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Unions in Canada, MTs make $23 hour plus Yep

Posted By: darlene on 2009-09-23
In Reply to: I love this thread because it proves why I say - unions and strikes will never work!

I communicate with an MT in Canada and that is what she relayed.


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Unions exist to make money for unions.
That's the truth. They don't care if companies close because they can't afford to pay union wages, and then the workers have nothing.
think, people! If she does 250 lines/hour, same docs daily, will make $15/hour
nm
what's not to believe - I said that I charge $35/hour and work 10 hour days AND DO NOT MAKE - sm
I DO NOT MAKE $100,000/YEAR

try READING the post.
$20 an hour is not even average for radiology. You should not make less than $25-30 per hour. sm
I work for Keystrokes and have for 3 years. I average 25 reports an hour, which is $31.25 an hour. I have 401, health insurance, direct deposit, life insurance. My lead tells me I'm wonderful when I talk to her, but I do not need a daily pat on the back.

I also have a good friend who works for them on a clinic. She only makes 0.08 per line but does 300 lines an hour, which is $24 an hour, again higher than your $20.

I don't think we're selling ourselves short. There are companies out there that are good to work for, 6 or 8 of them that I know of personally. Don't settle for $20 an hour.
Unions are on the side of the Unions!
You have a very glorified view of unions. For many years, unions have been associated with graft, corruption, and greed, and for good reason. The unions are in business for the unions, period. Unions will twist the truth to whatever extent necessary to pit workers against management. That is how they stay in business. Have you ever seen info about the salaries that union bosses make? They are atrocious. Unions are a BUSINESS. They are in business for themselves. They are NOT charitable organizations out to help workers, although that is what they say. They will only help the worker to the extent that it lines their pockets.
Really? Most MTs I know make between $20-30 per hour.
x
I make $14 an hour as QA and looking
NM
Uh, you said you make 4 cpl, $20-something per hour.
At just $20 per hour, that's 4000 lines per day.

Also, many companies pay less than 4 cpl & many MTs are used to making more than $20/hr.... so even more lines. It's ridiculous.
HOW MUCH ON AVERAGE DO YOU MAKE AN HOUR?
WHAT IS THEIR AVERAGE PPL, ETC.
Figure out how much you make per hour now and
.
I make much more than $17 an hour, more in the $30 range. sm
You sold yourself short. Did you pass their test?

Things that are good are sometimes worth waiting for. Why do you call it BS when you know nothing about the company other than you applied? Geesh. This must be Keystroke's week to be bashed. Who is next week?
I agree...I make anywhere between 25.00 and 28.00 an hour....
it is possible...but like the above poster said, you need to utilize Expanders and I have my own doctors also...no templates but having your own doctors helps...
I WISH I made $11.75/hour! Used to make more
This business makes no sense at all.
I make more than $28 an hour on average so
I am curious to hear about your union attempts but I will never join. I will be one of those taking up the jobs given up by those who attempt this.

You are entitled to spend your time, energy and money where you wish. I hope you don't come out of this attempt feeling defeated or hurt but I am afraid that will be the case.

So, for your sake I wish you well but I will not be a supporter of the union.


How on earth do you make $35-$50 an hour?
Would you mind telling how many lines a day you type and how much cpl you get paid? I just don't see how anyone can type that much that fast. Wow! I'm in awe! Have any tips for us slow pokes with attention problems?
OK, all of you on VR who make $20 an hour, please post.
And please, not the same 1 person posting over and over again who is obviously MANAGEMENT.  If you are truly making that much money doing VR, I would hate to see the quality of your work.  Oh, wait, I probably already have.  Looking up old reports, the quality I am seeing is...  not that great, to put it mildly.  Obvious, GLARING errors.  VR:  Good for MTSO.  Not good for MT--or for PATIENT CARE, to put it mildly!
At my co, I would make $5 per hour LESS to be a lead vs. production pay. nm
pppp
Im thinking by the hour and make it well worth your while. nm
x
Agree. I would love to make $20 an hour
nm
Can acute care make $17 an hour?
Yes. With WMX, in December, straight typing, I was making $25.73 an hour. Started VR in January, now averaging $20.73. Sucks.
Actually I didn't quote a figure that I make per hour....sm
(it is above $25/hour, however) but I will say this: if the MT field is one's chosen area, then investing in it is a must. That means, instead of calling others who state they make healthy per-hour wages liars, your time would be better spent in getting as much info as possible in how that was achieved - and learning from it as well as adopting whatever it takes to help YOU. It means spending more time learning and less time bashing. It means concentration on retention of info, both old and new, to further your knowledge. It means learning what works best for you - not the next MT or whomever has posted on this board. It means taking feedback, again, without whining about it. I know of no other field where criticism isn't an essential factor - again, use it *positively* and don't let it affect you negatively! It means being open to trying new specialties when asked - you never know until you try - maybe it's just what you needed! There is a whole host of other things that you can try, but TRYING them is the key. Nothing ventured, nothing gained - and gain IS, after all, what it's all about, isn't it?
Yeah, take home 70% for IC and make aprox $10.50/hour or .04cpl
x
Keep puckering up, maybe someday you'll make that big $14 an hour. Best of luck to ya. nmsg
msg
Canada MT
Well, there is nothing I can do about what line rate is offered here in Canada. I have chosen this career so have to take the good with the bad. And, depending on how many lines you can type in an hour depends on how much you will make per hour - With the amount of lines that I can type in an hour, it works out to pretty average - and almost triple what I used to get paid when I worked in-office, so pretty pleased.
PCDI Canada
Has anyone used or know anything about this company and the MT course they offer?  Am try to find out how legit they are for a friend.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks! =)
Unions
Yeah. Unions have worked really well for the auto workers.
I don't see where unions have done anything for anybody.
My brother was in the aircraft mechanics union. He paid BIG dues. He worked 3 years without a contract with a major airline. When they were negotiating, the airline told them that they would give them their raises on paper but that they were going belly up and would use the mechanics as their scapegoat because they demanded more money. That is exactly what happened. The airline went belly up and the mechanics were the scapegoats. They never saw one penny of any raise.

Unions are just another big business. They take the workers' money, and the workers are just puppets doing what they're told, striking when they're told, unable to feed their family because of unions.
Unions
WE CAN'T WIN!!  So I guess I'm just going to shut up and type some more!
Spheris for one. They have accounts in Canada as well.
dd
Spheris has both MTs and accounts in Canada.
dd
Canada has MT union lowest pay $23 hr

Wow 7 cents and then also the exchange rate, I forget what my MT email friend said it was.  Gad you are making zip per hour.  Glad you are happy with it.  Not me. My friend has some of her own accounts and charges $20 and hour.


Oh well, guess you are happy.  She is unhappy with %20 an hour.


Unions not the answer
I strongly disagree that unions will solve the problems afflicting the MT field. As long as there is outsourcing and other alternatives to traditional transcription, such as voice recognition, there will continue to be downward pressure on MT wages. Years ago when I worked in Human Resources for health care facilities, I sat on the other side of the negotiating table negotiating union contracts (our nurses were unionized), and I am appalled to this day at the underhanded tactics used by the unions. And talk about overinflated salaries - it is truly shocking what union officials make, and it all comes out of the pockets of union members who get a rather dubious return on their union dues. I just don't believe unionization will solve our problems. I think the only thing that will stop the downward pressure on MT pay is if an end is put to outsourcing (and I don't think its unrealistic to think that could happen at some point).
I've been in unions and know what
they can do for you. Without unions there would be no vacation pay, sick days, 40 hour week (for some).

I would very definitely love to be part of a union and also would be willing to strike if necessasry to make this happen.

Like all unions, strength is in the numbers so let's hope people support the idea.
Unions would help us get some recognition
Currently it's lacking 100%. Look at AAMT/AHDI -- they don't represent us, they're killing us. They need to be investigated and put on a short leash ASAP.
obama and unions
link The big money companies would not allow and would fight it big time. I know one southern California hospital sure did fight unionization
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/us/politics/09labor.html
Heads up, I just found out this is a BC, Canada company!!
xx
Does anyone have any info on Terra Nova in Canada?? TIA
nm
Amen. Look at Canada/Sweden/England who have UHC. sm
A patient has to wait literally months to get a simple doctor's appointment. In the news just yesterday was a lawsuit in England where a patient died of breast cancer waiting to get an appointment with an oncologist. That is why Florida sees an influx of Canadians every winter; they save all of the routine healthcare workups for once a year, go to Florida, and get their healthcare taken care of.

Universal healthcare is not free. We will pay for it with increased taxes and pay for it DEARLY.


Terra Nova is located in Canada....
*
Evoluz Inc. hiring transcriptionist in Canada
Evoluz Inc. is a Toronto (Canada) based transcription company and they have been hiring currently.  My friend currently works for them from home and she is quite happy. They also provide interview and business transcription.
it may be located in Canada. See web link inside. SM
again, I'm not sure if this is the correct one you are looking for. I know nothing about this company however.

http://www.transrx.ca/
It's a good thing we don't live in Canada then
as my hubby was 64 when he had his 2 heart attacks and CABG last fall. He was lucky to have survived it as it was! 
I think these guys are based on Ontario, Canada. nm
nm
It is too late for unions. It never would have worked.
bebe
If IC's can't join EXISTING unions, then maybe
it's time for MTs to form a union that DOES include IC's, especially since they are a large part of this industry. They deserve better wages, too.
Completely agree. Before unions,
people were forced to work 7 days a week, 12 hour days, no benefits, no overtime, no minimum wage, no safety standards, etc etc etc.... THANK YOU UNIONS.
You know, there are unions in place already. Here is their payscales....
Full-time and part-time employee hospital positions payscales are as follows:

MT Level 1 to Level 3=
$23.68 to $28.70 per hour plus benefits which include 401b, health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, Wellness Programs, 24 PTO days, plus paid holidays and a few other perks.

Did you not do your homework?

The payscales you have in this post are way too low.
Just curious -- did getting paid from Canada mess up your taxes in any way? sm

I have a friend in Toronto, and we were talking about me trying to do some work for them (they pay 18 cents per line!) but wasn't sure how complicated it would be taxwise.


Thanks. 


Unions haven't helped much in years
Sadly, they've become more of a corporation themselves. You pay dues and if a conpany wants to bail or relocate or outsource, they still can and do.
Truth about unions - good for employees
My huband is a union member. Union membership is voluntary, with it you pay dues, in exchange your union officials bargain with the company for fair wages, benefits, and pensions. A union signs a contract and during that time, the employees have job security. If there is low work because the offshore companies messed up or shipments didn't come in, it is their union that pays them subpay to compensate the difference between average earnings and unemployment if he has a week off. Also, we pay nada for health insurance premiums, only $10 for office visit, and $5/$15 for Rx, 0 for dental 50% for orthodontics, and $20 for glasses. Without the union supporting these workers they would have no ground to stand on with regard to pay and benefits and working conditions. Thanks to the union, if my husband works Saturdays its time and a half, Sunday are double-time and heaven forbid a holiday he gets paid triple time. When he retires, we keep the benefits and a nice pension. Unions are not all about the mob - I have family in chicago and it is not as you describe it. Chicago is a high crime area and it's not the unions that are causing the problem, it is the quality of people who work in SOME of the factories which are lower paying and the socioeconomic drive that results in shady business and your so called mobter and gangster life.
Well, MY experience with unions is the exact opposite...
My dad was in a textile worker's union for 35 years. He had to go through a strike when he had 3 small kids. For six weeks, he received $20 a week and only two bags of groceries for the whole duration. He lost his job at 35 years from the plant closing. That is not to mention that his union wages had us always barely making it, and the union never once did a thing about the conditions they had to work in. He has struggled with a form of bladder cancer for 19 years from working in those conditions and the chemicals used there.

Ask the auto manufacturers what the union has done for them. Yes, the workers are making it fine laid off, but the companies are near death. Those companies feed our nation. We're 1000 miles from Detroit and our livelihood depends on those car companies staying up and running. My husband's company does not make a thing related to cars, but the company that OWNS his company does.

Bottom line is that if this industry has come to the point that we are discussing needing a union, then maybe we need to either get government intervention to standardize the industry, set regulations about ONLY US work for US medical records, and use only certified workers, OR we need to go back to college for our next career choice.