Page Rate history in Los Angeles county or SoCal

[Shanna Gray]

I am going to try to be careful here. I know it's important that we don't go into too much detail on page rates, but I am noticing that page rates seem to be going lower and lower.

I have a friend who was certified in 1978. She stopped reporting for many years and is just now trying to break back in. She told me that when she first started out, page rates were really, really low. So low that it was barely worth it. Something must have happened to bring page rates back up to be more competitive and now it seems to be going down again.

I'm interested in knowing from reporters who are familiar with the industry over a long period of time whether there is any cyclical nature to page rates. Have they gone down only to go back up again and then back down? If so, what do you think caused the rates to go in either direction?

[Sonia Renee Foreman]

Rates are going down because, it's sad to say, we have a lot of undercutting in the court reporting industry.  We need to have more unity and stick to it.  We give more in technology and time, yet we are beginning to get paid less.  If we don't unite and form a fair rate for everything from, realtime, hookups per leg to per diem, it's going to be like minimum wage among CSRs. 

[Deby]

Time to go back to school ourselves - and for another career!

[Jacqueline Victor]

I know firsthand that U.S. Legal's reporters are jumping ship in the Tampa region, and I'm talking about dropping like flies!!  They absolutely REFUSE to work at their rates (attendance fees seem to be the issue).  If that keeps up around the country with U.S. Legal, they won't be able to meet their contracts - and they're probably already sweating bullets.  So I'm just telling you that reporters are walking out and refusing to work at sweatshop rates!!!  Those reporters are certainly making me proud.

 

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

Very glad to hear this.  I say no a lot and I hope my colleagues will follow suit.  Currently dealing with an agency I've covered for for five years at the same rates.  Now they're asking me to lower them.   This will not happen.