going from FSS to VFR

sigmet77 · Post by **sigmet77** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 5:40 am

Now you are just trying to make me cry.

grimey · Post by **grimey** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:16 am

thatdaveguy wrote:
sigmet77 wrote:Okay Dave, the money is there, quite a bit of it actually, but come on ATOS? Not that there is anything wrong with that.
1) no forced transfers
2) you only get to live in select major centres
3) you get paid like crazy for what you do

FSS-02 tops at $59k
FSS-03 tops at $63k

injustice? your damn right...

In fairness, you have to factor OT and northern allowance into it. I made 64k last year, in my second year at and FSS-03 site. No ATOS is getting a site premium of several thousand a year, and they probably get less OT than I do.

GilletteNorth · Post by **GilletteNorth** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 6:34 pm

Northern Allowance shouldn't be factored in since it's purpose is to compensate for relative difference between big city and isolated post prices. I've easily used all the NA to cover extra costs for living in the isolated posts I've been in and currently am in.

thatdaveguy · Post by **thatdaveguy** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 10:02 pm

GilletteNorth wrote:Northern Allowance shouldn't be factored in since it's purpose is to compensate for relative difference between big city and isolated post prices. I've easily used all the NA to cover extra costs for living in the isolated posts I've been in and currently am in.

exactly.

IPA allowance is not meant to be profitable

most northern sites get little OT now adays anyway, other than rankin

Zatopec · Post by **Zatopec** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 10:58 pm

most northern sites get little OT now adays anyway, other than rankin

We work 28 days a month. With only three days off, I wonder how we could work more...

Northern allowance doesn't leave any money in your pocket. After the governement has taken his part of it and Nav the 1000 +$ a month for rent (total rip-off by the way...), you haven't got much left, if anything.

thatdaveguy · Post by **thatdaveguy** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 3:11 am

Zatopec wrote:
most northern sites get little OT now adays anyway, other than rankin
We work 28 days a month. With only three days off, I wonder how we could work more...

Northern allowance doesn't leave any money in your pocket. After the governement has taken his part of it and Nav the 1000 +$ a month for rent (total rip-off by the way...), you haven't got much left, if anything.

where are you at? i was looking at going north not so long ago, but the sites i queried did not have much OT at all

Zatopec · Post by **Zatopec** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 10:56 pm

Northern Qc.

We have eight overtime days a month. I once worked 48 straight days...

thatdaveguy · Post by **thatdaveguy** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:51 am

Zatopec wrote:Northern Qc.

We have eight overtime days a month. I once worked 48 straight days...

ah that's why. i don't know anything about the setup in quebec

bigfssguy · Post by **bigfssguy** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:44 am

I work inChurchill and we have an arctic work week. Meaning a 9 on 3 off schedule, one built in OT per checque roughly. I make waaaay more money up here than i would if i was south. I'm hoping to break 100K this year, i'll probably end up a wee bit short but i'll be close. You WILL make money in the north, more than the south for sure. But lets be honest it is absolutely crap living in the north, they have to pay the money or people would quit.

I mean 2 out of the 5 people here would have quit already if it wasn;t for the money and the love of the job. Money is what makes your time in the north bearable. When i start to get bushed i just look at my checques and steel myself for another 2 or 3 months without civilization.

I've learned one truth in the north....people from the south are just not built to live in the north. It takes a special breed to live up here and be happy. Some people come up here and love it and never leave. Others like myself prefer the amenities in life like a double mochafrappachino, or even a big mac from time to time. It's a differnt place up here, and the money is the one equalizing factor that makes it bearable....that and my wife...I love you dear if you happen to read this!

Dreamin · Post by **Dreamin** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:43 am

I have heard that te cost for rent is quite costly. Just to have a good standard of living, using all of the northern allowance is necessary. how do you bank money if all of the allowance is spent, or do you make $100k on top ofliving allowane?

bigfssguy · Post by **bigfssguy** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 12:13 pm

Around 100K total. The new guys might make between 85-90k. The rent is 930 a month which is takin off of your check directly. SO you don;t even notice that your paying it. Yes most of the northern living allowance is takin up buying stuff, but your gonna make money living in the north. If someone says they make less money in the north than the south they have to stop drinking gold plated bread and silver dust milk. There are concessions you have to make but i came up here dead broke living check to check and i have paid off enough debt (read:student loans) to pay all my bills buy whatever i want and still have enough money a tthe end of the month to carry over!