12th March 2009, 02:06 PM
I seem to have stirred up something of a hornets nest here.
But really all I was trying to say was that as some of the larger units pay very little to their staff and bid very low for work, often going way over the original budget for work (and overcharging for work and staff). This makes very difficult for other smaller units to compete and they also therefore also have to offer very low wages for staff.
If basic wage levels are going to change it has to change across the profession, which is hopefully where the IFA should come in. However despite making the right noises over the last few years, they don't seem to have achieved much or to have even tried particuly hard.
Many diggers I've talked to believe that owners at MIFA level seem to have a huge say in the direction of the IFA, and that the needs of the AIFAs and PIFAs play second fiddle. This is also a reason that many low level archaeologist of my acquaintance do not join the IFA as they cannot see any advantage to themselves. I am in fact an IFA member, but I have great difficulty telling other young archaeologist why they should be.
But really all I was trying to say was that as some of the larger units pay very little to their staff and bid very low for work, often going way over the original budget for work (and overcharging for work and staff). This makes very difficult for other smaller units to compete and they also therefore also have to offer very low wages for staff.
If basic wage levels are going to change it has to change across the profession, which is hopefully where the IFA should come in. However despite making the right noises over the last few years, they don't seem to have achieved much or to have even tried particuly hard.
Many diggers I've talked to believe that owners at MIFA level seem to have a huge say in the direction of the IFA, and that the needs of the AIFAs and PIFAs play second fiddle. This is also a reason that many low level archaeologist of my acquaintance do not join the IFA as they cannot see any advantage to themselves. I am in fact an IFA member, but I have great difficulty telling other young archaeologist why they should be.