Plumbers NZ is New Zealand's largest online plumbing, gas and drainage resource. Plumbing exam help, plumbing news, directory and free quotes.
-
Being thinking alot lately if it may be time to move on to something else
In a nutshell I have pretty much had enough - from start to finish the plumbing industry just seems to be falling to pieces
some of my pet peevs that are doing my head in!!
Illegal work - guys plumbing without license
guys undertaking "cash" work (i know one guy this yr so far has put almost 40K through WTF?!?)
2-3 yrs to get to licensed/registration, another 2-3yrs to get to certifying/craftsman - when is the doctorate certificate sent out?!?
now we have cpd's that we have to pay for
cpd's that are administered by suppliers? WTF gives some unqualified twat the right to have any sort of say over my livelyhood?!?
licensing costs - 1 is not so bad but when your up to 3 its getting to be a joke - soon enough you will have to be licensed for roofing also!
councils - jumped up know-alls that go out of their way to find something wrong with anything
clients not paying bills
builders - and in particular housing firms screwing everyone for every last penny
master plumbers is a joke - this coming from a member and someone who was pro MP - this crap with cpd's and there off-shoot companies is unethical and immoral and it sickens me to think this is going on in this country
Im struggling to grasp at how quickly everything has turned to crap?!?
plumbers average wage in NZ 50-70K
possible earnings In Australia 100-150K+
In Europe/Britain 200K+
why on earth is anyone still here?!?
-
I can see where you're coming from. Something so easy (work) is being made difficult by bureaucrats. I thought about changing a number of time but then I look at what I have established and my grandchildren and now I say no polished backside pen pusher is going to take away my grandchildrens future.
I'll fight these mongrels until I'm dead if I have to. So I'm not going anywhere. If I have to hit the streets for change then so be it. If theses pen pushers made life easier for us all the problems you have mention would fall by the way side. Intimidation and threats will get the industry no where.
On a positive side the suns shining today and I'm above ground not below. Remember every day above ground is a good one.
Wal
-
hi guys,can`t agree more, after fair play and democracy has failed what do we move on to?
-
On a positive side the suns shining today and I'm above ground not below. Remember every day above ground is a good one.
Wal
ha! yes indeed it was - indeed it was
maybe its just a sign of the times we live in now - just remember to stop and smell the roses!! (before they tread on them as well!!!)
hi guys,can`t agree more, after fair play and democracy has failed what do we move on to?
maybe its time for that big ole' march?!?
-
Indeed Integrated - maybe it is! I think if you really want to start somewhere to see change then getting signatures on the Petition that the Federation is launching will be a start. This industry has a lot of challenges, but one thing it doesn't lack is passion. No matter where you sit in the argument, no matter which thread of the industry you belong too - it doesn't take much scratching to unearth an opinion or ten from most practitioners. This is a good thing. Now we just need to get the opinions and use them as fuel to motivate some action. We need to push for change and we need to see it soon. This constant message from politicians and our regulator that things will take time is becoming tiresome. How much time is reasonable - a year, two years, six months? We've been patient and patience has got us no where. The annual report of the PGDB is out soon and we will be able to see where our money has been spent and what they believe they have achieved.
You know if you come across people working without a licence it really is important that they are reported. They are stealing your livelihood and mine. They don't have the same costs that we have and they will undercut us on every job. By not saying anything we are supporting them. If you are uncomfortable doing this then at least educate your customers and friends about how to check if someone has a current licence. Tell them about the PGDB website and how anyone can log on and check. This way the message will be spread and these rogues in the industry will be shut down. I thought the PGDB had made a commitment to undertake a campaign to educate the public on using licensed practitioners. I've seen the odd small ad here and there, but nothing major. In the end it's up to every plumber, gasfitter and drainlayer to educate the public and protect themselves in to the bargain.
-
Hi All.
The reason the pgdb have made us plumbers, gasfitters & drainlayers the enemy and chosen to protect the public from us is, if they represent us, they may become liable if
court action is taken against a pgdb member ie any one of us.
An example is Paul Gee who was snubbed by his own association which he had every right to believe would, if not represent him, at least look into his case and give him some advice.
I think there is a very good case for Paul to sue the association which abandoned him and the pgdb.
Likewise, the pgdb demands we do competency based licensing ( proving to the public that they care ) and give the manufacturers authority to train us.
If something goes wrong the pgdb will take no responibility and refer us back to the manufacturers who will tell us we installed it incorrectly.
All the Federation is asking the pgdb to do what we are paying them handsomely to do ie. work legally, with transparency and build the plumbing, gasfitting & drainlaying industry back up to where we were. The best and most respected pgd industry in the world.
The pgdb could start by ditching their arrogant, dictatorial attitude and their kangaroo police force/court system and let the existing laws protect their public. Kind regards, Barry Forman
-
hi guys/barry, yes it seems that anything is possible if you can afford to employ a clued up lawyer. As you say there are existing laws to protect the public without a kangaroo type judge/jury/executioner (the board) court creaming it over simple administration type mistakes,cheers
-
I would be quite interested in how things got to this point on a timeline type scenario
I must admit that I have blindly carried on in buisiness untill approx 4-5yrs ago when I took on more responsibilty with the family buisiness
prior to this I didnt REALLY pay much or perhaps didnt pay enough attention to things going on in industry around me when your in the middle of a boom cycle maybe we dont??
I worked for the firm part time between studies and schooling from 91 onwards untill taking up apprenticeship in 99
as far as I can recollect things didnt really turn for the worse till about 06/07?? when quality of fixtures/fittings/tapware went through the floor - maybe it started earlier??
for me the way things are now its death by 1000 cuts - every facet of the industry seems to have issues
-
As far as I am concerned we need to have a national hikoi for ALL tradesman and get as much coverage as possible, tell every trade you see or work with.
It wasn't just my association that snubbed me, but the CEO as well, and the association sectary actually snooped on my work for the Board, for a fee I'm guessing, I wonder what the going rate is for your soul these days, and the president of my association said that I had brought it all on my self.
My crime............trying to get a dodgy boss looked into 5 YEARS BEFORE an explosion NEARLY KILLED SOMEONE by telling my association and the board. Not realising it was apparently/allegedly the same dicks that gave him his licence after JUST one oral exam, please send in the defamation lawyers if this is not true, the thing is if it is true, then its bloody true and I can say it as much as I like.
Even in a slanted one eyed kangaroo court I was found 95% in the clear, and believe me they would da if they could da, and the other 5% is very questionable and we will see what a real court thinks of it.
I haven't seen my kids and wife for weeks, my business is f****ed along with my reputation and my house for sale. What they don't realise is when you take all that off someone, they are left with what is really important, some will roll over, some you will subdue, ..me....well you just pissed me right off and I like a good stouch, it makes it all the more a privilege of what I have, with an understanding of what is important, my family.
I got my back up, I am bristling and I haven't met one twat yet who I fear. I would rather die on my feet then suck up to morons on my knees, gloves are off. >:D >:D >:D >:D
-
I just want to reiterate my last post, as one of my mates thought I had been up all night on one.
I had just come back from a call unblocking someones toilet for someone elses firm, and totally grog free, but a little peeved.
I just know how some people think.... if you speak your mind late on a Friday, you got to be pissed, well I was stone cold and totally stand by what I said.
The world cup is coming and we have a world stage not just a national stage, let them tell the visitors that the UK plumbers were responsible for foot and mouth, as per Mr Routhan for example.
Think about it, when was the last time we had just had a damning report from the Board, a vote of no confidence from a prominent MP about the board, total and blatant nepotism within the board, been shown to have acted out side its own laws, all not just in an election year but the year of a world cup................it is now or never, or put up and shut up, I personally don't like the taste of that prospect. >:(
-
We need to draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough, we live in the best place in the world and you are going to let these souless cowards tie you up in bureaucracy and make you leave, I for one think this place and potential lifestyle(with out the bollox) is worth the fight.
You imagine telling some poor sod in Somalia or the middle east, all you have to do is sign up with the federation go on a little march(DRIVING in an air conditioned van) up to Parliament to voice your right of freedom of speech (which I think we still have) and tell these people that it is not on and we aren't going to wear it (and its mostly illegal) AND YOU GET TO LIVE IN A PLACE LIKE NEW ZEALAND FREE OF BULLSHIT, doing a job you love with a reasonable income with no leeches sucking you dry.
Nah I can't be bothered, I'll just move on and wait till I meet some other dick in charge, then I'll move again...........will I f****.
I would rather stay and show them for what they are, they remind me of vampires..........they suck you dry but if you put them in the light of day, they and their system go up in a puff of smoke, because if the public knew they would be as pissed as us.
I just got to sort my shit out and I will put my feet where my mouth is (which I have a natural talent for) ;)
-
Hi Guys/Badger
As far as I am concerned we need to have a national hikoi for ALL tradesman and get as much coverage as possible, tell every trade you see or work with.
I fully agree and call on tradesmen willing to organise protest convoys to disrupt peak hour traffic in Auckland Christchurch and Dunedin to pm me (i will cover Wellington) and see if we can arrange a date for this to happen.( possibly with the signature patition that is circulating)
The only way were going to make them take notice is to take the direct approach and give them a theoretical smack in the chops
-
why piss off the public, we all just go for a drive up to the beehive and get lots of coverage to high light our plight, the public's support is what we need. ;D
-
Integrated - what a blooody whinger. I feel like hanging myself after reading your post. Probably better for everyone if you buggered off to oz.
-
What a tosser thing to say, our industry is going down the drain and people are doing it so hard that they are thinking of leaving their country of choice, nice sentiment.
I feel for you a1 mate, its easy for people on the sidelines sat on their arses, watching.
-
hi badger
a1 just go australia you wouldn't be missed or better still get balls and support the federation
good luck badger
-
I'm with you badger,
Iv'e been following developments in the industry particuarly surrounding the PGDB since about 06', whats been going on has rocked me too the core,it makes me wild the things iv'e read about that have gone on around us. The thing is if tradespeople dont pay attention to the details or at least catch up with industry changes when they can there in the dark they dont realise there being screwed out of there own livlihood. I fully agree with you. Iv'e toiled,laboured,bled and come very close to losing my life in my time in this form of employment..the works really all to take home a wage and these suit wearing pen pushers are bending the rules to make there organisations richer and more powerful...YES I AM REFERING TO THE MASTER PLUMBERS...YES MY 2000 NISSAN VANETTE WORK VEHICLE HAS A MASTER PLUMBERS GRAPHIC ON IT....DO I SUPPORT AND BELIEVE THEY ARE SUPPORTING AND HELPING THE INDUSTRY??? MY ANSWER IS MOST DEFINITELY NO,AND MY EMPLOYER IS NOW QUESTIONING WHY HE PAYS THEM $1000 A YEAR..............They are becoming fat cats getting a piece of the action on the side from the board rarely if at all speaking up for all practioners and the good of the industry.And they have the nerve to send lawyers against people that post on this public forum, now thats intimidation if you ask me. After reading your story mate i have no intrest in ever belonging to this organisation that say they are leading the industry forward. I am outraged they wouldn't offer support even advice to your cause. I've been thinking about it all in the last few weeks. If i was you...it'd be nice to sue them for loss of earnings,reputation and business and failing to support you when you needed it the most. This forum is great, i love it. Now tradespeople can communicate,share stories and work together to affect change in the industry.
Stay strong, your not alone, many others are just as outraged and angry as you are without a doubt.
As for A1 Plumb i think if you dont have anything positive to say then why post, your in the same boat as the rest of us....The ''TOOL OF THE WEEK"" award goes to a1plumb...congratulations!!!
Regards Rod
-
hi guys
badger is the man we need you at the next meeting in Napier i will give you a call about it
cheers mate
-
;D love to with bells on mate