Re: Future Histotechs pay

From:Amos Brooks

Hi Sarah,
    Could you please clarify what you said about discrepancies?

"Coupled with the onset of an attitude on the part of some that there should
not even BE wage discrepancies across the USA,"

    I live in one of the areas in the country (USA) that is on the upper end
of the pay scale. I really am not any better off than anyone else. If I made
this salary in a more reasonable cost of living area (Alabama let's say)
then I would certainly be living well but I could not survive here on the
salary offered in those states.
    Also there is often a salary discrepancy as there is a Quality of life
difference. Try letting your kids walk to school in an inner city like NYC
or LA. You'd have to pay me very well for a job in these areas as I'd want
an armed guard to escort then to a private school. (Oops the redneck in me
slipped out)
Not overpaid,
Amos Brooks
New Haven CT <--- "All American City" My @$$ !

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sarah" 
To: 
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2001 3:07 PM
Subject: Re: Future Histotechs pay


> 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





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