Why oh why?

It's a pride issue

By: Jonathon Waters

What does it mean when someone says “that guy takes pride in his work”? When I started as an apprentice I was told that it was going to be like the army and that I was going to be treated like dirt for 2 years.

So I was prepared for the worst even though I never had the privilege of going to the army, my brothers let me know exactly how difficult it was. So I went into the apprenticeship with my eyes open, but with pride and will I managed to do my time to become qualified. Since that time many things have changed and amongst other things the governing of apprenticeship has changed three times. Due to these scenarios the whole qualification process has taken on a new “look”. In saying that I mean that it is becoming a last resort to become a plumber, or there is no more pride in wanting to become a plumber. I speak to many apprentices and they are basically using plumbing as a steppingstone to something else, and to boot the employer of plumbers don’t know what their plumbers are actually doing. How can you mentor an apprentice if you shove him into a van with three months worth of watered down training from a training provider who did a section 28 trade test two months previously? This is just one scenario which pops up every day in the enquiries I receive. The point of my very scattered discussion is that we if we want pride back in our industry, we must all do something toward getting it back and try to stop exploiting each other to get a quick buck. Training, regulation or registration is not the CETA or the Government’s problem, it is ours and if we keep slating the guys that do something to enhance the lives of plumbers, they will move on and we won’t have anyone to do the dirty work.

State of the Nation Address 2011

With the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma delivering the state of the nation address, 10^th February 2011.

What has the Zuma’s government achieved so far in boosting the economy? What needs to be changed or done going forward?

Please share your views.

A new perspective

Hi I am new to this but having been in the industry for the nearly 20 years now I have some observations.  Why is it that people will always ask for SABS certificates on products but seldom install the correct product for the application or with the appropriate protection how often do plumbers use compression fittings on class 0 copper or swage nipples and clamps on high pressure HDPE systems or UG pipe above ground. Why don’t plumbers lag pipes its extra money and a better job for the plumber is it laziness? or the lack of ability by the plumber to promote himself to the customer. Remember that once you at the job you need to make as much of it as possible, travelling is an expensive pastime when you charge by the hour. 

As a registered plumber it is right that you should have a say in the layout of the water and waste systems of the building. Having dealt with many an architect it is seldom that they design for a geyser area but when they do take time to get this right the job works so much better.  Plumbers will happily buy what they are used to and seldom move on to modern technology, those that do generally make more money and do a better job.  I firmly believe that as a industry we need to upskill and promote plumbers as professionals this is the best way to get back the respect of the public and the fastest way of increasing the plumbers earnings.