Laborers might get paid more than me Cancel The title field is required!

1. Ryan Leach

   

   6 posts
   
   1/7/2015 8:01 AM

   I have been with the course for almost three years. I have always received the SOL raise of 2%. I am a salaried super and the rest of the team is hourly. They are also part of a union who is going to be negotiating a new contract. The way it sits now, I am paid around $5 more an hour than them however, they get upgrades for the time they use "Light Equipment" which is about $1 more than me. This constitutes 75% of their pay as most of our equipment qualifies as light equipment.
   
   If this new contract were to be passed, all but one employee will make more than me on the hour. I don't mean to sound arrogant but, I will not deal with everything a super deals with for less pay than laborers. I frankly, don't care if it is $.50 on the hour as long as I get compensated for what I do. As it is, depending on the year and equipment use, they make just as much as me.
   
   How would I go about asking for a raise that is not performance or seniority based but strictly because the laborers get paid more than the supervisor. I am non union and cannot join the union because I am a supervisor. I will only have one shot to propose this and they can say "no" quickly. Any help would be appreciated.

   
   
   
   
2. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   1/7/2015 11:01 AM

   Arm yourself with as much info as you can if you already haven't. The GCSAA compensation resources should help. Find out the CPI adjustment for your area. If you log your hours use that too. That being said I am going on year 8 without a raise, along with our pro. 8 years ago our salaries were average for our area. We are just glad to still have jobs as our revenue has been on a steady decline and we have been cutting everywhere to stay in the black. I have been able to get my staff raises most years though including 2015. Starting wage is now $8.50/hr. I have logged my hours for about 20 years, starting at my previous position. We got a new pro and I thought he could be a problem. He did end up being a problem for everyone but me though. I have never had to fall back on my logs but it can be depressing to see, for example, that I was on the property 185 consecutive days last year before daylight. On watering nights I am also there about an hour before sunset to be sure my antique irrigation control system has started.

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   
3. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   1/7/2015 12:01 PM

   Thats a tough situation.
   
   Frankly, I wouldn't hesitate to let my employer know that unless you and they can come to terms with this situation, you will apply for a laborer's position as soon as one comes available, and hope they get the message.

   
   
   
   
4. Steve Nelson

   

   0 posts
   
   1/7/2015 2:01 PM

   Hi Ryan,
   Usually in a municipality there will be an approved salary schedule for all employees, union and supervisors on up. In our city the personnel rules don't allow for someone to make more per hour than their immediate supervisor. I think it is a minimum 5% difference between salary grades here. So check your personnel rules, they may just make some adjustment for you after the union negotiations are over. Of course, since they are hourly they will probably wind up making more than you anyway even if you get adjusted upward.