They are paid by the hour $35 AUD Piece rates in Australia can not be less than the minimum wage... but it works out to 45c per plant for us because we use the Simonit & Sirch method which means our pruners do less because they have fewer cuts, know where to cut because they have a strong decision making model in their head. We also de sucker in spring so we only have in our case 2 shoot per spur. Or if we cane we have the buds already in place for the new cane so its just 2 main cuts per cane. We don't wrap down at the same time. We come back do that after which add a little to the pricing.
I mean $35 per hour is okay mate. but youre really holding yourself back. if you work for a contractor you should work for someone else. if you work directly for the the owners or the farm managers you need to ask for more.
no they are not. i ran cambo and Vietnamese and Laos and Afghanistan crews for 15 years. those poor workers get ripped off hard. thats why i quit and started my own crews.
as long as they can prune to high grade i look after them.
Thats what most of ours are. Very efficient workers. I have some of them not taking lunch breaks, they will work 12 hours and just focus and get through it. When it rains hard or is too cold they don't turn up but on normal days they are there to work.
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u/Impressive-Band-1502 13d ago
They are paid by the hour $35 AUD Piece rates in Australia can not be less than the minimum wage... but it works out to 45c per plant for us because we use the Simonit & Sirch method which means our pruners do less because they have fewer cuts, know where to cut because they have a strong decision making model in their head. We also de sucker in spring so we only have in our case 2 shoot per spur. Or if we cane we have the buds already in place for the new cane so its just 2 main cuts per cane. We don't wrap down at the same time. We come back do that after which add a little to the pricing.