Planefixer and Pat Richard going direct is an Idea but thats where it ends. here's just a few reason's why :
Mikey, Mikey-that's NOT entirely true! But Understanding that you are attempting to secure your job security I understand your statements, despite my perception that they maybe a be askewed in your favour!1) The corporations looking for the engineers have HR departments that basically don't know one engineer from the other. The "agencies" through years of industry knowledge of both matching an engineer with a product and task has a better chance of being succesful in getting the right person .
This is NOT enitrely true, While YOUR agency has a licensed Engineer on staff, i know several other agencies that have NO engineer NOR aviation trained people on staff! So comparing your company with ALL contract agencies isn't correct!2) Using an agency keeps the contractors at an arms length from the DOM ,PRM so as to not promote favoritism and hassles of phone calls , anger and resentment .
This isn't a major concern for PRMs / DOM. In MOST cases the contractor/s are left to their own in the field anyways. USUALLY the contractor is brought in because he/she possess a speciality skill / endorsement NOT available from In-HOUSE personnel. In essence, the DOM my have no idea what the contractor is doing NOT doing and depends upon the contractor to do what he/she has been hired to do.3) Using another corporation ensures : That their premises are insured , their WCB is not compormised by a disguntled contractor and is provided .
Huh? getting a ECB number is cheap as dirt and easy. Again, most companies require that the contractor have this BEFORE they arrive on the premises. Insurance is CHEAP as well. Having said that , I have never been required to show proof of insurance 9 evne though I have it) to any employer/company. AND, after contacting 7 companies in Western canada that use Mikey's agency and others, they (the company) stated that they didn't require a contractor to carry individual insurance,rather the contractor was covered under the company's insurance. 4) One contract one rate no hassles , flights , accomodations all arranged
Huh? That's USUALLY a given! look at the rates posted by your latest ad. Funny thing is it's the exact same rate as those posted by three other contract agencies looking to fill the exact same positions. AND it matters little who arranges the hotels, flights etc, etc. Your stance on this issue has no bearing on the AME, rather it is the responsibility of the company, not the AME, so moot point!5) When or if the hirer has issues with a contracter its the agency that has to pay that person , and to pay to get them out of town and that agency then has to put someone else in at no cost to the Hirer .
SURPRISE! Doesn't matter WHO has an issue, contract agency or the employer! The employer is responsible UNDER LAW to get the contractor in, and out. Both at the completion of the contract and termination of the contract - assuming of course that the company terminates the working agreement BEFORE the agreed upon completion dtae!6) Hirer coensn't have to deal with contractors wanting advances, invoices and time cards not matching etc... and they can pay the agencies in 90 days and in most circumstances do .Wouldn' I like a free 90 day loan !!
Now that's funny!!While I have never had to seek an advance, etc I know at least 4 people that were in dire situations and went seeking assistance from the Contractor placement agency - the same agency that they had done several contracts through previously - the agency essentially told em to GFYS. And Good Luck with that 90 day loan. You shouldn't need it if you are still getting paid in advance, so why are you asking??7) When the AMO or Airline goes tits up and files for bankruptcy is is less personal to shaft an agency which also happens. Over seas companies sometimes don't pay no matter what and the contractor is still paid through the agency.
This is part and parcel of business. having stated that, the history of contractor being burnt by companies going Tits up are miniscule. And the number of AMEs being burned by companies going TITS up are the same. HOWEVER, when we compare the number of AMEs burnt by contract placement agencies, the number rises expotentially
The agency provides a legal buffer from the CCRA in that the engineer is a contractor not a temporary employee which is huge $$
Now this statement is absolute bullshit!! A contractor in 99% of the cases that I have dealt with HAS TO HAVE A GST number. This means that the contractor is either a proprietorship OR a company. EITHER way, the contractor is obligated by law to pay CCRA, NOT the company9) When the Agencies engineer has a heart Attack the agency pays for the Medivac ...
......and on and on it goes .
Add to that the current back stabbing within the industry of engineers underbidding each other to get work and you can see this will not work. Some Companies
are trying this and rubbing their hands together in glee taking advantage of the engineers and using engineers that were provided to them before by the agency but when things pick back up this will turn sour.... Agencies and engineers , despite all the rederict , have great memories
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Excellent posts and I wish more employers would sit up and listen. There are lots of other industries that prefer the AME qualifications i.e. amusement parks, transit companies, industrial companies just to name a few. We are not attracting the cream of the crop any more, and a lot of our work i.e. heavy maintenance has gone to the third world countries. We also need to take over our own destiny, Transport dumbing down the license to the point that no one knows what it means has not helped. Automotive and truck mechanics get a lot more $$$ and do not have similar responsibilities, nor do they have to sign any thing. 
