anyone working for Bell Technical Solutions? or a field technician?

[yatta]

I was one of the succors to pay the $1500 and goto the pat-institute in chambridge..

Worst experience ever. the school wasn't even finished. no poles no stands no jwi's/opi's or anything complete garbage. 90% of the things patti taut us was wrong. I believe the hole experience cost me close to $4,000 if you include time away from my old job (3weeks) plus travel costs (230km round trip everyday) for 4 hours a day, which half the time we ended up doing "busy work" like 3 hours one day installing rocket 88's over and over.....

also during the second interview (the one with the bell rep) we were promised fulltime within 2-3 years, and 60 hours a week as a temp if we want it. so of course the $1500 didn't look bad when you are promised stuff like that.. even when another bell rep came in after we paid and started our training, told us the same thing again when we signed our conditional employment papers.

now we finished our crappy training with patti, and do our "review" with bell for 1 week, we find out we got screwed. that it's going to take us years to even get rpt, but there are no hours out there.. my first week, I work 1 shift, then get sat for 4 days in a row.. you can't even get good at a job if you only work 2 days a pay period.

I strongly do not recommend doing the patti training, it's garbage.

we also found out after we finished the patti training, there was a group before us and after us who got the 8 weeks of training paid from bell.... we are afraid to goto the union about it because we are all on probation, and bell will fire at the first sign of trouble. also considering talking to a lawyer about the falsified information bell gave us, to entice us into this patti training...

all in all, i actually like doing the job, and want to work, but bts has already left a very sour taste in my mouth after only 1 week.

damn man that's painful.... you got screwed dood bell should of paid for you guys bring that up, obviously you have a case. They owe you!

[On hold]

also during the second interview (the one with the bell rep) we were promised fulltime within 2-3 years, and 60 hours a week as a temp if we want it. so of course the $1500 didn't look bad when you are promised stuff like that.. even when another bell rep came in after we paid and started our training, told us the same thing again when we signed our conditional employment papers.

now we finished our crappy training with patti, and do our "review" with bell for 1 week, we find out we got screwed. that it's going to take us years to even get rpt, but there are no hours out there.. my first week, I work 1 shift, then get sat for 4 days in a row.. you can't even get good at a job if you only work 2 days a pay period.

I strongly do not recommend doing the patti training, it's garbage.

we also found out after we finished the patti training, there was a group before us and after us who got the 8 weeks of training paid from bell.... we are afraid to goto the union about it because we are all on probation, and bell will fire at the first sign of trouble. also considering talking to a lawyer about the falsified information bell gave us, to entice us into this patti training...

all in all, i actually like doing the job, and want to work, but bts has already left a very sour taste in my mouth after only 1 week.

You are only working two days a week ?? that's insane. Are you based out of the city ?? I've been getting 40 hours per week with occasional overtime in 905 West.

I also took training from Patti in Toronto, and I agree it is garbage. I should have just applied for the job at a job fair and get "real" training from Bell and get paid for it.

Hopefully you are enjoying the job at least, my first few weeks were horrible , but once you get the hang of it and start to see what's really going on the job becomes much more enjoyable. My only complaint is.. the $14.20/hour starting wage.

[Supra90T]

You work your way up...When I was hired on for cable repair itself, I only was starting at $16 and change - Our top rate is about 36/hr now though, so it pays off...As time goes on and you become more proficient at the job and can go through jobs like nothing, it makes sense to have a lower wage to start naturally

You are only working two days a week ?? that's insane. Are you based out of the city ?? I've been getting 40 hours per week with occasional overtime in 905 West.

I also took training from Patti in Toronto, and I agree it is garbage. I should have just applied for the job at a job fair and get "real" training from Bell and get paid for it.

Hopefully you are enjoying the job at least, my first few weeks were horrible , but once you get the hang of it and start to see what's really going on the job becomes much more enjoyable. My only complaint is.. the $14.20/hour starting wage.

[On hold]

You work your way up...When I was hired on for cable repair itself, I only was starting at $16 and change - Our top rate is about 36/hr now though, so it pays off...As time goes on and you become more proficient at the job and can go through jobs like nothing, it makes sense to have a lower wage to start naturally

Yea we get hourly raise every 1000 hours (roughly) so it's not all that bad.
I'm beggining to really enjoy this job, except when you get a job that has JIWI on a freaking pole... who ever came out with that idea deserve to be shot.

[Supra90T]

I haven't seen alot of that; Actually, working in an alleyway at Roncesvailes north of Queensway this past week that had an old crossbox up on a pole but it had been cut out - Kind of interesting to see how different the infastructure used to be. Really, the job gives you alot of different aspects though - I'm just interested to see what happens with our next contract as rumor has it they're trying to screw over bell aliant mid-term

Yea we get hourly raise every 1000 hours (roughly) so it's not all that bad.
I'm beggining to really enjoy this job, except when you get a job that has JIWI on a freaking pole... who ever came out with that idea deserve to be shot.

[pilmania]

Do I need to give 2 weeks notice if I decide to quit the job? even tho I'm a tpt? and I have a vacation coming up at the end of this month and I might get a job offer from another company around that time too that's only if i pass the interview though lol. If so, what am I gonna do with the vacation? Can I get paid for it or should i take the vacation before I leave? or do i have to return it? I've been with bts for 13 months and i had my first vacation in march. and i have about 115 banked hours, they are gonna pay me that without any hassle right?

[Supra90T]

Banked hours are hours that they owe you, however they will only pay out 1 week I believe, of banked time per year - I could be wrong but I do remember there being a bunch of regulations on that one regardless of if you're staying or going.

Do I need to give 2 weeks notice if I decide to quit the job? even tho I'm a tpt? and I have a vacation coming up at the end of this month and I might get a job offer from another company around that time too that's only if i pass the interview though lol. If so, what am I gonna do with the vacation? Can I get paid for it or should i take the vacation before I leave? or do i have to return it? I've been with bts for 13 months and i had my first vacation in march. and i have about 115 banked hours, they are gonna pay me that without any hassle right?

[yatta]

any updates ? anyone getting better hours etc? any new hires here? what are your thoughts?

[bts_what_a_joke]

i bolded this to stand out for anyone reading this thread because i think its important.

This is a warning to ANYONE interested in working for BTS.

Truths:

The job is safe when you work safe and follow rules.
The job is fun, keep up your numbers and managers wont be on your ***** .
The job is easy (sometimes except those odd jobs that mess you up for a few hrs)

Lies that Bell tells new people at job fairs:

"You will become fulltime in 2-3 years"

This is the biggest lie. It doesn't matter how well you work or how good you are. You WILL not become FULLTIME or even PARTTIME in this company for at least 5 years. (unionized) and to clarify I mean 5 years just to become regular part time. you will be lucky to be regular full time in 10 years.

This was my dream job i wanted and during the interviews the regional manager fills your mind with false hopes. he tells you about the benifits and how you can get tons of weeks off and bank hours and make "soo much extra" money as a temp and that you will become rf/t and rpt in 2-3 years.

This is the reality if you look at the start times of employees that are rft they started in 1989-1999... there are people that started in 2005 that are still TPT employees. (seniority is publically posted and you can see everyone's status/start dates)

This is just a warning to anyone that needs a FT job. stay away. If you live at home with no bills or mortgage this job is perfect for you. otherwise avoid. in the fall months you will not work. they sit you totally. $0 income you are guaranteed 8 hrs a week.

employees are greatly mistreated by BTS in this manor and as a TPT you are FORCED to work EVERY Saturday, when you do ask for a day off on a weekend you get grilled on it and practically have to beg until the point, honestly you really just don't want the day off anymore because they make you feel guilty and make you jump through hoops to get it...

If you have a family stay away because as a TPT you will be working 1pm - 9pm ALWAYS no exceptions unless they want you to come in early and work extended shifts. Aswell as Saturday 8-4 and the odd 2 Sundays a month 9-5.

they fill your head with alot of BS at the job fair and the only reason they hire so many people is to get through the summer when the snow has melted and all the wires are soaked and shorting out. the full time staff is on 2 week vacations at a time. but soon as October hits all TPT staff are sat on days off because the RFT staff is back from vac and work load has greatly decreased because of the cold weather, the lines freeze and stop shorting out and everything is splendid.

Circle of BTS life:

october tpts are now off and not needed as much.... tps are put on DOR and sat until needed.... TPTs make no money to survive and quit or find other work.....

october... november... dec... jan.. feb.. oh wait time to hire more and more people to get ready for the summer rush by march and april new techs are hired and trained ready for the rush again... its a circle of life at bts, bell has the money and they are saving... tpt's get no vac, no benefits and no life.

its sad Bell would do this to its employees.. like i said it was a dream job and when i finally got it this is what it is... its the truth

[yatta]

Thank you for sharing that. I just want to add this was my Dream Job too growing up as a teen. So disappointing after I finally got in. But hey this can be good job for certain people. This is good to get an idea of what to expect if hired.

[excel]

someone should chime in about telus work conditions

[AudiDude]

As crappy as it is, it sounds like it would be better to work as a R****s contractor. At least they get full time work and you all get paid the same, so the faster you go or the later you stay, the more money you can make.

Piecework is an emotional rollercoaster, but if you just ignore it and look at your cheques, it isn't that bad. I think the contractors take the trucks home for $50-$80 per month which allows you to get more work done and stops you from wear and tear on your own car. Also if you need to generate income to support a family, it sounds like you can do so with the piecework thing right away. If BTS is paying you $13 per hour to start and you aren't working full time, a piecework contractor driving a red van will bury you for pay.

The good old days are gone it seems, I started RPT and was RFT in 9 months. Four years after my hire date a friend joins up and it takes end 6-7 years to get RFT.

"This is just a warning to anyone that needs a FT job. stay away. If you live at home with no bills or mortgage this job is perfect for you. otherwise avoid"

Which is exactly what I said before.

[i6s1]

someone should chime in about telus work conditions

Very good, compared to most companies nowadays. Good training, free boots, jackets, hats, shirts, jeans. 18/hour to start, 30/hour after 6 years, full time only, double time for all OT, meal allowance if you're over 2 hours of OT, great health plan, easy work. I can't complain.

At least that's in the field. My sister worked in the call center in New West answering 411 calls, and she didn't last too long. She didn't mind the work, and she kept her numbers up, but they kept pressing for more shifts (after training, then laying off people) and she couldn't do it while in school.

[shwa_guy]

I worked for BTS out of Oshawa in the summer of 2006..aboslutely hated it..... started the training in May of that year in a retro-fitted lunch room of an old factory in Pickering, was there for 3 weeks or so... then worked with an full timer for a week or two... honesty they didnt teach me much.. they seemed to concerned about meetng their own quotas to then they were about helping out a new guy.
we had full time hours all of July and August... a soon as September hit it was 3 or 4 days a week and towards then end of September it was 1 to 3 days a week.. with one of those days always being a Saturday ( i was a TPT ) . There where 3 managers i beleive.. Brian, Chris and Dave. Chris was o.k// but the other 2 were compelete d**ks and would avoid them at all costs.. even tho one of them was my manager. The vans back then where crap..always breaking down, god forbid if your butt-set broke or bics clip broke or was lost, we were told many times.. "to deal with it" or work around it.

I decided enough was enough and walked in one moring with an immediate letter of resignation and quite on the spot. and while i was signing my termination papers, my manager opened a desk drawer and what was in there.. a bottle of jack daniels.. nice.. classy work environment.

the one good thing was the group of guys i trained with, we all helped each other as we were all in the same boat, and would call each other if one was stuck or had a problem

[yatta]

I worked for BTS out of Oshawa in the summer of 2006..aboslutely hated it..... started the training in May of that year in a retro-fitted lunch room of an old factory in Pickering, was there for 3 weeks or so... then worked with an full timer for a week or two... honesty they didnt teach me much.. they seemed to concerned about meetng their own quotas to then they were about helping out a new guy.
we had full time hours all of July and August... a soon as September hit it was 3 or 4 days a week and towards then end of September it was 1 to 3 days a week.. with one of those days always being a Saturday ( i was a TPT ) . There where 3 managers i beleive.. Brian, Chris and Dave. Chris was o.k// but the other 2 were compelete d**ks and would avoid them at all costs.. even tho one of them was my manager. The vans back then where crap..always breaking down, god forbid if your butt-set broke or bics clip broke or was lost, we were told many times.. "to deal with it" or work around it.

I decided enough was enough and walked in one moring with an immediate letter of resignation and quite on the spot. and while i was signing my termination papers, my manager opened a desk drawer and what was in there.. a bottle of jack daniels.. nice.. classy work environment.

the one good thing was the group of guys i trained with, we all helped each other as we were all in the same boat, and would call each other if one was stuck or had a problem

great post. It's a damn shame! And you you co workers can be great people, they just honest hard working people not looking to get screwed. keep em coming!