30th November 2011, 10:20 AM
ken_whittaker Wrote:I expected my figures to elicit the response of those salaries are “miles off” and “which planet is he on”.... it was so predictable. But the figures are what they are, those salaries exist.
Stick your head in the sand and dismiss them. I personally know the sense of romance impoverishment can bring and understand the conceit that a chosen craft is better for suffering. Never really brought much comfort though.…
Alternatively it might be worth exploring how those figures come about. Its’ no secret, simply a collective adherence to both professional and commercial standards, achieved through market processes, not because of institutional barriers to entry. And yes, this is the realm of professional construction industry services, be they designer/architects, quantity surveyors, planners, etc.
A place at that table has been established, but as a profession we are simply not prepared to collectively take up the seat. Sadly too many vested interests prefer to lead the profession toward greater introspection, marginalisation and the institutionalisation of failure. Preferring instead to evade commercial practices that might raise the bar, as culturally incompatible to the profession’s sense of itself, dismissing the benefits that outweigh inevitable compromises. An embracing, pervading and endemic alienation on the part of many practitioners perhaps makes this outcome increasingly inevitable.
That is simply a planet that, in the end, I chose not to occupy.
I basically agree with what you are saying (although you might not believe it) but it would be useful to have some quantification/figures/examples of the comparable salaries you are alluding too.
There are two major issues, other than the 'vested interests' that you descroibe - again, what does that mean? Examples? Proof?
Firstly, as I said before comparable conditions would be a good start. When you talk to a machine driver and they laugh because they are earning ?XXXX more than you a year just check whether that is on the basis of doing 10 hours work for 10 hours pay, rather than the archaeologists way of 10 hours work for 8 hours pay.
Secondly, there are so many people who are immensely keen to get into archaeology at all ages and levels of experience that it is no wonder the wages are so low - people will accept almost anything and need educating at an early stage in their careers, because by the time they have found out for themselves the next generation of suckers, erm, I mean future professionals, is coming up behind. By vested interests do you mean a willingness to shaft the inexperience and gullible? Saw an 'advert' for a job on Facebook the other day? No idea what the pay or conditions were but no doubt plenty of eager volunteers. Had CV from someone clearly desparate to get into/stay in archaeology, but with about 20 years experience in research projects. No doubt they would have been happy with anything just to keep their hand in. Where's the proper investment in the future, that's what I'd like to know? Rather than when can we earn 70K, which is a fairly pointless question.