ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Hourly wages

As for Cali contracting law, you may want to find out if what you got into as far as a contract was legal.

This is published every once in a while, and this is the current cycle: http://www.cslb.ca.gov/cllrb/

As for wages, your post popped up more questions than answers, as many on this site don't want to get into the politics of wages, and rightfully so. (Union vs. Non-Union etc.)

But as far as one can go without going there, wages packages differ broadly for geographic areas. (And, of course, Supply and Demand) Although you might be in or near SD county, Hemet, right? The closer you get to urban centers like SD proper, or LA, San Francisco, etc. the higher wages will be. And, of course with higher population density, a larger demand. Then an interesting thing happens, the closer you get to those urban centers, the pool of blue collar workers decreases it seems. For instance here in SF, we have a hard time finding skilled labor, because it is so expensive to live here.

You can see an illistration of that here: (This site is based on prevailing wage package for each area, however it doesn't exactly mean people are getting paid these wages for other than government projects.) http://www.dir.ca.gov/DLSR/PWD/Determinations/Subtrades/jrnylist.html
Look at Inside Wireman in SF and Marin county. It drops $15 an hour as you go over a 1/4 mile bridge!

Then of course skill level and experiance comes into play as well to meet the wage level for your area...... And, the biggies, market growth and stability, supply and demand.

well we are being sued because the old boss says that since we were working at will and our employment contract stated that either party could end the employment at ant time. so we both put in 30 days notice and left we even tried to help him find some other people. so he is taking us to court for lost income and emotional distress of having to do some work himself. we are sure on tuesday the case will be dropped

"NON-COMPETE CLAUSE:
Owner and all authorized representatives of Owner are not to contract or employ any XXXX Electric Co. employees for a period of one (1) year from the completion of any electrical work performed by XXXX Electric Co. with said Owner/Agent within an area of fifty (50) miles radius from this job site."
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Just something elese to watch out for.
When you quit, and go on your own, be sure not to contract with your old companies customers, it can cost you, if they have a non compete clause in their contracts.

I might know all the details of the contracts for your old job. I would say a 30 day notice is almost unherd of. It would be your right to decide at any time not to work for your old company. A week or 2 notice is more to leave on a positive note and not burn bridges. Do you think a company would give you a 30 day or more firing notice?

To me it sounds like you were working too cheap.

If I had some lawsuit like this filed against me I would talk to you state labor people.

You want to start a business. Now could be a time to get to know an attorny. He would know the ins and outs. Something like in IL a corp must have an attorny in cort with them. Maybe you have a better case against them.

Did you get paid whats comming to you?
You might want to check your pay stubs for errors with a place like this.

Nothing I hate more than when SOB tries to abuse the legal system and waist everyones time against someone that did nothing wrong.

Tom