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Subject:Re: Working Wages From:Andrew Plato <aplato -at- EASYSTREET -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 29 Jun 1998 07:31:15 -0700
>I agree with Bruce that we need to campaign to keep rates up. We should be
>careful, though, about broadcasting the names of low-paying employers.
>There are serious legal ramifications involved in blackening a
person/firm's
>good name.
Bad idea.
The rates people get for their work is, quite bluntly, no one's business but
their own. "Campaigns" to keep rates high will only give those that do not
deserve higher rates the courage to ask for more. While those that do
deserve more get shafted.
You want to know what technical writers get paid less then other technical
professionals. It's real simple:
Demand: The demand for writers is less then that of other professions.
Supply: The supply of writers is exceedingly high in some areas.
Incompetence: Every time an incompetent goof-ball blows a job, he/she
depresses the rates and salaries for the rest of us. If anything, we should
"campaign" to keep the incompetent goof-balls out of the profession and
worry about our rates individually. I can't tell you how many times I have
landed a contract where I was picking up the pieces after a goof-ball. He
left to go work another job and burned my client. Everytime he/she burns a
client, my rates take a hit because the companies are paranoid about getting
another goof-ball.
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