30th April 2008, 08:33 PM
Quote:quote:APPAG now wishes to have an opportunity to discuss these submissions and other relevant matters with various representatives of the archaeological sector on 20th May, prior to the drafting of a short
report making recommendations to improve the pay and conditions for
archaeologists working in the UK.
Sadly, although I was kindly invited to go and make a short submission as BAJR, I am booked up on 19th May and can't get to London by 10am on the 20th.... This is a blow to me... as its a chance to speak out.
Can we... as BAJRites.. put together a short statement to be read out there ....... this is very very important -- its a chance to speak out..
Its complex.. so can we put into a pithy statement our collective view? I know we all come from different backgrounds.. and this could be a strength.
To start off...
Council and Govt pay scales for archaeological and heritage officers have to be national... so an HER officer or Planning Arch is on the same grade in every county... Field staff working in these areas have to be regraded above the cleaning staff (no offence to cleaning staff) parity in this sector is key to parity in the commercial sector.
Formal, affordable external/free inhouse training as integral a stepped pay scale... the more skills you gain, the more you are 'worth' and this should be seen as investment in all our futures.. it does not matter that you tain someone and they leave to another company.. as you will replace them with someone trained at another company.
Perhaps even company performance bonus? (though this is outside the APPAG discussion)
Benefits to ensure field staff are not 'starting fresh' each contract.. which creates a cycle of poverty. (who was ever able to save on a digger wage... remember that to even make the minimum annual salary you have to work a whole year)
"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu
For really I think that the poorest he that is in England hath a life to live, as the greatest he
Thomas Rainborough 1647
Thomas Rainborough 1647