Tiling Association, Tiling Association

[Highland Tilers]

Hello all,

I have been in the tiling game for a number of years now and I run a company in the Noth of Scotland I have guys working for me on various contracts.

However one thing I have noticed and I discussed this with Paul at the Aqua Mix course I attended at PITT in October is the lack of a real association for us guys that are the tilers. There are other associations out there that seem to be more for the industry and are making decisions concerning our future saying we need this nvq and another nvq for this or that. Now I have employed staff from Poland and from Uk claiming they are tilers now some guys have NVQs and I would not let them sweep up and I have had guys self taught or done a course and are streets ahead of these NVQ staff.

So you are wondering where I am going with this we as tilers do not have the time to be doing NVQs here and there and as an employer it is a nightmare. Well one way of going ahead would be to trade test anyone who wants to be working in this industry it does not need to be measured on speed it must be measured on the ability and how professional the standards are. I had one tiler that was the slowest tiler in the country but what a job he turned out. I would send him on jobs where the customer was not worried on time frame but I won many jobs through his work. You see not every tiler wants to be invoved in the commercial sector where speed counts for wages so we should not be measuring people in that way.

I feel there is an need for a voice for Tilers because if we do not act soon our voice is going to be lost and we are going to have to jump through hoops to be able to work. This is for all tilers not just guys that have come of courses but for guys that have been tiling for years.

Another point I have noticed in the times I have visited is the debate shall we call it about time served and guys from courses. I have had time served guys that have never seen wash boys, or any of the modern tiling tools that are out there and I have also seen time served tilers show new guys tips you may never see on a course. What I am trying to say is forget the them or us attitude and think as it as US as we will have no power to take our side of the industry forward. A lot of manufactors forget the power we tilers have if you have no tilers using their products where would they be.


I think it is now time we moved forward we need to stop the cowboys giving us a bad name we need a code of conduct work out an average rate no prostituting the prices the only people that win are the customers.

I thought I would get the ball rolling and see what you guys thought.

Cheers

The Highlander

[tilinglogistics]

Hi,

The ball has been rolling for months but there seems to be a slight lack of interest on people registering. I was a slight driving force to try and make it happen. I have done all I can and so have many of the regular posters. It will probably get shelved like many other things on here do.

Kev

[Highland Tilers]

Hi Kev,

Well maybe we need to make 2007 the year we kick it into touch as time is slipping us by and we dont need other people making decisions for us. I dont know maybe it is time we start with a meeting of people interested and then form a plan of action.

As you know once the powers that be make decisions every bugger will be complaining why did it happen to us it would never have happened in theold days blah blah blah.

So what do you say lets see how many are interested and arrange a date and take it from there. We are going to have an influx of cheap tilers coming into the UK shortly so we need to act.

Paul we discussed this in October about a meeting maybe we have a cut of date have ameeting put it on paper and see what happens.

If this was another country everyone would be up in arms but as it is the UK we let the woll be pulled over our eyes and once it is in place we go aaawell thats a shame. Well maybe it is the Highlander in me but I think enough is enough.

Cheers

[tilinglogistics]

I couldn't agree more. I have e mailed Paul for the figures and list of interested people. But in my experience "Talk is Cheap" and we need support not just people who promise support and don't deliver when the it's crunch time. We will see!!!

Kev

[Paul Riley]

OK I agree, lets set a date, to allow us time to get more involved say 1st March 2007 and we need to spend every day mailing others to show interest in the PTA.

I will fix the venue, ohhh what day is the 1st???? better check before we set this, anyway lets get this rolling.

[branty1uk]

Its a Thursday.
I'll be there.

[chrisroe]

Im up for it but perhaps make it a Friday to save splitting the week up either way i can be there

[AOS]

I'll be there - can we agree on the date? 01st or 2nd?

Andrew

[branty1uk]

Make it the 3rd and we don't have to break into a working week.

[AOS]

Saturday 03rd is better still.

Can we set this in 'stone' ( ) and agree on Saturday 03rd March?

Done...

Andrew

[Dave Young]

saturday 3rd would be good for me i'm in

[Mattonella]

You have our support

[macca]

Can i ask paul if you got my e-mail supporting this issue? if not count me in, and will i have to mail you again?
Macca- L&B Tiling.

[RichardK]

Any day will suit me as I'm local tp Pitt. Count me in.

[Dale T]

Saturday the 3rd sounds good to me