My husband has been on STRIKE for almost four months and we are barely getting by!! The union made
Posted By: NO way Union on 2008-12-24
In Reply to:
big promises and all I can say is we have lost our job! We are struggling to get by! If you go on strike and do WITHOUT you will see what I mean!
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That is not just MT. My husband is a union bricklayer and if there is no work, they can take off wi
They will only lay them off if it will be more than a week. When I worked at a hospital doing MT, we had to use PTO when it was slow, usually in January!
My husband is union and they have been asked about taking a pay cut,
before you talk about having 2 salaries in the family, I along with others have been to where there was only 1 person working and taking care of children, the bills and everything else. I did it for years before remarrying and this is what really works: I had more than 1 job at all times. I never suffered from lack of work or money. I was determined. Can you see the difference? Not everyone that is married has the other 1 working and helping out. Used to be married to a househusband in years past so don’t guess what works in every household.
barely at 800 a day after 8 months
and keep hearing promise of help... but the platforms are nasty... I need to move on.. but none of the other companies out there sound much better
Where'd you get your info? Husband made 63,000+ as a truck driver. nm
nm
that was union and they STILL made us work overtime, etc. Depends on where you
are. Personally, count me OUT! My experience is HORRIBLE and getting worse. I am now union free and tell everyone I know about my BAD experiences with the union! Companys do what they want anyway! When you start starving and no one will hire you because you are on strike you will get the picture
Just made 3 months sm
I followed my account to Keystrokes, so I already knew what to expect there, but am very happy I did. I can call my lead and she will actually answer the phone!! She also answers emails. Mostly I am pretty self-sufficient but if I do need help from anyone, they are quick to respond. Welcome aboard! 
Changes were made a few months ago......sm
I haven't had any problems anymore with pay being late in the last 6 months or so since payroll personnel was changed. I have never been taken off my accounts, but a lot does go offshore if they can't get any MTs on the account.
HA! First year made $30,000, that is working six months SM
for hospital and the next six months for small MT office with a very big account. Oh, those were the days!
I made the move 8 months ago and am glad I did. I did sm
take an unpaid vacation so I time off and look forward to PTO. I have the insurance they offer now. It is expensive but has covered everything for me. I have also done the question sheet for 3 other insurance companies and they keep getting either turned down or higher rates. I talked to my supervisor, and she said that it is making the owner pull her hair out because KS is too big for some policies, too small for others and has too many pre-existing things for a good rate. Once they get it, though, it will be easier.
My FIL owns construction company and had the same problems for years, so I know it is hard to get good coverage at a good rate.
I agree. Three months and the best move I made. For radiology, I do not think anyone can compete.
nm
But if no union shop, no union representation
You can have a trade group represented by a union, as your husband is, but if he doesn't work in a union shop (company), the union can't represent him at his place of employment. Look at nurses, for example - there is a union for nurses, but the vast majority of nurses are not union members, because their places of employment are not unionized. So it's irrelevant to the majority of nurses that there is a union to represent them.
Has anyone ever left Keystrokes and gone back? I left a few months ago and realize that I made a
nm
Going on strike?
I didn't know about going on strike. One post said she cried and kissed a**. Well, she got the job. LOL LOL
Strike
See what happens when people have had enough. They strike and paralyze a city like New York.
Our shoes were made for walking, after union, MTA stop talkin. Today's New York Daily News Headlines.
Gotta love New York. They certainly know how to get their point across.
Transcriptionists should unite and stop putting up with low pay, payroll issues, and attitudes.
Strike
I too am very disgusted with this whole concept!! Basically, if us US MTs do not get together and do something then we too are allowing it to go on. It would be nice if our AAMT could get on the bandwagon and start advocating for the US MTs, instead of making company's that do this the Employer of the year!! I am not a member of the AAMT and will not be one as I feel they support these companies. It is a shame we do not have an organization that does something for US MTs. I think the future of medical transcription has a very grim future right now. This has to be turned around, and we have to figure out a way to make companies like Spheris pay for what they are doing to the industry and to us. Hey Spheris MT's A STRIKE would sure make this company think twice about underpaying all their MTs. Quit working for a few days and let them start paying penalties for late work. Maybe it will make them think about the way they treat their employees. I know it is hard for some to afford to do this, it would be for me. But the benefits you may get in the long run would give a return worth while!! Worried about loosing your job, well, sounds like layoff is coming soon anyway!! Organize something for yourselves to protect your future for the good of all MTs. All MTs should seriously think about this. We just cannot let this go on...We all have to demand better wages!!
On strike, perhaps?
X
Are you going to pay my bills while strike is on?
x
Well, I did go on strike, and it is working
I am thinking about turning the Transcend job down and just keep getting dough off e bay. I am getting 200 bucks or so every 3 days, and until I find a company or MTSO that does not bait and switch, at least I am getting cash in. I have half a mind to let the recruiter know about what I am hearing about Transcend, but I think I'll say nothing and just return the foot pedal they are sending refused back to them in the mail. That's it. I have had it with the bait and switch. I know no company is perfect, but this time in my life and in our business, seems there is little if anywhere that will give an experienced MT some room to breathe, and a fair shake. BTW: If any MTSO is out there which is willing to let a good MT contract with a flexible schedule and fair work and line count feel free to e mail. Otherwise, I have finally done it. Decided to go 100% E bay. Pays a little more than minimum wage for my time and effort, but at least it isn't minimum wage and bait and switch!
Didn't mean to strike a nerve.
or voicewriter to work for Keystrokes by the recruiter. I just left a big company in Wisconsin. I couldn't get over 900 lines a day because of filling in their DI screen and here it's Christmas. Gimme a break.
STRIKE THAT! A recruiter emailed me
That makes me feel better. Thanks Keystrokes!!
We need to start a strike fund
If we could get organized and that is a big IF and find a trustee to watch the money, I wonder what would happen if we all contributed a certain amount to a strike fund so that we could all walk off the job for a period of time and not worry about the money we would lose. Just a thought.
Dsauverwald doesn't strike me as an MT anyway...
x
I try and try and can barely do 200 lph with TT. Used to do 300+.
and it's not because they're all ESL. Something else and I don't know what.
its one thing for the MTA to strike - they will not lose their jobs
to INDIA!!! But transcriptionists will and HAVE lost their jobs to India and the Philipines and now more recently, to Trinidad
Single strike day? Gimme a date, and I'm THERE!
Uh, not at Axolotl right now I don't. Barely
mention spouting all the facts, and I know most others on my team have no clue either, so I again am amazed at your talent for spouting facts that most of us don't know anymore, since things changed so much. I work with a lot of great smart gals, so I don't think its just us. Glad you're one of the few on the ball, but most of us aren't. Confusing enough figuring out how to change our personal health choices, let alone knowing what the entire company offers everyone.
Uh, not at Axolotl right now I don't. Barely
mention spouting all the facts, and I know most others on my team have no clue either, so I again am amazed at your talent for spouting facts that most of us don't know anymore, since things changed so much. I work with a lot of great smart gals, so I don't think its just us. Glad you're one of the few on the ball, but most of us aren't. Confusing enough figuring out how to change our personal health choices, let alone knowing what the entire company offers everyone.
I did, barely scraped by at 11,001 nm
Barely any work
I have to work for 2 companies at the same time, because of the lack of work. Has anyone else faced this problem?
Seems like it's barely a 35-hr week as it is due to
lack of work. Looks like we all need a 2nd job. They have always overhired for the 5 or so years I've worked there.
Really?? I've barely ever heard of them. nm
nm
barely making a living
Used to make a decent living but lately (past 2 years) have not. Major pay cuts in all 3 jobs (per diem to hourly and page count to line count) and big expense of benefits for single mom and 2 kids.
I sort of lost all my incentive and feel very used. Thought my salary would increase over the years (or at least stay the same), not decrease. Keep trying to get motivated but can't seem to get there.
I am currently employed by a national, benefits are $550 a month and I have no control over how my lines are being calculated, plus it is on a 74 character line, not even 65 so my lines in my pay are way lower that what the company is calculating already.
Recently tested and interviewed with another national but they pay per page (which was way less than my page rate 10 years ago) and beneftis were more than $600 a month.
Any suggestions and ways to get motivated again would be appreciated.
You've barely scratched the
surface with one of those match box schools. You would still need Andrews or MTec, but like some others, I think this is a risky field to invest in at this point. I believe coding has more of a future. Andrews teaches that.
Oh, but its OK that the MTs barely make living wages?
Shall we feel sorry for the poor MTSOs now? Please...buying meat past the expiration - most of this winter I had to hit the FOOD BANKS, and while working full time.
Not so. Can barely get 9 cents directly from the doctor!
Doctors see all these Indian companies offering 6 cpl, balk at 9 to 10 cpl, and they want it printed, free courier service, ect.
Offshore can barely do good dictators, which is why
x
9 cpl barely passable if an employee with bennies, but -
if you're an IC, don't forget you have to buy your own health insurance, no PTO days, and you have to own & maintain your own equipment. If it were me, I'd be asking 12 cpl, might (just MIGHT) settle for 11 cpl for the right employer, if the accounts are good line-producers.
My accounts have barely any work today.
I've managed 2 small jobs so far today. My account had picked up for about 2 days and actually had a good backlog, but then it was bombarded by MTs instructed to go there, so completely wiped out and nothing left for the primaries. And I see instructions for other MTs to come here for part of their lines again today as well, which means the primaries on my account have to fight them for work again. If my husband hadn't just had his hours cut also, I'd consider just taking a week off and getting stuff done, since I'm mostly wasting time babysitting my computer that I could put to more productive use elsewhere.
They have the accounts set up so that we can BARELY get our minimum lines required in.
If I want to camp out for 15 hours a day as I wait for work to trickle in I can make more. :-(
TransTech and low/no work for months and months _ don't think there are continous holidays LOL
This HORRIBLE low/no work situation has been going on at TT for almost a year now. You can't convince me it is due to Memorial Day. Are holidays now assigned in this world to being daily.
That is an excuse these companies use in these no work situations, but it is due to their OVERHIRING. Holidays just come on a daily basis, but LOW WORK/NO WORK is happening and has happened going on a year now at TransTech. Always asking to flex into the middle of the night, EVERY weekend, etc.
The TT mgmt checks are NEVER affected, tho, so they can continue to HIRE EVERY MT who gives them a call, and create a NO WORK situation for all of us. The newbie MT's are cheering at first, but then realize that it hit them in the paycheck, too, and very soon it did!!!!!!!
Me and my husband
are both independents. We went to a health savings account. We pay approximately $350 a month with a deductible of $5000. This sounds like a lot - but it was cheaper in the long run, compared to higher monthly premiums. Right now we visit the doctor very infrequently, I am more worried about one of us landing in the hospital as we get older. THAT I want covered.
Then L's husband perhaps?
I thought she owned, maybe her husband but no problem, still love working there.
Yes I will. My husband may be going
up that way in a couple of weeks - I may have him peek in on that company and give me a first impression thought.
What does what her husband makes have anything
to do with anything?
My husband is in sales...sm
He is in sales, plus makes an hourly rate. He is considered full-time and the healthcare takes a chunk from his pay, but is well worth it for our family of four with two children under 12 years of age. I'm so glad he gets commission checks once a month. Before this though, I was the breadwinner working a full-time job plus 3-5 extras at home, he was taking care of the kids and working part-time. This arrangement we currently have works out great as I'm home all of the time, but sometimes I do get lonely. I love this message board!
wow, they sure must take a lot out of your husband's check! SM
because with self-employment taxes, etc., it's in the 30+% range!!!! I don't think I have ever known an IC who didn't have to pay taxes. What is your secret???
I have insurance through my husband.
I like being an IC too, but when you have your own accounts, it is tough to take time off. Plus, you have to be really regimented about working. It is very easy to get distracted. When you have doctors counting on you, then you just do what needs to be done and the money rolls in. I have a big problem at this point being told to work set hours and do a set amount of lines or minutes, so I tend to like IC work! True IC work with a company online is hard to find though. Most of these companies want you to COMMIT to certain hours or certain minutes of dictation or certain lines per day, which in my personal opinion is not truly IC work. Just my 2 cents.
My husband was sued for this
by a previous employer (not transcription) after he quit his job and took a job with a competing company with better bennys and $. It was a route/delivery type job. He did sign a non-compete contract, but the judge denied their suite saying the company does not have a right to prevent a person for making a living. It was determined he was working an already established route and was not approaching the first company's clients, and therefore was not in violation. Of course every contract is different, but I can't imagine they can keep you from working.
How much is it for a wife and husband??? nm
Thanks
Same here. My husband wanted to help me out
and encouraged me to try it, but I definitely could type faster.. Just could not stand being so slow...like with my crazy slow dial-up I'm stuck with, drives me NUTS!
My husband is a retired
truck driver. The truck driving industry seems to have gone the way of the MT business. I wish you well though. Sometimes I'm glad I'm old and really don't have to work anymore if I don't want to. Gonna go paint my gourds!!
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