22nd October 2008, 05:33 PM
I'd like to see a lot of those points, but I'd also like archaeology not to slip too far into aping certain standard construction/engineering practices. Those include working 7.30 to 5.30 every weekday, saturdays til one, sundays/nights when required (for nightworks/piling/crane deliveries etc), not being able to take leave because of projects, and then losing all accrued leave etc.
Now I've had/done all the above, but it wasn't usual practice by any means and I got a good deal on overtime most of the time I had no choice. We do get a good deal in some ways, I quite like my 8 til 4 with long breaks. And compared to the wages paid to site engineers etc when they start, my pay was ok. Things have come on a lot in the last decade, but some things haven't.
Hopefully something will be done about 'away jobs', that seems one of the most pressing issues to me, along with training which I feel is the crux issue. Until a system of training and experience/skill recognition gets sorted, and is tied in to universities and units, it will all carry on as it does now. The pyramid of experience will continue to be as skewed as it is, with fresh faces every summer desperate for work, but with no effective training, and the good people leaving because they are fed up at being paid the same and being taken for granted. It's just unfortunate that so many units assume that as long as they have a couple of old lags, they can get sites dug, as so much of archaeology is just emptying holes and putting the pretty things in bags.
Now I've had/done all the above, but it wasn't usual practice by any means and I got a good deal on overtime most of the time I had no choice. We do get a good deal in some ways, I quite like my 8 til 4 with long breaks. And compared to the wages paid to site engineers etc when they start, my pay was ok. Things have come on a lot in the last decade, but some things haven't.
Hopefully something will be done about 'away jobs', that seems one of the most pressing issues to me, along with training which I feel is the crux issue. Until a system of training and experience/skill recognition gets sorted, and is tied in to universities and units, it will all carry on as it does now. The pyramid of experience will continue to be as skewed as it is, with fresh faces every summer desperate for work, but with no effective training, and the good people leaving because they are fed up at being paid the same and being taken for granted. It's just unfortunate that so many units assume that as long as they have a couple of old lags, they can get sites dug, as so much of archaeology is just emptying holes and putting the pretty things in bags.