how much $$$ to ask for?

[ROBPAD]

I have been offered a job with Trane in So. California as a service tech.. They have told me that i will be paid above union journeyman scale with benefits. I have till next week to respond. My current employer found out about the offer when Trane called to verify work history. He wants me to allow him to make an offer. Currently I have been with him for 2 yrs. ( 15 yrs in trade ) and i make $29.00 an hour. I am a service tech right now and i am responsible for service on rtu's - chillers and boilers. I also service and repair control systems such as staefa, solidyne, carrier 3v, and others. I am also the one who is called on to correct other employee mistakes ( there are alot ) and smooth over our customers. my call back rate is very low. What kind of money do i ask for. Im not really sure what the union rate is for journeyman these days and i want to be fair to myself and him. any advise?

[refer guy]

is that 15 years experience a solid service call after stinking service call of experience. in my few years in this field i have met a good amount of scumbags who claim a bunch of experience and then turns out it was so many years in construction, so many years in the field, and so many years in the office. if you have 15 solid years of service then i would say 33 - 35 an hour would be just right, also trane has to be one of those great companies with unlimited growth potential. does trane guarantee you your 40 hours minumum, what about the current company your with, their is something about them that your not happy with. my last company the owner was offering me several dollars more to stay but i always figured what is a big raise good for when all your getting is 30 to 35 hours a week. now i work for a company where im getting 50 to 60 hours a week mon - friday and if im on call for the weekend then its usually another 30 plus hour, i finally feel like a real tech making the money were suppose to be making after investing in all my schooling and training. good luck and dont let companies treat you like a sucka.

[ideafx]

Total package for Local 230 guys is $49.47/hr according to their website. $33.86 on the check. $29 seems kind of low for Southern California.

With your experience, I'd ask for at least $35 on the check.

[ROBPAD]

yes 15 yrs solid service experience. And i know who your talking about when you talk about guys who say they have all this experience and still cant figure out how to put a set of gauges on a system... but yes, not perfect, far from it, still learning everyday but gett'n the job done everyday and further more gett'n it done right! also your right, hours have been low the past few months. last pay check 56 hrs straight time and 9 hrs ot

[maxpower]

Is your whole decision based on money? Do they treat you good where your at now?

[timebuilder]

When you are too old to work, how nice they were to you at your old job will not pay the bills.

Get the money now.

[secorp]

That 56 hours straight pay is reason enough to hit the road.

[ROBPAD]

thanks to all who answered my question. the company im with did step up with a counter offer of $36.00 an hour with a guaranteed 40 + hrs. a week not including overtime. An extra week of vacation and an additional 2% into my retirement account which is at 3% right now. ive decided to stay for now and i hope all works out as i do have alot of perks. I contacted trane and they said great for me and to know the door is always open? so that was great. thanks again.