When is a labourer not a labourer - Self explanatory

digaholefillitin · Sat Mar 26, 2011 3:11 pm

If I am measuring and cutting flags as well as carrying and mixing then I have exceeded the requirements of my job and deserve more money.I am no longer doing unskilled work...or am I...
Discuss. ???

skinny · Post: # 61156Post **skinny** Sat Mar 26, 2011 3:21 pm

Do you take responsibility for the jobs, price them, manage the lads on site. do you work off your own back or need advice. Sadly its the guys above you that will decide no harm in asking for more I guess. But do remember in the present climate any job is a good-un.

Post: # 61157Post **seanandruby** Sat Mar 26, 2011 3:22 pm

How old are you and how long have you been doing the job? Are you capable of being left on your own to set out, measure up for materials, read the drawings, do any drainage and lay the slabs, blocks etc? Also we don't know what your being paid in the first place.

digaholefillitin · Sat Mar 26, 2011 3:35 pm

60 a day,hours vary.37 yrs old.Left on site to carry on unsupervised.Yep.Groundworks.Yep.Setting out.No because that is work for the tradesman.Laying.No.Again tradesman work.
I am keen to know what is expected of other labourers.In my opinion I should only do donkey work,It gets more and more,I am a labourer not an apprentice...
Oh and I walked off site so I guess I should use past tense.

rimexboy · Post: # 61161Post **rimexboy** Sat Mar 26, 2011 3:53 pm

oh dear oh dear oh dear

mickavalon · Post: # 61163Post **mickavalon** Sat Mar 26, 2011 4:06 pm

Depends on the size of the company you work for. Big or small everyone should work to their capability. Personally I've lost interest in employing "Labourers" only as apart from mixing,the guys I employ are ok at pitching in to anything. Having someone standing about waiting to be told what to do or acting like a jobs worth is a liability mate. Everybody should be paid what they earn not what they think their worth, if your gaffer is taking the piss fair enough, but if he's just asking you to help move a job along what's the problem.

London Stone Paving · Sat Mar 26, 2011 4:51 pm

The work you are doing is a bit beyond a basic labourer but not much beyond.

The only way you can reasonably expect to get more money is by adding more value and in this situation that means laying the slabs and setting out.

The best thing you can do is stick at what you are doing and keep learning. Start pestering the more skilled lads to allow you to drop a few slabs in towards the ends of jobs, dropping the cuts in etc. You will soon pick up the required skills and the lads will trust you to do more and more skilled work. By doing that you will add some value to what you are doing and can then reasonably request a bit more money.

Business is tough mate, people cant afford to spend loads of time training you up. You've just got to get in where you can and gradually learn the skills.

digaholefillitin · Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:23 pm

Jeez.Only one or two can answer the question.Forums are all the same regardless of topic.Rimexboy,constructive comments not a strong point of yours then trollboy.

Pablo · Post: # 61167Post **Pablo** Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:28 pm

Personally I have 3 different grades of labourer. Skilled /semi skilled and unskilled. A skilled labourer would be capable of working with little supervision and could install most paving from start to finish. They could also drive machines and make judgement calls when I'm not around. I reckon you'd be classed as semi skilled and if your wage is the same as an unskilled new to the job labourer then yes you should be earning a bit more but not lot more. I totally agree with London my father always told me to make myself invaluable and with the right boss you'll get well looked after. Ask to be shown how to do things help with setting out try to have a look at the plans (I always give my guys a photocopy each) and see if you can have a practice on the machines at tea break. Pretty soon you'll know the score and can expect better pay.

Post: # 61168Post **seanandruby** Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:47 pm

Thinking like that it seems you will always be an unskilled general op' ( don't like the word labourer )
You really need to push yourself a bit more. There is no need for you to be rude to rimexboy. It shows a mans worth when he jacks and the boss does'nt offer him more to stay. I worked for a long time having progressed to being skilled before someone recognised i was an asset an offered me more money, that's how it works in our game, you have to prove your worth.

Kuts · Post: # 61170Post **Kuts** Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:07 pm

digaholefillitin wrote:If I am measuring and cutting flags as well as carrying and mixing then I have exceeded the requirements of my job and deserve more money.I am no longer doing unskilled work...or am I...
Discuss. ???

I wouldnt have a guy on the job who couldnt measure/cut flags.

How long have you been in the game?

London Stone Paving · Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:13 pm

To be fair mate you had 5 replies and I would imagine that you'll get a few more over the next day or two. The sites well used by people and tradespeople and I'd guess a lot of them are out grafting on a good day like this. Unfortunately I still am but not for much longer

ilovesettsonmondays · Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:07 pm

my last labourer could mark and cut slabs . he was on a ton a day though for 8 hours on the books. the one before was an old guy who was just a fetcher and carrier , he was off a subby . he got 70 . the one before that was 18 who got a ton on the books . he could cut , measure and after time would lay too . it all depends on who you are working for , if your working for a subby the main firm are taking their cut off for profit . all depends on a fair boss and how much profit in job at end of day imo

London Stone Paving · Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:46 pm

When I trained to be a landscaper I was put through the mixer and rightly so. If I was to slow then I was told that I was w##k, If I was too quick then they said I must be looking for a medal.

All I did all day was shovel MOT, fetch slabs, mix cement, dig post holes and tidy up. Its initiation and you have got to prove yourself to be hardworking and willing. If you are a decent bloke then the lads around you will teach you the ropes and you can then progress.

On the other hand if you get a boss who's a bit of a tosser with no real vision then he'll happily keep you down on low pay and work you to death. If thats the case best to keep half an eye open for a new job

Mikey_C · Post: # 61184Post **Mikey_C** Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:59 pm

IMHO I think your personality is keeping wages down, regardless of what you can or can't do, if your willing to walk rather than talk then I would wave to you from the gate. your attitude since your original post has already got my back up, hence why I would be bothered if I didn't have to work with you again as employer or a colleague.