some people, Im in my mid 40's and have worked all my life, through good and bad. Trust me, when a recession bites your rates go out the window and your family and mortage become priority. Its not a good feeling going to work for less than half your expected rate but it happens. I dont think theres much chance of anyone who works with there hands for a living, getting through a working life without experiencing economic hardship, it happens and will continiue in cycles.

[Chris Sheppard]

Yeah right if someone offered me 40 a day I'd tell them where to go I no what I deserve and that's a fair rate whether I'm a newby or someone with ten years experience. I no what my next step is going to be and I thank the people that have left some helpful comments.

 

 

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It might not be a case of being offered a certain amount - it might be £X per tonne and no matter how good you might think you are, you'll earn not much of anything to start with. If the wood's worth £X per tonne, so no matter what you might think you deserve, you're only worth what you can get on the floor. You'll soon learn not to do any movement you don't actually need to. That's how some of the best production cutters look like they're moving fairly steadily but actually outcutting everyone else.

 

I love proper forestry, there's nothing better than crashing down big sticks all day, but, it'll never make you a rich man. Sure, you might have a good run, but for every good site there's a bad one and then there's the weather to contend with. We've lost plenty of days in the past from wind making it too unsafe to be on site (feeling rootplates heaving while you're putting the felling cut in is a strange sensation!).

 

I hope you find someone to give you an opportunity, I'm sure you'll love it, but don't get too disheartened in the beginning. It's not for everyone, but once it takes a hold of you, no other job comes close

 

Main things people get fed up with are high stumps, poor snedding, inconsistent measuring and stacks that look lik they've been dropped from a great height. Any one of those is likely to put the forwarder operator in a bad mood and he isn't someone to get on the wrong side of.

Edited March 10, 2013 by Chris Sheppard

[doobin]

£40 a day may seem offensive to some people, Im in my mid 40's and have worked all my life, through good and bad. Trust me, when a recession bites your rates go out the window and your family and mortage become priority. Its not a good feeling going to work for less than half your expected rate but it happens. I dont think theres much chance of anyone who works with there hands for a living, getting through a working life without experiencing economic hardship, it happens and will continiue in cycles.

 

 

The first mention of £40 was for the poster concerned paying for his saw, bars, chains, fuel, oil and presumably the transport to and from work. That's not worth going to work for.

 

 

£40 cash to rock up and get busy with someone elses tools is better than nothing however, that I can agree with.

[G'day Spruce]

It might not be a case of being offered a certain amount - it might be £X per tonne and no matter how good you might think you are, you'll earn not much of anything to start with. If the wood's worth £X per tonne, so no matter what you might think you deserve, you're only worth what you can get on the floor. You'll soon learn not to do any movement you don't actually need to. That's how some of the best production cutters look like they're moving fairly steadily but actually outcutting everyone else.

 

I love proper forestry, there's nothing better than crashing down big sticks all day, but, it'll never make you a rich man. Sure, you might have a good run, but for every good site there's a bad one and then there's the weather to contend with. We've lost plenty of days in the past from wind making it too unsafe to be on site (feeling rootplates heaving while you're putting the felling cut in is a strange sensation!).

 

I hope you find someone to give you an opportunity, I'm sure you'll love it, but don't get too disheartened in the beginning. It's not for everyone, but once it takes a hold of you, no other job comes close

 

Main things people get fed up with are high stumps, poor snedding, inconsistent measuring and stacks that look lik they've been dropped from a great height. Any one of those is likely to put the forwarder operator in a bad mood and he isn't someone to get on the wrong side of.

 

Too true..

 

I hope you find somebody who is willing to give you a chance, might be worth asking around local estates, they might be able to help....

[Chunkymunky]

I guess with scaling up there becomes a requirement for larger machinery and so costs initially will increase plus the work has to be there to justify it.

 

By being a small niche specialized operation there's the chance of a higher rate but less work. Swings and roundabouts

Edited March 10, 2013 by Chunkymunky

[eddgaiger]

Awesome thanks for all the tips and advice! Really appreciate it.

 

 

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[Stu]

Then you're nuts. Two years ago £40 a day was below minimum wage. And you paid for everything??

 

As for dropping the piece rate once you'd improved, if I had a boss do that to me I'd rip him a new arsehole. And I'd expect the same from any of the lads who work for me. That's just not on.

 

I reckon there's trafficked prostitutes in third world countries less exploited than you

 

I wanted to get into forestry and if thats what i had to work for to get my foot on the ladder then so be it! it did go up to 50/55 after 6 months then after a year £75 as for piece rate i started on £11/12 a ton hardwood thinnings then went down to £7. 50/8 as i got faster, rubbish i know but owell.

 

i wouldnt go back and change anthing though, as i now work directly for an estate manageing there woodlands and im on a good salary get holiday pay and sick pay and they pay for all tools fuel and training

 

so in the end it was worth working for £40 cause i probaly wouldnt be in the position i am now:thumbup:

[alex_m]

Have you Googled "Forest Contractors Hampshire"?

 

Or looked through the phone Book?

 

Asked at the Chainsaw shop?

 

Solved a problem yourself?

 

Old enough to drive?

 

Use a spoon?

 

Breath?

 

Etc?

 

You can be a massive bellend sometimes...