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Author Topic: The Year that Was 2011  (Read 4367 times)

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Offline Jaxcat

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The Year that Was 2011
« on: November 23, 2011, 05:29:07 PM »
Well, we are fast approaching the end of 2011 and what has changed in the industry since the beginning.  Add to the thread and let's see what has and hasn't been achieved - give Wal some ideas for his next newsletter...

The watchword for the year has been "consultation".  If anyone complains about anything, we'll consult on it, we'll invite you to attend a meeting, and then give you pages to fill out - if that doesn't shut you up and you actually have an opinion, then you will undoubtedly be in the minority and when the decision doesn't go the way we want it, then we'll throw some numbers around, make some statistics look good and do what we really wanted to do in the first place.

Notification that gas certificates will cease as they are now and change into a Record of Installation (April 2013 I think) - poorly notified consultation meetings and a consultation document hidden on the MED pages where very few practitioners were likely to see them.  This will be a sad day for gasfitters who will need to watch their back more than ever before.  One thing the average practitioner and the PGDB agree on is that the system that we have is better than the proposed system, which will come under MED.  If the govt ever wanted to save some money they could eliminate Energy Safety Service and no one would notice. 

The Paul Gee debacle.  Cost the industry a fortune, cost Paul Gee his business, family life and undoubtedly a lot of sleep.  It's not over yet, but it certainly shone a light in some cobwebbed corners.  The optimist in me hopes that the PGDB learned something about their auditing and investigation processes for this, the pessimist in me thinks not.  Either way any one of us could be in the position Mr Gee has found himself - and that is a dangerous place to be.

 

Linkback: https://www.plumbers.nz/rant-or-rave/5/the-year-that-was-2011/910/
Have you learned lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you?  Have you not learned great lessons from those who braced themselves against you, and disputed the passage with you?  (Walt Whitman 1819-1891)  American Poet

Offline Jaxcat

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Re: The Year that Was 2011
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2011, 05:35:18 PM »
Plumbers and drainlayers joined gasfitters in getting"points" for their licences.  An upsurge in course providers and a downsurge in quality.  Whatever your opinion on the courses and the CPD scheme, the courses that were intially there for gasfitters were of far superior quality and the point per hour was generally enforced.  The system now is a shameful debacle and HAS to change to have any credibility.

The RRC showed how the PGDB are being allowed to flout the law - but hey its okay becasue they are consulting about the mistakes!! 

The ITO blew their budget, apprentices missed out on block courses and a dark cloud hangs over the results of version 3 apprentices as many wait for National Certificates with little explanation about what is wrong, why it is taking so long and when they will get them.

Competency audits appear in lrger number with little understanding of how one gets pciked for one.

Christchurch suffered and practitioners get screwed over by EQC.  I am sure you guys will be able to think of many more.  The outlook for 2012 - well industry has to come together to force change - either by major protest, by supporting the petition for an Inquiry into industry, or by submitting and taking more of the same.  What do you think?


Offline Badger

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Re: The Year that Was 2011
« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2011, 08:40:41 PM »
Guess what Jax....... there were no investigations pre 2003, what changed in 2003???
You can't choose who you are.....but you are the sum of your choices.......

Offline robbo

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Re: The Year that Was 2011
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2011, 08:46:35 AM »
no investigations pre 2003, what changed in 2003???
  hi guys, vast amounts of money has CHANGED hands since 2003!!, cheers

Offline robbo

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Re: The Year that Was 2011
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2011, 09:00:33 AM »
hi guys, the diss Levy started in 2004 and was $15, look where it is now where will it finish? cheers

Offline Wal

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Re: The Year that Was 2011
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2011, 12:23:48 PM »
Hey guys.  What you maoning about its only a 1806% increase


Wal

Offline Jaxcat

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Re: The Year that Was 2011
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2011, 12:40:22 PM »
If only we could have increased OUR prices by that much - but then we would probably be in front of the Commerce Commission.   Some thieves come wearing a ski mask and carrying a base ball bat, and some come in a suit and tie.  What more can I say.

Offline robbo

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Re: The Year that Was 2011
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2011, 03:33:46 PM »
hi guys, i presume we have all received this note:-

 Thank you for your submission in relation to the Board's consultation on
Continuing Professional Development.
The Board will consider the submissions received at its meeting on 5 and
6 December, and you will be advised of the Board's decision after that
date.....

some time in the future we will know of the boards decision,    cheers.


Offline Wal

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Re: The Year that Was 2011
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2011, 04:34:59 PM »
Good idea about increasing the hourly rate by the same percentage.  That would make my hourly rate about $1,470.44.  I can live with that. LOL 

Offline Badger

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Re: The Year that Was 2011
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2011, 07:56:32 AM »
threatening someones business with destruction and their ability to operate and demanding money is call extortion if your Sicilian, but if you work in a sky scraper in wellington its called a licence fee, and they are going to give out licences to criminals.......is it the plumbing industry or an episode of the sopranos??? ???

It would be funny if it wasn't so tragic, just can't see Kerny lookin menacing with a set of bolt cutters though, can't imagine him carrying any sort of tool really, unless its a bunch of tools...... :-*

Offline robbo

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Re: The Year that Was 2011
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2011, 09:44:51 PM »
hi guys, this is on trade-me,  has the Board invented another category of plumber without consultation,cheers

 Chartered Plumber
Listing #: 426523144
Company:  GMC Consultanc­y 
Location:  Rodney, Auckland 
Type:  Part time, Contract/T­emp 
Listed:  Thu, 24 Nov 
Pay and benefits:  $60.00 an hr 

Chartered plumber with experience in plumbing new houses. Must be able to sign off work.

 

Offline robbo

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Re: The Year that Was 2011
« Reply #11 on: November 28, 2011, 05:34:21 PM »
hi guys, it is still 2011 and have you read the latest from the Board? Just in case you did`nt know they tell us why we have a board and why we pay our exorbitant licence fees.
 Payment of the licence fee provides the authorisation to undertake the restricted work of plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying in much the same way as a drivers licence authorises a person to drive. As with driving, once licensed, a tradesperson must meet certain standards to retain the licence and avoid enforcement action.

What they do not say is that driving licences do not have to be renewed every year or that you have to re-sit the test to get it and also to pay all over again. It is hardly a fair comparison,cheers


Offline robbo

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Re: The Year that Was 2011
« Reply #12 on: November 28, 2011, 05:38:55 PM »
hi guys, good jobs to be had on the Auckland Councill if you know the right people.
How did this guy get the job of inspector?

An Auckland drainlayer has been struck off the register of drainlayers. Read the article on the pgdb website.
At the time of the offending, Mr Sharma was drainage inspector for the former North Shore City Council
cheers

Offline Jaxcat

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Re: The Year that Was 2011
« Reply #13 on: November 28, 2011, 05:41:30 PM »
I thought the same thing Robbo - the comparison is pointless!  They also have Police on the roads checking if you have a licence occassionally and doing random stops - and this is what the Board could do with random audits instead of CPD.

He also doesn't mention the Board are a Registered Charity - and if licences should be classed as a Dontion and therefore able to be claimed back as such in everyone's return.  

Big ups though that the Federation are mentioned as a legitimate body who advocate for their members.  
 :-*


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