This is how I see it: there are 2 lab techs.
1. you are a lab tech and just do what you are told , nothing more.
2. you are a lab tech, but you also give hints , ideas and "change" , optimize things yourself (eg.: your boss tells you to do it like this and you say : it might be better to change this and that because my previous experience tells me that... and I know that ... ...) or I have done some literature review and...
If number 1 is the case: then its normal you are not on the paper since you just did what they told you. You have not done anything yourself but just did what they told (monkey work? is this an expression that is known in english?

)
if you are number 2 : then you should indeed be on the paper.
In my opinion the number 2 lab techs are also the lab techs that are active (reading literature, speaking out, checking things ....)
WHile the number 1 lab techs are most of the times those people that just come to work to earn they money and thats it.
Also: number 2 lab techs are most likely to be those that are interested in getting a "higher" or better place or those that want to start a Msc program or PhD.
I make a harsh line between the 2 types, but its just to simplify the things.
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Hope I might say I'm a number2

: this is now my third lab in 10yrs. (2 previous labs offered me lots of opportunities to learn different techniques)
I was hired for experience lacking here: I offered my help to the colleagues and when some of my experiments failed I searched Pubmed, contacted other people (my PI is the type who is happy when he hears nothing...'e.th. going well? ok..proceed'). My PI also agreed to put me in the authorslist, but a postdoc threw me off...he thinks he did it all by himself..although he only gave some tips when I already got the experiments running..pff He's leaving soon...no big loss for the lab.
Taking a master...yes thought about it: it's pretty to dream about but reality is most of times something else...parents gave me opportunity to study..but not too long, got a job.. loved it, married and moved for my husband and put a step back for him, got really sick, finally recovering now...and now the last year I was on the good track untill I met this 'angry' postdoc...will it be worth the trouble? Even if I get a master and become a grad and in many years become a postdoc will it have been worth the trouble?? sorry thinking aloud.
Thank you for the input.
When possible I'll share my experience on this forum, thanks!!