This is an interesting question that you pose, Marsha.  Being in this field
at the advent of the HTL, I shared the hope that we would see a change in
remuneration after that.  In the 20+  years that followed we have not seen
that change induce more than a minimal pay differential.  And that in only a
few places.  Your frustration is shared whole-heartedly by your peers.
There is also an additional problem with salaries not keeping up with the
cost of living in certain metropolitan areas, and that has only augmented
the vacancy rate of Histotechnologists in those areas.  Coupled with the
onset of an attitude on the part of some that there should not even BE wage
discrepancies across the USA, I fear  an even bleaker future may be at hand
for all concerned.  Those of us entrenched in the battle of trying to stay
ahead, or at least not falling too far behind, have fallen about as far as
we can.  A few enlightened employers are starting to give shift adjustments,
sign-on bonuses, and offer other incentives to help sway us in our choices.
I think we may see more and more of that in the near future; but I doubt we
will see much wage adjustment until we see a marked upward trend in the
economy of this country.  Being a highly realistic person, you may trust
that this is my realism talking and not pessimism.  The pessimism I share
with some of our peers is the lack of loyalty in the workplace today by the
employers themselves.  This is the most disheartening thing to me.   You can
work your heart out for a hospital, private lab or industry, and never even
begin to get any recognition for your loyalty and service.   We are a
janissary part of the Histology workplace, and yet we are still treated as
if there is an unending supply of us.  Wind us up, burn us out, and toss us
into the bone pile.  When places that are already working short-handed
choose to hire trainees, lab aides, and other unqualified people to replace
actual Histotechnicians and Histotechnologists lost due to attrition, the
writing is on the wall. That is what appears to be happening all across this
country.  It is a sad time for us in this, our chosen field.  I used to be
quite proud of what I do, and I trust I will be again.

Good luck to you!
Sarah A. Jones, HTL(ASCP)
hawkmoon15@earthlink.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "marsha r price" 
To: 
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2001 8:19 AM
Subject: Future Histotechs pay


> Dear histonetters,
> I was just curious if when the requirement that takes effect in 2005 that
> Histotechs have to have a minimum of an Associates in Science, if our pay
> was going to go up to match, lets say that of RN's (Nurses). That is what
> kind of degree that nurses have is an associates in Science.
>
> Here is a little comparison. I have a friend that is a nurse that works
> for an agency and works 3/ 12 hour shifts a week. She makes $35 an hour
> and $45 an hour if she works on the weekends. She receives $37 a day per
> diem (she works approx 1 hour away from home).
>
> I was offered a job in the same town as a histotech to work 3 days a week
> at $18 an hour, no per diem or any other incentives.
>
> Is our job considered less technical or less important than an RN's?
> There is from what I have been hearing an extreme shortage of histotechs,
> correct me if I am wrong. Maybe hospitals and labs should offer more
> incentives like higher pay, let histotechs work the 10 or 12 hour shifts
> etc. to attract more histotechs like the agencys are doing with the RN's.
>
>  I have always loved histology and that is why I chose this over being a
> nurse, however, after taliking to my nurse friend, I am considering a
> career change, mainly because of the pay.
>
>
> Let me know what you histotechs think about this.
>
> Just Curious Marsha
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