Prediction for 2016...

From April I predict you will see more G2 jobs at 18k plus. as companies vie to attract staff ( remember that salary is only one thing that is a benefit. see holidays, security, pension accommodation on away jobs etc as additional benefits.)
The supervisor and Project Officer is now rarer than a conservative MP in Scotland. So be prepared to see a shift in this place too. If Diggers are on over 18k. then a supervisor ( with the added responsibility should now be looking at 21k plus and a (good) PO would be mad to work for anything less than 26k


Indeed Rubicon and Cotswolds recent adverts show the trend for larger companies to pay more and provide more benefits is not impossible in todays climate. more work... not enough staff....
Rubicon are paying currently £ 21,359 to 23,000 for Supervisor level and £27, 607 to £30,434 for POs


Cotswold's are not far behind with POs getting a raft of benefits and £23,727 - £29,133 Diggers are on £18,147 - £18,709
The poor Project Manager is in a high stress poor return position currently, with the step up of responsibility really needing a larger salary ( believe me... PMs... you may think we were fat arsed desk jockeys. but hells teeth it is a tough life... causing me one nervous breakdown!)


Anyway... will I be right? or wrong? Is this the time.. to push forward?

What do you think

OR will we kick ourselves in the goolies again!

Advice Sought:
I am seeking advice on cIFA codes relevant to County Archaeologists, and audit trails relating to the monitoring of projects done in pursuance of Planning Regulations;
It seems that County Archaeologists would fall under these;
http://www.archaeologists.net/…/…/CIfAS&GCommissioning_1.pdf
In regard of audits trails, i see this;
"Monitoring and managing the quality of archaeological work
6.1 .b.
undertake monitoring of all relevant stages of archaeological work in accordance with stated policies or contractual agreement, and document and share the results of monitoring with appropriate parties in order to provide a ROBUST AUDIT TRAIL for planning, legal and quality management purposes"
Am I correct in thinking that this applies to monitoring of commercial projects by County Archaeologists????
Do any County Archs out there have a specific approach to this?
Do they keep 'robust audit trails' ?
Indeed what does the archaeological community think of this provision in relation to County Councils?

Do people know about the proposed changes to the structure of Gwynedd Archaeological Trust and the provision of the regional historic environment service for north-west Wales. It seems this would potentially involve the removal of the Principal Archaeologist post, which has responsibility for these services, and it coming under the direct management of the Trust Director.


The GAT Director was the head of the contracting arm and retains responsibility for this at the same time.



What are peoples thoughts on this? Is it wise to have the HER/Planning Archaeologist and Contracting Company as one in the same? In effect approving their own work?


There turns out to be a Trustees Meeting on 9th March and comments are welcome... In this particular discussion, can we refrain from any flippant or unhelpful remarks... and stay focussed on this issue.

Bede's World closed on Friday 12 Feb and according to their website they are now going into Administration. However, not a peep here in the Site Hut, or the News section of the forum? Have all the Bajrites fled to Twitter? Or even the more ancient FaceAche? Mighty quiet here among the tumbleweeds...

Ticket Information

Ticket Type Price
CIfA Member - Full three days £186.00
CIfA member - Weds 20 April £76.00
CIfA member - Thurs 21 April £76.00
CIfA member - Fri 22 April £76.00
CIfA Student/Unwaged - Full three days £100.00
CIfA Student/Unwaged - Weds 20 April £45.00
CIfA student/ unwaged - Thurs 21 April £45.00
CIfA student/ unwaged - Fri 22 April £45.00

Non-member - full three days £330.00
Non-member - Weds 20 April £120.00
Non-member - Thurs 21 April £120.00
Non-member - Fri 22 April £120.00
Non-member student/unwaged - Full three days £192.00
Non-member student/unwaged - Weds 20 April £81.00
Non-member student/unwaged - Thurs 21 April £81.00
Non-member Student/Unwaged - Fri 21 April £81.00

Wednesday night meal £40.00
Thursday night buffet & social £14.00

SPEAKER - Weds 20 April If you are speaking at the conference, you are entitled to book the day you are speaking on for free

SPEAKER - Thurs 21 April If you are speaking at the conference, you are entitled to book the day you are speaking on for free

SPEAKER - Fri 22 April If you are speaking at the conference, you are entitled to book the day you are speaking on for free

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cifa2016-a...9205130061

Not directly archaeological, but indirectly is as last run of licences included SSSI's, bird sanctuaries and heritage sites.

Sign the petition, pass it on

https://nofrackingbarnsley.wordpress.com...ds-friday/

Just watched the first episode of this utter joke of a program. I thought that extreme archaeology had been and gone. Did you see all the disclaimers flashing up! No wonder not one of them was an archaeologist any self respecting professional would have declined. The entire team involved who either presented or worked on the program should be ashamed of themselves and buried in that excuse for an historic excavation of a an unopened bunker. This sort of drivel just reinforces to the public that anyone can dig up something armed with a shovel and not give any due regard to context.

Met a new member of staff today, someone who has previously been working for an RAO. According to this new member of staff, the RAO was deducting £85 a week from their wages to put them up in a shared caravan whilst working away! Effectively this person has been working for less than the minimum wage! Disgusting!

Come on CiFA, is this the sort of disgraceful behaviour exhibited by other Chartered organisations...I think not! Come on CiFA do you really believe that it is more important to fast track graduates than speaking out strongly against such practices! CiFA you want to be seen as professional then grow up and start acting like one instead of hoping that eventually it will go away because there is a boom now! Come on consultants stop pretending that you value quality and yet you turn a blind eye knowing that the competitive tender is being won by through the deliberate exploitation of the workforce! Come on newly graduated archaeologists, stop accepting to work for such despicable employers!

Boom time ! vacancies everywhere and no one to fill them ........... is it any wonder looking at the poverty line wages being offered ? I know those on here are at or above the minima but they really are appallingly low........ how are units going to fulfil contracts with no field staff ?

Having moved jobs relatively recently for the first time I find myself filling out a P87 to claim tax relief from HMRC as my employer doesn't pay the recommended mileage allowance. Reading through the advice on the website made me question what else I could claim for.

Obviously there are memberships and such but have any employees ever claimed for work clothes etc?

https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employ...-and-tools

Having not known about this I obviously haven’t kept all my receipts, but I would argue archaeologists should be able to claim a lump sum like other construction workers, but of course ‘archaeologist’ isn’t a listed occupation and I am not sure who you would contact to query this.


Cheers.