Unions would help us get some recognition
Posted By: and representation. on 2008-12-23
In Reply to: And those of us who do not want a union? - Anon
Currently it's lacking 100%. Look at AAMT/AHDI -- they don't represent us, they're killing us. They need to be investigated and put on a short leash ASAP.
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Unions exist to make money for unions.
That's the truth. They don't care if companies close because they can't afford to pay union wages, and then the workers have nothing.
Unions are on the side of the Unions!
You have a very glorified view of unions. For many years, unions have been associated with graft, corruption, and greed, and for good reason. The unions are in business for the unions, period. Unions will twist the truth to whatever extent necessary to pit workers against management. That is how they stay in business. Have you ever seen info about the salaries that union bosses make? They are atrocious. Unions are a BUSINESS. They are in business for themselves. They are NOT charitable organizations out to help workers, although that is what they say. They will only help the worker to the extent that it lines their pockets.
Unions
Yeah. Unions have worked really well for the auto workers.
I don't see where unions have done anything for anybody.
My brother was in the aircraft mechanics union. He paid BIG dues. He worked 3 years without a contract with a major airline. When they were negotiating, the airline told them that they would give them their raises on paper but that they were going belly up and would use the mechanics as their scapegoat because they demanded more money. That is exactly what happened. The airline went belly up and the mechanics were the scapegoats. They never saw one penny of any raise.
Unions are just another big business. They take the workers' money, and the workers are just puppets doing what they're told, striking when they're told, unable to feed their family because of unions.
Unions
 WE CAN'T WIN!! So I guess I'm just going to shut up and type some more!
Unions not the answer
I strongly disagree that unions will solve the problems afflicting the MT field. As long as there is outsourcing and other alternatives to traditional transcription, such as voice recognition, there will continue to be downward pressure on MT wages. Years ago when I worked in Human Resources for health care facilities, I sat on the other side of the negotiating table negotiating union contracts (our nurses were unionized), and I am appalled to this day at the underhanded tactics used by the unions. And talk about overinflated salaries - it is truly shocking what union officials make, and it all comes out of the pockets of union members who get a rather dubious return on their union dues. I just don't believe unionization will solve our problems. I think the only thing that will stop the downward pressure on MT pay is if an end is put to outsourcing (and I don't think its unrealistic to think that could happen at some point).
I've been in unions and know what
they can do for you. Without unions there would be no vacation pay, sick days, 40 hour week (for some).
I would very definitely love to be part of a union and also would be willing to strike if necessasry to make this happen.
Like all unions, strength is in the numbers so let's hope people support the idea.
obama and unions
link The big money companies would not allow and would fight it big time. I know one southern California hospital sure did fight unionization
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/us/politics/09labor.html
It is too late for unions. It never would have worked.
bebe
If IC's can't join EXISTING unions, then maybe
it's time for MTs to form a union that DOES include IC's, especially since they are a large part of this industry. They deserve better wages, too.
Completely agree. Before unions,
people were forced to work 7 days a week, 12 hour days, no benefits, no overtime, no minimum wage, no safety standards, etc etc etc.... THANK YOU UNIONS.
You know, there are unions in place already. Here is their payscales....
Full-time and part-time employee hospital positions payscales are as follows:
MT Level 1 to Level 3=
$23.68 to $28.70 per hour plus benefits which include 401b, health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, Wellness Programs, 24 PTO days, plus paid holidays and a few other perks.
Did you not do your homework?
The payscales you have in this post are way too low.
Unions haven't helped much in years
Sadly, they've become more of a corporation themselves. You pay dues and if a conpany wants to bail or relocate or outsource, they still can and do.
Truth about unions - good for employees
My huband is a union member. Union membership is voluntary, with it you pay dues, in exchange your union officials bargain with the company for fair wages, benefits, and pensions. A union signs a contract and during that time, the employees have job security. If there is low work because the offshore companies messed up or shipments didn't come in, it is their union that pays them subpay to compensate the difference between average earnings and unemployment if he has a week off. Also, we pay nada for health insurance premiums, only $10 for office visit, and $5/$15 for Rx, 0 for dental 50% for orthodontics, and $20 for glasses. Without the union supporting these workers they would have no ground to stand on with regard to pay and benefits and working conditions. Thanks to the union, if my husband works Saturdays its time and a half, Sunday are double-time and heaven forbid a holiday he gets paid triple time. When he retires, we keep the benefits and a nice pension. Unions are not all about the mob - I have family in chicago and it is not as you describe it. Chicago is a high crime area and it's not the unions that are causing the problem, it is the quality of people who work in SOME of the factories which are lower paying and the socioeconomic drive that results in shady business and your so called mobter and gangster life.
Well, MY experience with unions is the exact opposite...
My dad was in a textile worker's union for 35 years. He had to go through a strike when he had 3 small kids. For six weeks, he received $20 a week and only two bags of groceries for the whole duration. He lost his job at 35 years from the plant closing. That is not to mention that his union wages had us always barely making it, and the union never once did a thing about the conditions they had to work in. He has struggled with a form of bladder cancer for 19 years from working in those conditions and the chemicals used there.
Ask the auto manufacturers what the union has done for them. Yes, the workers are making it fine laid off, but the companies are near death. Those companies feed our nation. We're 1000 miles from Detroit and our livelihood depends on those car companies staying up and running. My husband's company does not make a thing related to cars, but the company that OWNS his company does.
Bottom line is that if this industry has come to the point that we are discussing needing a union, then maybe we need to either get government intervention to standardize the industry, set regulations about ONLY US work for US medical records, and use only certified workers, OR we need to go back to college for our next career choice.
Posts about unions - For All Posters and Readers
Posters placing threads and replies about unions are expected to follow the same guidelines and policies that all other posters follow. Making derrogatory statements about MTStars while utilizing its resources is not going to be tolerated. Encouraging posters in practices that are not advisable for MTStars posters is not going to be tolerated, either.
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MTStars Team
Unions in Canada, MTs make $23 hour plus Yep
I communicate with an MT in Canada and that is what she relayed.
I though unions not legal in some states (right-to-work states) nm
nm
speech recognition
We won't become obsolete, but we will become trained as editors in speech recognition if we want to keep our jobs. Spheris already is doing this on 1 account they have. Other employers probably are too and will follow suit. It's coming. (I've been resistant but want to keep my job.) It's not so horrible, just learning the hot keys or function keys. The MTs who initially resisted and were trained in speech recognition now love it and can't imagine going back to straight typing. Yes, I can't believe I'm saying this, but ALL MTs who trained on this who hated it at first now Love It. Something to think about.
VR/speech recognition
I COMPLETELY agree with PathGuy on this one. What I was told the basics of the VR were that the physician dictates into their system. If his/her voice is easy to understand, eventually VR is able to record his voice, thus turn it into VR/speech recognition report/s. BUT, there are many, many ESL dictators and EFL dictators who have nuances in their voices, etc., that the VR WILL NEVER be able to adapt to. This, my friends, means that a Transcriptionist must always be needed to translate what is dictated. This we have some comfort in, because there are always a lot of dictators out there that VR will not be able to do that part of the job. This is not to say that the Transcriptionist is left with the worst dictators, but it DOES SAY that VR/speech recognition does have its limitations. Bravo to PathGuy. I believe that a lot of docs WANT AN MT transcribing their work and not some VR system because the MT IS MORE CAREFUL WITH THE DICTATION/REPORT. Kudos to us!!
Voice recognition.
As far as I know, they only have one account and it is overstaffed so it is really hard to make any money. Some of the people hired for that account have moved on.
Voice Recognition
Does anyone know which companies hire reviewers/editors for VR work? My hands/fingers are starting to really bother me and I need to shift gears. Thank you!
Voice Recognition
For anyone out there who does voice recoginition can you tell me what you average per hour for lines. Just curious to see if I am on the right page with it. Thanks
voice recognition
So far I have had the opposite effect (drop in production), BUT I have only been doing it for two months. Does someone have any hints???
Speech recognition
There is no way I doubled my lines and I was good at doing Speech recognition, in fact had my employer asking me to help others achieve their goals in speech.
I hated it because there was no money in it and it is faster for me to type and edit my own work than try to interpret what the computer is spitting out
voice recognition.
I have been talking with a woman from Diskriter about part time shift and she did say something about willingness to learn about voice recognition. Does that mean that all the Transcriptionist become editors or how exactly does that work out for those working for them? Will there be layoffs?
speech recognition
I think at this point I have just about been beaten. I thought I found the perfect place where I could stay and transcribe, and less than 6 months into it I have lost a ton of my work, not due to speech recognition but due to EMR. It keeps happening to me! I'm throwing up my hands at this point. I'll try editing at a new company and maybe I'll be able to stay put for more than 6 months before new technology eats my job again. I understand that you want to transcribe and not edit and I hope you find a good company. I just don't think anyone is safe from either EMR or ASR anymore. Best of luck to you. 
speech recognition
i am new in this business and I was wondering why doesnt anyone use speech recognition to get a better line count? Is this just wishful thinking on my part. I just heard about this product called Naturally speaking today and it seems like a dream come true for any MT, though obviously unethical? Any opinions or experiences?
Speech recognition
I am tired of killing myself and ending up with nothing, so I was considering speech recognition. I just found a very affordable program called Speech to text that gives you a 30 day free trial. I know it has good and bad points, but has anyone out there ever tried speech recognition to make more money as an MT?
speech recognition
I was wondering about the pay rate (the usual pay rate). I was just notified by my current company that the speech recognition rate received is 5 cents a line. Is that one everyone else is getting for speech recognition. I understand the thinking is the pay is low because it is not much typing??? 
If using Speech Recognition, I don't like it. nm
.
Voice recognition
Take my advice and avoid voice recognition if you can. Half the pay for the same job!
Speech recognition
Go to Google and put in voice recognition. The first thing that shows up is link to wikipedia. Scroll down a bit to Applications and Healthcare. It explains everything in that article. You can also go to other links that show up, too. Remember, research is a vital tool for an MT. I hope this helps.
Speech Recognition
The computer records the speech and the MT goes in and reviews the report to make sure everything is correct.
I am sure MTs know that RESEARCH is vital in our job. So is professionalism, some people should do some RESEARCH on it!!!!
Speech recognition.
x
Holiday recognition, etc.
I work for SGS. They sent the same Christmas card they did last year, same picture, some greeting, etc. I can remember working for Edix and getting a cookie jar for Christmas and also QED sent me a cookie jar when I worked for them. I sure would have liked a cookie jar or something other than the same card as the year before, but what are you going to do. As a footnote, I work for SGS but am looking for another job. You can't make any money there. Right now they are upgrading to Version 8 of Escription and require the employees to buy all the upgrade materials, Word program, foot petal, etc. I think that totally stinks.
Regarding Voice Recognition.
Hi:
I noticed your comment about Transcend and the Voice Recognition program. Well I worked there about 4 or 5 months and never could get the hang of it. I do not mean to be discouraging, but I really did not like their program. If your line count does not improve, I would look somewhere else. I know they have wonderful company and some of the greatest people ever, but they are not paying your bills either. Look out for yourself in the long-run. Hope this helps.
VR = Voice Recognition
Not the OP, but I am going to assume that VR stands for voice recognition, not a state abbreviation.
MDI voice recognition
Just curious how the transition over to speech was going for other MDI employees.
TT vs MQ speech recognition
Have worked on both MQ's ASR and TransTech's escription VR. TT's blows MQ's right out of the water... no comparison, TT's is a zillion times better. Just my opinion.
More OSi accounts going to speech recognition
Please, if someone is really in the know, please give info of what is going on. I'm starting to get worried now.
If they want attention and recognition as a newbie, go with one of the big 3....
...Andrews, M-TEC, or Career Step.
Which Sten-Tel is this? Do they use voice recognition? Thanks. nm
nm
I could be voice recognition with paying
an Editor 2 or 3 cpl.
Voice Recognition - I hate it
My company is making the move to VR for as many accounts as they can and, wouldn't you know it, the account I love and am doing really well on and making good money on is going to VR. My line rate is slashed in half and I have spoken to other people who have gone to VR a few months ago and they say they are not making anywhere near what they were making typing. This really annoys me as I NEED the money! I may have to look for another job. Anybody know of any good companies that you can actually just still TRANSCRIBE for like the good old days? I hate this VR!
EXTEXT speech recognition
Anyone that does extext speech can you tell me a little bit about it. How many lines per hour are you able to get? Is it easy to hear?
You lost? QA was around before speech recognition
/
Editing voice recognition
From my own experience, you can make more typing. The pay for editing is usually pretty low, by the line, and because the recognition is so bad, you might as well type the reports. The companies that market SR basically tell their prospective clients what they want to hear, e.g. that their SR can understand bad dictators and ESLs, that their SR isn't thrown off by background noise and that the doctors can dictate from anywhere (like their car in heavey traffic), and the SR will understand them. I myself use SR to transcribe due to bad hands and wrists and I know what it can and cannot do. I spent a lot of time training mine so I get around 98% accuracy. Very few doctors will put in that kind of time. The worst SR program that I have edited is Dictaphone and it is just terrible. E-Scription is better and more user friendly. Medquist's program isn't bad either, but it still boils down to how good the dictator is and if he/she is willing to change his/her dictation habits and where they dictate from, and most importantly, use a headset when they dictate. Once a mumbler always a mumbler and if they are used to dictating their reports right after they see a patient, in the hall with phones ringing, nurses talking, etc., it is a lost cause as far as SR is concerned. You might want to search the archives for messages from other people who have tried editing SR. Good luck.
Spheris Speech Recognition...
Could someone please tell me how Spheris' SR program is? I've worked with a couple of other SR programs and they were awful, so just wanted to get some opinions before I applied. Thanks!
Please respond if you do voice recognition....
I haven't been able to get any clear answers.....have been told some unsettling news about low pay per line for VR work.
Anyone who does VR work.....what is your pay per 65-character line? No company names needed!!!
Speech recognition, an oversell
Speech recognition is an oversell! The qualified Transcriptionist simply cannot be replaced by a machine that cannot understand the dictator. I heard the word presbyacusis clearly stated, and the Speech thingy typed: Please be a Q-tip For Social Director a pocket rectum. The best of my week was the when the dictator said the patient liked to play tennis for exercise. The Speech thingy had its mind elsewhere and transcribed play penis for exercise. My goodness, Lord help us all! I really find it more efficient to do straight transcription than correct every 3 to 4 words in a document. Am I alone out here?
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