Update for Everyone VI: What Is and What Should Never Be

[Tender Branson]

A 3% wage increase for me next year.

The metal union and the employer representatives reached an agreement for the 2018 wages.

Initially, the metal union wanted a 4% rise (after all, productivity in the industry is increasing by 6% this year), but the employers only said 2% and not more. So, they settled in the middle (which I still think is too low). IMO, the employer side won this year, because exports and current orders are really booming.

It's still higher than the average inflation rate (1.88% this year), so yeah ... meh ... but ok.



http://derstandard.at/2000067541465/Metaller-erstritten-drei-Prozent-Lohnerhoehung

[Tender Branson]

As a comparison, here are the German wage agreements in the past years between the IG Metall (metal union) and employers:



2016-17 had a joint rise of 4.8% for the 21 months ending with 31 December 2017, so basically 2.7% for each year.

Since 2011, German metal workers had an average pay rise of 3% each year (Austria: 2.5%).

The German IG Metall union went into talks for 2018 with a 6% pay rise demand (something our union should have done as well ...)

[Tender Branson]

I just had a customer who's last name was "Führer".

Lol.

[Tender Branson]

We are having our Company Christmas Party tomorrow evening.

Will likely be wet again (as usual). Many are taking the taxi (or like me) drive with someone else who doesn't drink. I'll definitely drink ... and eat (it's only 1 time a year you get it for free).

[Tender Branson]

Just 5 hours left to work, then 2 weeks Christmas holiday vacation !

[Tender Branson]

Currently at home for a few days because I have the flu.

And it's quite bad this time (but slowly getting better with the anti-biotics I'm taking right now).

I blame the sh*tty weather outside, which is absurd and unnatural for a January (extremely warm with 5-10°C, foggy and raining).

[Tender Branson]

Just woke up and it dropped about 1.5 feet of fresh snow overnight.

Time for snowshoeing over the weekend.

The morning started with blue sky and cold temps, so I quickly went up the mountain and into the woods for a nice 4-hour tour. It was amazing.

It was the right decision, because at noon it became really cloudy and for the night there's another foot of new snow on the way ...

Does anyone want pictures ?

[Tender Branson]

Does anyone want pictures ?

If we say "no" would it stop you?

Depends if there are "yes" votes too ...

[Tender Branson]

After lunch break, I need to drive one of our company cars to a car center for a "software update" on the brakes ...

I miss the good old days when cars were still cars and not computers.

[Tender Branson]

I've got a lot to do in my company these days ...

The economic situation in the country and company is good. Really good.

I sent big boxes full of electronics and other devices to Poland (Warsaw), Switzerland (Winterthur), Sweden (Akersberga, Uppsala and Solna), Norway (Rud), Netherlands (Helmond) and Denmark (Glostrup) today. Plus the regular smaller ones to customers, mostly in Germany and Italy.

Plus, we also got a 200.000€ order from Bilfinger in Germany this week ...

[Tender Branson]

We got a new employee in the office this week, a [very nice] 19-year old girl - which means I'm going to be her "teacher" for the next weeks and tell/show her how everything works. Our ERP/logistics/accounting system is a real plague to start with, so she needs all the help she can get.

[Tender Branson]

I think we should all pitch in and send Tender’s coworker a chastity belt.

No need.

A) she has a boyfriend and B) she's a smoker, so definitely not my type.

But still, we got along from the start on a professional level.

[Tender Branson]

I think I have a hip bursitis.

For roughly a week or so, my hip has been aching a lot. I first thought it was my back, but after taking painkillers the last few days, the pain went away from the spine and is now more localized on the busae.

I need to check this with my doctor tomorrow. This is strange, because I never had a problem so far with my spine or hip. Maybe I'm getting old ...