Redundancy is costing us.

[Lazarus]

Ever wondered why we're always told it's too expensive to fix the roads?

I went into town for my supply run today, down the Hume, and the RMS was fixing some damage on a little bridge where some dozy fecker had ploughed into the railing.

I passed an automated sign announcing the works, then about 100m past that was a ute with another sign, and a guy sitting in it. The ute, not the sign

A kilometer or so further came the cones diverting the flow to one lane and an attenuator truck, with a guy sitting in it.

In front of that was another truck with a sign saying "slow down", with a guy sitting in it.
Then there was the crew truck, you guessed it, with a guy in it.

Then we come to the bridge with 2 guys working on the damage and 3 watching them. Perhaps offering encouraging suggestions.

Then there was a supervisor vehicle, including the supervisor, and finally another sign truck complete with driver.

I just came back past them, 4 hrs later, it was like a still life art installation, everybody still in their original position, except for the super who had gone.

So we had six guys just sitting in vehicles, a three man cheer squad and 2 blokes working, all on at least $30/hr.

Guvvy jobs, great if you can get in, but I nearly passed out from sympathetic boredom at the thought of spending my days just sitting.

[womble]

Oh they're getting a lot more than 30 an hour.
They're fun to mess with if you know what channel they're on too. Usually 17 I think.

[Lazarus]

Oh they're getting a lot more than 30 an hour

That's no lie womble, I was reading a few weeks back, that the lollipop guys/girls are on $750/day.

Mind you, you'd want it. A true "ladies dick" of a job.

I did quite a bit of road construction in the past, saw several come within a public hair of geting cleaned up by fuktards and one who wasn't quick enough on his feet, poor bastard was airborne for quite a stretch.

[Oldbloke]

"That's no lie womble, I was reading a few weeks back, that the lollipop guys/girls are on $750/day"

My bet would that is what they charged by the traffic control company. Not what employees are getting. And would be a 12hr day. Just do the maths.

[Lazarus]

"That's no lie womble, I was reading a few weeks back, that the lollipop guys/girls are on $750/day"

My bet would that is what they charged by the traffic control company. Not what employees are getting. And would be a 12hr day. Just do the maths.

Your bet is wrong then OB.
They were interviewed by the ABC and all stated that that was their take home pay.

[womble]

Yep 12 hours straight of mind numbing boredom passes ever so slowly.
I couldn’t do it for any money

[S O K A R]

Oh they're getting a lot more than 30 an hour

That's no lie womble, I was reading a few weeks back, that the lollipop guys/girls are on $750/day.

Where do I sign up

[Oldbloke]

"That's no lie womble, I was reading a few weeks back, that the lollipop guys/girls are on $750/day"

My bet would that is what they charged by the traffic control company. Not what employees are getting. And would be a 12hr day. Just do the maths.

Your bet is wrong then OB.
They were interviewed by the ABC and all stated that that was their take home pay.

That would be over 1k a day before tax for low skill work. Why do I get the feeling it's BS

[MtnMan]

.........and apparently we're going to build nuclear submarines.

[Lazarus]

"That's no lie womble, I was reading a few weeks back, that the lollipop guys/girls are on $750/day"

My bet would that is what they charged by the traffic control company. Not what employees are getting. And would be a 12hr day. Just do the maths.

Your bet is wrong then OB.
They were interviewed by the ABC and all stated that that was their take home pay.

That would be over 1k a day before tax for low skill work. Why do I get the feeling it's BS

Take your pick

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real- ... 15b47a3a82

https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/aussie-t ... -c-9772180

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... y-pay.html

[Oldbloke]

Sooo, not take home pay.
It isn't just the traffic guy working in the suburbs or just out of town who would be paid a fair bit less than what she is on. ( perhaps $35hr)
You need to look at the package/job in total.

It's gross, before tax.
12 - 13 hrs
+ Penalties
+ LAHA allowance (not a lot either$76) and
+ FIFO. Which usually means away from home 3-4 weeks at a time.

Usually no toilet or lunch facilities out on the road.
Gets abused daily.
Likely out in the desert some where.

Resized_tempFileForShare_20230512-102117_271607879500495.jpeg (234.89 KiB) Viewed 2561 times

Wednesday 12 hours – $606.22
42x8 = 336
42x6.5 =273
On about $42 hr

Good on her, earns every cent of it.

[Lazarus]

Sooo, not take home pay.
It isn't just the traffic guy working in the suburbs or just out of town who would be paid a fair bit less than what she is on. ( perhaps $35hr)
You need to look at the package/job in total.

It's gross, before tax.
12 - 13 hrs
+ Penalties
+ LAHA allowance (not a lot either$76) and
+ FIFO. Which usually means away from home 3-4 weeks at a time.

Usually no toilet or lunch facilities out on the road.
Gets abused daily.
Likely out in the desert some where.

Resized_tempFileForShare_20230512-102117_271607879500495.jpeg

Wednesday 12 hours – $606.22
42x8 = 336
42x6.5 =273
On about $42 hr

Good on her, earns every cent of it.

You can make assumptions all day OB, it's apparent you've never worked on a road or construction site.

There's almost always a caravan type crib room on small sites or donga types on longer term sites and "no toilets"? It's not the 1950s, every site has at least one portaloo, 2 if there are women on crew.

As to pay rates, as of today;

https://au.jooble.org/salary/road-worker/Victoria

[bigpete]

You'd be mad to work for under $30/hr these days

[Oldbloke]

You can make assumptions all day OB, it's apparent you've never worked on a road or construction site.

is that right.



There's almost always a caravan type crib room on small sites or donga types on longer term sites not short term mate.


and "no toilets"? i drive past traffic control with no loos daily. It's not the 1950s, every site has at least one portaloo, 2 if there are women on crew


What facilities are provided varies greatly. We actually just don't know what her work conditions are. But no loo is common. Open your eyes mate.

[Lazarus]

You can make assumptions all day OB, it's apparent you've never worked on a road or construction site.

is that right.



There's almost always a caravan type crib room on small sites or donga types on longer term sites not short term mate.


and "no toilets"? i drive past traffic control with no loos daily. It's not the 1950s, every site has at least one portaloo, 2 if there are women on crew


What facilities are provided varies greatly. We actually just don't know what her work conditions are. But no loo is common. Open your eyes mate.

Fair enough OB as it seems to be so important to you, you win.
Perhaps though, since you're down there in Mexico and I'm up here in Nanny South Wales, you Mexicans just prefer to squat at the side of the road.

[Oldbloke]

Yep, so large and long term sites are usually well served. Mine sites too. But smaller or short term sites often have very few if any amenities. I've often thought caravans would be a cost-effective solution but you never see them.
Workers are often expected to wait for relief staff or their next break and then drive to the nearest public loo or macca's.

$42 hr on a casual rate ( that girl would be casual/contract) does not surprise me. I imagine a full time council worker would be fair bit less.

[Lazarus]

Yep, so large and long term sites are usually well served. Mine sites too. But smaller or short term sites often have very few if any amenities. I've often thought caravans would be a cost-effective solution but you never see them.
Workers are often expected to wait for relief staff or their next break and then drive to the nearest public loo or macca's.

$42 hr on a casual rate ( that girl would be casual/contract) does not surprise me. I imagine a full time council worker would be fair bit less.

Perhaps it varies by state OB, I've subbied to RMS, or DMR as it was back then, we were pampered compared to the what you describe of Victoria.

Mind you, sometimes the facilities got a bit medieval.
I will never forget one particular site that had some labourers of the Asian persuasion, who had the disturbing habit of squatting on the seat rather than sitting.
I'm sure you see where this could be problematic.
I was unable to just bail out of the dozer when the urge struck, so had to wait till smoko, by which time things were crowningly urgent, got to the porta only to find half the interior liberally coated with used stir fry.

Thankfully there were three, and one hadn't been redecorated.

Some very loud words were exchanged with the site superintendent, the union rep got involved, there was a rapid change in the labour force and all was well, but lordy, lordy it was a near death experience for my undies.

[Oldbloke]

Correct.
Each state has slightly different requirements.
If it is a union site usually the conditions are better.
And if its near a worksafe office. Lol
If worksafe inspectors are busy. (Under staffed?)
If there is a OHS Rep on site. Lol
If company has an OHS Manager.
If company owner is an arsole. (most important)