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By Dave Saltman in Editorial on 29th Jun 2009 10:00
HAVING pondered for a while as to whether I should have published my 'X Factor' editorial comment in the last issue, I have been both amazed and delighted at the response I have received from many key people within the industry.
Calling for a united body for this industry is not something new and, as we all know, the IOG and BIGGA dabbled with the idea in recent years. My feelings back then were that, in principle, it was a good idea.
My reservations were that here were two traditional, some would say rather dated, organisations who would find it difficult to give up their own patch to find the common ground - and so it has proved.
So, what next? Well, the honest answer is that there are many more questions to be asked, the first being "why do we need a united body?"
If the recent poll on our website is anything to go by, 60% of turfcare professionals want to see a united body. 13.5% said they were happy with things as they are (possibly wearing blazers as they voted) and, rather sadly, 26.5% said they were "not bothered either way".
Okay, to the 60% I will say this, Pitchcare will continue to champion for a united body, not necessarily to replace the two existing associations, but to help them to understand that, in unity, there is strength.
To the 13.5%, I say fine, if you are getting benefit from your membership then good on you. To the 26.5% who are not bothered, I say "why are you not bothered?"
Are you not bothered about the ever-changing legislation in our industry? Are you not bothered by health and safety regulations? Are you not bothered by personal or staff training and development?
About working with your management, the bad press the industry receives, or the real risk of losing your job in the current economic climate? Are you really "not bothered"?
There is clearly a groundswell of support for a united body - our online poll and the number of messages and phone calls I receive show that to be the case.
On publication of the 'X Factor' I received a very polite and considered response from the BIGGA Chief Executive, John Pemberton who, on the whole, agreed with much of what I said. John, I know, has been a strong advocate of the united approach and has worked very hard towards this aim.
From the IOG I heard nothing, but why should I be surprised?
The IOG appear to be spending much of their time honing their 'Challenging Perceptions' document and championing the cause of their high profile members.
Wembley's Steve Welch is a prime example, and I quote from an IOG statement "Steve is one of our high profile members and the last few weeks have been a difficult and pressurised period in his career. It was entirely appropriate to provide Steve with our support during this time."
Now, I'm not sure that we will ever know the 'facts' about the 'Welch - Wembley' saga. Historically, I defended Steve and his team through the media, as I have done for everyone involved in our great industry.
But, why was it "appropriate" for the IOG to support just Steve and not others up and down the country who have also had the misfortune to lose their jobs?
However, let's be clear here. Wembley is not the issue. It is one of them, as it has, up until recently, given our industry some bad press - but it is not THE issue.
The issues are:
- EU legislation on pesticide use
- Health and Safety regulations
- Training and Education
- An industry that is not seen as a good
career opportunity
- Wage scales
- Redundancy and unemployment
- Waste and water management legislation
- Legal and legislative issues
- We are all 'just grass cutters'
And they affect every one of us, from the lads and lasses currently taking their NVQs to the Master Greenkeepers and Stadium Managers at high profile venues.
And that is 'why' we need a united body.
Over the coming weeks and months Pitchcare will be doing whatever we can to move this forward.
Cheers,
Dave Saltman
Managing Director
Read more articles in Editorial,
by Dave Saltman
or from June 2009.
There are 7 comments on this article
29 Jun 2009 by jlawrence
how about:
WHY - cos what we currently have simply ain't working as well as it should.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
30 Jun 2009 by Derek Tomlinson Last edited 1 Jul 2009
How many times can you resurect this argument with blinkered vision?
I spent over 40 years in groundsmanship and retired in 2000 as a leading Grounds Manager with a salary of £19,500 (before deductions)looking after 50 acres and used by a profesional football club and over 20 week end clubs. Oh how I wish the salary scales of the IOG were there now for me to bargain with. In these days of recession and redundancy the salaries laid down by both BIGGA and IOG are realistic and I know from experience that there are more not on those recommended scales that that are...however as would still be the case if we all joined together employers do not have to recognise any scales whatsover...educational bodies...universities, private sector schools and many local authorities have their own pay scales in force anyway.
Lets get onto profile, for many years the IOG desperately wanted recognition from the leading sports bodies as to the importance of groundsmen and women and the profeesional work they do, now they have that and in some cases these bodies are supporting rigerouse training packages, LTA Tennis Nation, Cricket Scotland, The FA, ECB, Bowls England Community Rugby are all supporting over 90 course throughout the UK. BIGGA also are organising training courses throughout the year so opportunity for the future generations and those already in the profession of greenkeeping or groundsmanship are well catered for.
Maybe one day there may an all encompassing body, but knowone has yet set out what that body can do that the individual bodies are doing already. Would one body stop the uneducated commentators, the football managers who think the groundstaff are worth less than the bar staff, the golf club managers who do not recognise the skills of their greenkeepers, contractors who want to pay minimum wages so as to make the most profit from a tight contract.
All of us in whatever organisation we belong to owe it ourselves to promote ourselves not as 'grass cutters' but as experienced professionals both in the way we conduct ourselves on a day to day basis and whenever we have the chance to put what our professsion entails to those who dont know or understand it...and that is where both BIGGA, IOG and Pitchare are all doiung their bit by action days, magazines, award ceremonies, and recognition of those of our members who are the top of their profession just to show those starting off that there is a career ladder open to them.
There may be a 'holy grail', but there may also many roads that lead to it, all with the same aim but who take different routes in the end we all have that one aim in common to put the proffesion and the industry we are involved in wher it belongs.
Final thought...when I was involved in professional football I used to put the question to some of the leading sports commentators, what if all groundsmen and women went on strike do you realise that you would have no tv coverage for a alarge part of your weekly output, golf, cricket, soccer, bowls, athletics, golf, horse racing, rugby union and league and of cousre tennis. Silence was always the answer, maybe that is something to think about !!
Lets us all in the profession and the industry see the best in each others organisations and support each others aims and activities, for example it is a sad reflection that in your own diary of events IOG SALTEX or Scotsturf are never mentioned and yet they are both visited by large numbers of those involved the 'turf profession' and supported by the industry to show their wares and educate visitors, one of the jobs that all of us should be doing is everything we can do in order to keep the industry going through this difficult economic climate. and advertsing dates for trade shows does just that for them.
1 Jul 2009 by Neil Dixon
Some of your points Derek are spot on, particulary the salary scales and how most organisations have their own pay structures, no amount of badgering for an increase in salaries by any governing body will improve this, yes they can raise the profile of the proffession, which is what i think they should be concentrating on.
Published Salary scales in my opinion are double edged, on a good one hand you have the person paid less and who wants a raise to bring them upto a recongnised level, then you may have the other side the guy who is already paid the " going rate" for their job and cant / wont get an increase because that would take them above the " going rate"
There will never be an " encompassing" scale for salaries, it is just too varied, and i am afraid the salary that individuals are paid is down to the individual to negotiate, if a Grounds Manager feels he is worth 100K a year then good luck to him to try and find a job that would pay that.
Individuals know what they are worth and how much it costs for them to live the life they are accustumed to, if they feel they are underpaid and undervalued well...........
In my last job, i was told by the CE that he felt i was overpaid for what i done, and that i would not be getting any more salary increases, because, yes, i was within the recomended scale that the IOG published, end of negotiation.
1 Jul 2009 by Barry Pace
Interesting views and comments and with the varied readership/industry range of sports, volunteer/professional and size and type of facilities ..... can something really cover this ??? Its only about sports surfaces and the people who work with them after all..
Derek, not to be picky but having used it in the past if you want to have something listed on Pitchcares Diary of Events you have to ask..........
Plastic.... it's The End I tell you... THE END!!!!
1 Jul 2009 by Poa7 Last edited 1 Jul 2009
Maybe it would be an idea to simply start a small organisation, offering a small mix of benefits/conditions.
I mean, joining a body that initially gave me access to a number of archived and relevant sources of information available online maybe good enough to start. A place where I could talk to and discuss industry news, tips and tricks (in realtime) with like minded people would be another, a place where being a member of instantly gave me access to discounted industry goods would be another, a place that gave me a relevant and informative magazine would be another, a place where I could get good training from top trainers would be another, a place where I could buy goods online would be another, a place where I could gain access to pictures/videos and information on the latest machinery would be another ....... Hmmmmmm? Where can I find all this?
Most all people 'working' in this industry would probably be happy to pay a small fee for all the above. Once the small 'subscription' fee's are added up and put back into the service and its offering, who know's, the benefits offered may even grow! (Make mental note - try not to spend to much on corporate head-quarters) Making me (the member) even happier to part with my hard earned cash the following year.
Offer what is wanted and the members will come. After a while, the shear size of the organisation (by member) would be the factor that achieves the required recognition and future associations.
At the end of the day, the people will get what they want, offer the right things to the right people. It is my opinion that 'waiting' for other associations to fall into line or agree conditions will be a pointless and energy/resource wasting exercise. Far to 'old hat' for all that!
We all need to start somewhere, waiting for agreements of terms (while being the politically correct thing to do) is pointless.
The future is now!
1 Jul 2009 by higgins
I would advocate that pitchcare continues to develope, into a national organisation that represents all those with an interest in sports surfaces, amenity areas ,etc.
You will not change the existing established organisation, because they are entrenched in traditional way of doing things, through the committees, with not a lot of young blood on them.
Pitchcare is different in that it is driven by people doing the job, and then P.C. reacts accordingly, not the other way round.
I do not know if developments with a trade union ever took off , or is still being discussed, but a working relationship with say, G.M.B. would help to portray a united front. and raise the profile in a positive manner, and help when help is needed.
Continue to develope and i am sure that p.c. will become the body that is recognised in the industry as the one to be in, joining other organisations will slow the process down.
and comprimise what needs to be done.
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Calling for a united body for this industry is not something new and, as we all know, the IOG and BIGGA dabbled with the idea in recent years. My feelings back then were that, in principle, it was a good idea.