52 LAST WORD REVISITED !
It is about you and the change you want to see !
Official bodies , Government bodies , Standards Bodies , Registration Bodies , Training Bodies , the whole lot with anything to do with the plumbing industry are there for you , the qualified plumber and of course the apprentice .
“ We must be willing to be that change we want to see .”
These bodies work to ensure that the plumber receives the best representation , training , can work to the best standards , can do their work under the best safety conditions , and be protected . Whether an employee or employer , each has responsibility to each other since the plumber is central to everything we all do .
It is the plumber that makes the engineer ’ s design a reality and of course , the plumber is a part of a much bigger team to make the owner ’ s dream a reality and he / she can share the pride and thrill of accomplishment .
So why am I going along this path ? Simply put it is because sometimes it is easy to miss each other as we go about our daily work . We are so focused on our own mission it is easy to forget we are there for someone else , and not always just for ourselves .
As the plumber you call the shots . Equally , it is up to you to be part of the other bodies that make up the whole , but if there were no plumbers , what is the need for all these other bodies ? It makes sense that if one is at the table one gets to eat but if not , one starves or is out in the cold .
This year has seen the climax of a particularly stressful period for everyone . Much hurt , much confusion , many
bridges to be mended and the opening to the weaknesses of the system we work in . Coupled with this an economic downturn followed by the devastation of Covid certainly did nothing to calm the world , South Africa , and our industry .
As we move into 2022 , Covid still will be with us , but we are better prepared to handle the beast , and plumbers must make the call to be united . This will provide the means to challenge that which is deemed wrong . Of course , there are different views and that is where our maturity must come to the fore to openly discuss the issues / concerns and accept that someone ’ s view will or can achieve a better result . We need to accept that although we have an opinion or view ( which must be listened to ), many views often offer the solution .
As mentioned in earlier columns , the biggest issue facing plumbing and plumbers is the unqualified person doing plumbing work . Can we as plumbers change this ? Not really , but as one united front , we can provide the power to get the situation changed at government level , at education level – and in so doing , become the influencers for change .
The plumber should take control . Being part of one industry with one body of plumbers will ensure that the plumbers call the shots . Remember , the body belongs to you – the plumber . PA
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline November 2021 Volume 27 I Number 9