As you know I have been blogging about the changes in KBR’s hiring policies with regards to Electricians. They must be licensed and the salaries range from about 122-144K/year. That’s about 35-57K/yr higher than the old salaries. I am now told these changes in policy also include Licensed Plumbers and Licensed HVAC and who knows who else.
For those of us that have testified before The Senate and have been fighting for these changes this is a huge step in the right direction. But I didn’t know we were supposed to keep it a secret. Shhhh
I recently received this comment from a reader:
KBR is giving raises to all licensed employees in ALL utilities depts (HVAC PLUMB ELEC). It’s a sore subject in theatre (in Iraq & Afghanistan) right now for the employees hired before this new base salary (including myself). I’m a master plumber and a foreman for KBR in (left out location to protect this reader) and we just got a new hire 3 days ago who has a plumbing journeyman’s license and he makes more than me. And no he’s not a foreman or supervisor. KBR has not even addresses this issue to their existing employees, in fact they told us yesterday at a nightly meeting that it’s all just a RUMOR!!!
I just can’t believe KBR is lying or would in any way deceive it’s employees!!! Say it isn’t so!! (sarcasm)
I guess there was some part of me that thought we were making progress and that KBR was just going to step up to the plate and do the right thing. Now I know you are just dying to know what “I” think is the right thing. (more sarcasm) So…here it is.
Qualify every Electrician, Plumber and HVAC in Iraq and Afghanistan. If they meet the criteria, give them the damn raise. If they don’t..keep their salary the same and make them a helper, labor foreman or just send them home. Foreman should be making at least 10% more than their highest paid person. Not rocket science.
Hmmmm that doesn’t seem to be what’s happening. So what is KBR up to. Are they trying to thin out the heard by pissing people off so they quit? Then rehire some of the qualified ones at the higher rate? What would be the advantage of that? KBR gets a huge huge huge fee for every person they process through Houston. Hmmm Or are they trying to replace Americans with Third Country Nationals that will be supervised by Licensed electricians? Hmmm So trained licensed electricians are going to be baby sitters and the FALL GUY. Hmmmm
There are just a whole bunch of things here that make you go Hmmmm!
You tell me why you think they are trying to keep it a big secret and why they are not going to qualify the people already in Iraq!
Ms Sparky
This just boggles the mind. I’ve never seen such a mismanaged military contract.
I had worked for years myself withthis company here in the states. I have never been so broke and held down doing so. They have never paid much anywhere. I was even made an offer to go over there myself and laughed at what they wanted to pay me. I am now a project manager for years with another company in Dallas where I have it extremely well. I could not believe that I had wasted so many years of my life with Brown and Root or KBR. I must add that I cannot believe that you guys are over there for that little of money to begin with! It would take that as a sign on bonus for me to even work on my tools much less run work in any fashion. Good luck and remember that Brown and Root will screw you any time they can……..
Joe Davis
Debbie, As I was stationed at Al Asad Marine Air Base I worked for LSI in the Allied Trades Building as a Machinist. The company was in the process of building us another building in one of bunkers directly to the right of the building we were in at the time. I had the opportunity to see exactly what and who these electrician’s were then. They consisted of 1 American supervisor and 3
Nationals and or TCN’s that could not have been over the age of 21. I know they spoke little to no English because I would often take my break exactly where they were working and observe what they were doing. I had only seen the supervisor demonstrate to these workers what he needed them to do on 1 occasion and try to explain it in as clear of English as he could. To me this is not competent work and can only venture to guess what the out come of that building will be. This is why they keep it a secret and are not willing to pay big dollars to their own employee’s. Why should they when their not doing the work and just passing it on to the nationals that I viewed not qualified to do the job in the first place. This supervisor would often walk away and talk with other KBR employee’s or stand around and smoke a cigarette while the 3 non-Americans did the job at hand.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Yep…there were some good ones. There were some bad ones and then there were some really bad ones.
I’m in the process of getting on with KBR now, under one of the trades you mentioned (I’d rather not get too specific) and at the low end of the ‘new’ pay brackets that you mentioned. Do you think my bosses/co-workers who are paid less than I, under the apparently ‘old’ payscales, will hold annimosity towards me and the other new hires? Obviously, I had no ideas of the payscales that existed prior to my application.
Regarding tools: I was told not to bring any, but I’ve read that the contractors are poorly provisioned. I would at least like to bring a VOM, a tape measurer, and small hand tools. How were you set for tools and material?
Any idea on how much cigarrettes cost over there?
Thanks!
curly
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Curly don’t take this the wrong way, but…..I am asking you not to take so much as a wirenut over there!!!!! KBR said they would provided you with tools and material. So……make them do that. As long as people continue to take tool and YES material over there they will continue to let you. They have made I think 85 BILLION freakin dollars and they are still not buy tools and material. It’s not your fault. If they want to pay you to drive around and look for a VOM, wirenuts, black tape or a decent screwdriver, who are you to say….it’s their money. I call this company a lot of things, but stupid is not one of them. For all the people who stood their ground to get tools and material, please don’t take your own. If they won’t buy it for you then don’t do the work. If they threaten to send you home or fire you for it…damn it call me and I will set you up with a good lawyer.
Cigs were about $30/carton at the PX. You may want to take two cartons with you until you can find out where to get them. Check in Houston, I don’t think you can take more than two cartons through Iraqi customs. Depending on what camp you are at. I had my family send me some through the mail as well. A lot of people smoked Iraqi Cigs…kinda gross but cheap.
And….there is bound to be some animosity. It will depend a lot on you and where you go. Think about it from their perspective. They have been there for one, two, three or more years with no raise in their base pay. They have put up with ALL of KBR’s BS, plus mortars, rockets, unbearable heat, dust, some in really crappy living conditions, most with really crappy managers, oh and did I mention ALL of KBR’s BS. Then an FNG (f–king new guy) comes in and making at least 35K a year more right off the bat and they are supposed to show them the ropes. What do you think? Hopefully some will get raises, but some will not and some may even be sent home. I think the way KBR did this was a real slap in the face to all the people who are qualified and have put in the time already! Just my opinion.
Ms Sparky
Thanks for the reply!
I agree with Ms Sparky on the above comment. I was there 22 months at the *-sites as an electrician and demob’d partly because of everybody around me (other than the skilled trades-w’s hich by the way is what really makes the wheels turn. No offense, but MWR, HSE, Admin, Security, Procurement, HR, Laundry, DFAC, etc., etc., are nice but. . . without the Gen guys/gals and the electricians, you have no need for all those others without having power first and keeping power going, including of course the fuels people) is making more than a master licensed electrician. Now I hear that maybe KBR will give raises to those skilled trades that verify their licenses (which I did numerous times before I demob’d) and new hires having to show proof of certifications before processing. You can bet that KBR’s butt must be in a sling if they are actually going to pay skilled trades more and/or give raises to the above mentioned persons. That’s nice; after all of us that worked there recently and proved ourselves over and over. Especially at the sites where you had no tools, no materials, no trucks, no experienced help, very few qualified leadership (and they were the ones making phenomenal salaries), no chance of advancement in your job at your site because those positions had been eliminated, and constantly intimidated at losing your job and being replaced by KBR Foreign Nationals at their reduced salary. There again as usual with KBR, “too little, too late” and my favorite. . . “reactive instead of proactive”.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
The qualified craftspeople in country should have gotten their raises first!!!!! Anything less is a slap in the face. And yes you are right. If I had been making those wages when I was there, I would still be there….unless they fired me!! I know for a fact my BS tolerance level is directly proportional to my wages. The higher the wages, the more BS I can tolerate!!
That’s exactly right!!
“Somewhat off topic” for sure, but my brother-in-law was supposed to go to Afghanistan in October as a licensed tradesman, under the new, higher payscales that you’ve mentioned earlier. Now his embarrassed recruiter just informed him that the new payscales were rejected by senior management and his pay would be under the hitherto undisclosed ‘old’ payscales that are but a fraction of what he was told since the start of the recruitment processing.
Have you heard anything similar? He said he’s not going and doesn’t trust the bait-and-switch tactics.
(Note: also posted on your 9/11/08 listing).
Ms Sparky’s Response:
This is very serious. What craft is your brother-in-law? Who was his recruiter? I would like to verify this before I broadcast it. I’ve been told that some people have already gone over at the higher wages. I tried to email you at the email address given but it kept bouncing back. please email me at mssparky@mssparky.com. If anyone has information on this email me please.
Does anybody know the wage scale for the skilled trades?
I am suppose to be leaving for Houston (KBR) in a week for processing as a refrigeration Tech, I am licensed and certified both as HVAC and Refrigeration… My starting wages are suppose to be $85,000
Is this more or less than the Refrigeration Techs currently there?
To Joan:
One day while walking down the street a highly successful Human Resources Manager was tragically hit by a bus and she died. Her soul arrived up in heaven where she was met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter himself. “Welcome to Heaven,” said St. Peter. “Before you get settled in though, it seems we have a problem. You see, strangely enough, we’ve never once had a Human Resources Manager make it this far and we’re not really sure what to do with you.”
“No problem, just let me in,” said the woman.
“Well, I’d like to, but I have higher orders. What we’re going to do is let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then you can choose whichever one you want to spend an eternity in.” “Actually, I think I’ve made up my mind, I prefer to stay in Heaven”, said the woman
“Sorry, we have rules…” And with that St. Peter put the executive in an elevator and it went down-down-down to hell. The doors opened and she found herself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf course. In the distance was a country club and standing in front of her were all her friends – fellow
executives that she had worked with and they were well dressed in evening gowns and cheering for her. They ran up and kissed her on both cheeks and they talked about old times. They played an excellent round of golf and at night went to the country club where she enjoyed an excellent steak and lobster dinner.
She met the Devil who was actually a really nice guy (kind of cute) and she had a great time telling jokes and dancing. She was having such a good time that before she knew it, it was time to leave. Everybody shook her hand and waved goodbye as she got on the elevator. The elevator went up-up-up and opened back up at the Pearly Gates and found St. Peter waiting for her.
“Now it’s time to spend a day in heaven,” he said. So she spent the next 24 hours lounging around on clouds and playing the harp and singing. She had great time and before she knew it her 24 hours were up and St. Peter came and got her. “So, you’ve spent a day in hell and you’ve spent a day in heaven. Now you must choose your eternity,” The woman paused for a second and then replied, “Well, I never thought I’d say this, I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had a better time in Hell.”
So St. Peter escorted her to the elevator and again she went down-down-down back to Hell. When the doors of the elevator opened she found herself standing in a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. She saw her friends were dressed in rags and were picking up the garbage and putting it in sacks.
The Devil came up to her and put his arm around her. “I don’t understand,” stammered the woman, “yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a country club and we ate lobster and we danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland of garbage and all my friends look miserable.”
The Devil looked at her smiled and said… “Yesterday we were recruiting you, today you’re an Employee…”
LOL Love it – and so true!
Ok, I’ve read enough!! I’m writing LogMaster and BabooRemembers in for Prez and Vice Prez in 2012. I Love reading your insightful answers!! keep it up! And this was just the best!!
I must decline your gracious offer as a write-in candidate for President. Contractual obligations as a satirist for Miss Sparky would create a conflict of interest. I think Sen. Al Franken from Minnesota might be available even after his numerous attempts to run for the office on Saturday Night Live.
As must I.
If nominated, I will not run.
If elected, I will not serve.
You guys are too funny!! By the way, I think I’ve worked for that company!!
If you run…I’ll vote for you.
I am posting this for Joan (above)from a comment she posted on 9/11 Never Foreget!!
**************************
I didn’t think you’ld find nothing. He’s just a chicken & is looking for an out following the latest Al Qieda killings in Afghanistan.
He’s an electritian; his recruiter is from Houston. He’s probably better off not going anyway.
Thanks! Joan
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I’ve been asking around and no one has heard this. I’ll keep my ear to the ground. I am going to post this comment in both places where you posted comments before. I don’t want to panic anyone unnecessarily? If he has this in an email or has specific info have him contact me at mssparky@mssparky.com
I would like to point out that at the particular site I am at, ONLY the electricians have received a raise. The rest of the trades have not.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Have the electricians actually seen it on their checks? I’m not surprised that KBR reneged on the other crafts.
I am a General Superintendent Camp Anaconda on Disability leave this is news to me and it is the truth I have, As for having a license he came as a journeyman same with electrical they are coming as master or journeymen
shhhh……… I am getting a raise I was an HVAC mechanic
now General Superintendent O&M 3 my leave is approaching a year with pay coming
There is a lot of changes going on at Anaconda
check the LOCAP job page under skilled trades at
i am out of work as a bricklayer for so long , i am now looking to iraq as i heard the money was good. the only problem is there is no links,contact information,is there anyone that can help…thanks.
Ms Sparky’s Repsonse:
I don’t think KBR hires that many bricklayers, but they hire a lot of labor foreman and other things.
Try http://www.kbrjobs.com then click on LOGCAP and follow the links from there.
Good Luck
howlin67@hotmail.co.uk bricklayer needs work in iraq, any contacts or links, please , duane.
Ms Sparky’s Repsonse:
I don’t think KBR hires that many bricklayers, but they hire a lot of labor foreman and other things.
Try http://www.kbrjobs.com then click on LOGCAP and follow the links from there.
Good Luck
We are getting a raise that’s news to me I am HVAC for KBR
considering we are the busiest
HVAC Anaconda East Side
10000 GP air conditioners
peak 200 work orders a day
100 thermal king units
you should see electric and power generation during a prime power shut down swapping see how busy they get
how ever not as busy as HVAC while under staffed and under paid
Ms Sparky’s Response:
This was written before the electricians got their raise. We were pushing for all skill craft to get a raise. But KBR bailed at the last minute because to the best of my knowledge they are still the only craft to have gotten the raise.
Ive applied as a carpentry foreman, Am i just wasting my time or is it just a small percent that have a bad experience? What r the salaries?n Peanuts? I dont want to get there and realized I just took it in the rear.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I’m sorry to say, the chances of you being hired as a carpenter foreman are slim to none. Normally those positions are held for people who are able to outlast, outplay, outwit the current foreman. Sorry.
They may call you and offer you a carptenter or labor foreman position at $2583 base.
I have been offered a position in Afghanistan as a XXXXXXXXX General Forman, Looks like the majority of the comments are about Iraq. Does anybody have insight on Afghanistan. How about the skill level of the HVAC techs.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
It’s the same. Same company. Same shit. It may even be somewhat worse because the focus is on Iraq right now. I took out some of the info that KBR could track back to you. Use caution when leaving comments. Let me know how things are when you get there.
I wouldn’t go to work for KBR. They are a sinking ship… I was informed (rumour) that they lost their contracts for Kuwait and Afghanistan with Iraq to follow.
Remember the electrocution? Part of it has to do with that. Upper Mgmt is looking for licensees to hang the blame on right now for their grounding and bonding project to fix their CAR 3(corrective action request). If you value your licenses and your reputation do not hire on with KBR
I know the economy sucks but with all this bad news how does KBR recruit workers? I am a certified (Ca.) general electrician and have tossed out a few resume to KBR and GynCorp. I won’t bite unless the money is right and from what i’m reading that’s iffy at best. I wouldn’t feel good about not having my own tools and being able to trust the person next to me not to get me hurt. What are the working conditions and pay, REALLY?
If you want to work for KBR you can if not then you can also choose Dyncorp or Fluor. Both are good companies, but Dyncorp does not pay a high uplift only 70 percent in Afghanistan but Fluor pays 80. Dyncorp does not pay for bunker time or to fly you home if there is a bonafied emergency to include a red cross message. If you demob before the end of the contract you pay your own way home. It is totally up to who you want to work for. KBR i guess met the conditions of the level 3 car and now can bid on contracts will they get them probably not. Will Fluor and Dyncorp fail? Probably not because the client is keeping KBR in place just in case. Dyncorp is running into issues in Kuwait and Afghanistan. But like i said it is totally up to you TOES, if you can afford to be picky then please do but there alot of people out of work and need a job.
These companies make you an offer and that’s it. You take it with the rest of the crap or you don’t. Let’s just say you don’t get a golden parachute like AIG executives.
Hey you should see how the good ole boy club is working at Speicher right now. All the top electricians came in togeather and all from the same city. No tell me there is no favortism in that. Kinda of funny they let stuff like that go on, but hey it’s KBR right.
Sounds like more unqualified people from Leesville LA.
Any idea what deal KBR has in place in Iraq where they can pull civilians, working for other companies, off helicoptor flights and place their employees in line. I have been over for 6 years now and have seen it happen time after time. With the drawdown flights are getting extremely difficult. Does KBR employees have some type of “special” agreement with the DoD allowing this to happen. Multiple compliants to the military members working the various passenger terminals all go unanswered. It occurs at all bases.
Walter,
This has happened to me EVERYTIME that I have flown through BIAP or Liberty, the KBR puke will walk up to in line, look for your silly lanyard or hat, then ask you who you work for. If you work for another company, they will push you out of line so they get the KBR people on first.
Once I told one of the pukes that I worked for KBR, ((which I really didn’t)) so I could get on my flight and he summoned HR to write me up for not having the KBR lanyard. needless to say, they didn’t get far with that one.
I always travel on my R and R’s with my DSLR camera and I will try to photo document it
Stay Safe,
Lumpy
Pardon my french, but you’re a dumb a$s…I’d like to come across the likes of you one time…If KBR runs the airfield, yea, I guess you’d get 2nd rate treatment. I’ll be looking for you and your camera
There are probably traveling to bases that need immediate assistance or they are traveling in a emergency situation. If are in a R&R status or Emergency status you will be bumped. I have seen it before, i have been bumped for another civilian contractor that had a higher status than i just waited for the next flight. Go ahead taken pictures on the flight line or in BIAP and see what happens.
Let’s try this again, if you are in a R&R or Emergency Status others will be bumped to move you on to your destination. Regular business travel is a lower status.
can you please tell me the salary for the post of warehouse man in afghan in KBR……because i have selected there
I want to talk to you about the fuel side of the house, due to LOGJAM4 (that’s funny right)?. but there was a lot of people not to go into it, I did, but they now have 1 supervisor, 1 foreman ( we still dont have one) and 1 operator, this realy isnt that bad but, at the fuel site we have ace managers sorry ( operation manager), admin, IT, MCT, and JDC, a lot of people we have to cater to but 1 f*ck*ng person to stay out side all damn day to actualy do the work. what makes it worse all of these people came from a smaller camp that is getting shut down, they are all friends they all known each other for about 2+ years, all got transfered into our site yet, the supervisor doesnt know his job, always turns reports in late, sit in his office all day talking on skype, leaves for lunch at 11:00 with all the other 10 people that doesnt have anything to do with fuel. comes back at 2:00 forcing the operator to spend thirty minutes at lunch, while the dfac closes at 1:30, so no choice to eat a burger or pizza every day, he is tired of buying his own food. and it gets worse if you think hr helps pfff all they do is email the supervisor asking him what is going on course he is totally justifed saying he had to go to the mayor cell or another lame excuss, so nothing ever gets done since only one other person has anything to do with fuel it doesnt take a rocket tech to figure out who went to hr. nobody listens to his emails, plus having a ace and three or four other managers there that is his homeboy it is a lost cause. KBR higher refuse to come down because all there are is tents, and if we do get lucky to get someone to come we know 2 months in advance so course they play the game then. but this supervisor doesnt even know his job the operator is always fixing his erors, course he sends in the reports to they come back needing to be fixed all he does is sends an email to higher saying he gave it to a operator to proof read. AND THEY BUY THAT CRAP. so he is in a lose lose situation. any problem is just givin right back to the operator as more work needed done. PLEASE HELP.
The Operator needs to start keeping a log of the supervisors comings and goings. Dates, times, associates etc. The operator is entitled to a lunch at the DFAC. He shouldn’t have to pay for his own. Things like that really piss me off! And yes…. HR sucks. The worst thing they can do is call/email the supervisor. That puts the employee at risk for retaliation. If KBR HR doesn’t want to deal with this jerk off supervisor send the info to me and I will forward it to the DCMA/DCAA/CWC etc. That really pissed me off that this supervisor isn’t taking care of his people!
It sounds like you are either at ADDER or Kalsu. When you mentioned tents those are the only places that seem to be still using them. Good luck on you mission with lOGCAP IV and as my name states things with the new LOGCAP Contract are really a joke.
You really need to use the KBR Hotline. If you can give them enough specifics they will at least look at it. You can remain anonymous but, if they need follow-up information it’s helpful to have them contact you. Like I said, use the Hotline because it sounds like you have a lot of time sheet fraud going on. It is not a KBR service and is an independent service so your info will remain confidential unless you give your name. As for where your calling don’t worry about it. They just write up the details and forward to KBR who then assigns it to the correct department. Sometimes it works and sometimes not.
KBR is making me sick
Ditto – the crap that I’ve seen over the last 6 years is pathetic. I had to stop throwing up because I was loosing too much blood.
FYI – I’ve used the hotline several times – it never works – and the person that you’re reporting always seems to find out about it – imagine that…. In fact, the person (my Manager) that I reported for timesheet fraud – promoted people in exchange for keeping their mouths shut during the investigation – and the greedy pukes did – they all kept their mouths shut – of course these are people that are too ignorant to see that they’re just as guilty
Quit – yes, if I’m not happy here, I could quit, but I’m not the problem – problems don’t just go away – people do – they walk away
Well this is just to Funny if you have worked for KBR or are working for them now, its about.
1. Cover your buddies ass
2. If its the companies fault Blame the sub-contractor
3. Never take responsibility, if it gets the company in trouble. but if the employee made a honest mistake YOUR FIRED
This is the KBR Way (Kin Brothers Relatives )and take care of all those who protected you and dont be a snitch.
last but not least if you cant cover your ass MAKE SOMETHING UP THAT SOUNDS BELIEVABLE AND PUT THE BLAME ON SOME ONE ELSE
CAN I GET A AMEN ON THAT EVERYONE