I'm thinking about joining Prospect, and I wondered what the great unwashed out there reckon of it. Are they up to much? Do they understand our particular problems (short and non-existant contracts for example)? Anyone got good or bad advice about them?
Thanks for any feedback.
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Sent off for their membership stuff t`other day.Complete fabrication of the truth.Grand claims about being THE union for archaeologists but in truth, no changes have materialised since I first joined in 1997. They are in the same bed with the IFA-join a grown-up union mate.
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Will say that I have spent over 8 months trying to get a meeting with PROSPECT... have offered all the help I can.... still waiting..... pointed out that BAJR already has 80+ companies that agree to the payscales... have pointed out that already have 7 grades... have pointed out that I am working on conditions and health and safety (along with a lot of others!!) and still nothing...
I am going to phone again tommorrow.... after that... all I can say is that I joined the IPCMS (pre PROSPECT) back in 1984 .... still no change!!
The Digger and BAJR have put their collective necks on the line and done more in teh past few years... with no funding.... with no help... with no endless and pointless discussion groups!!!
Will get back on this..
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This is about what I reckoned. I'm generally in favour of trade unions, but the company I work for is not unionised, and we certainly don't have contracts. I was trying to imagine what role a union could have in such a workplace. It would be difficult to hold negotiations when everything is unwritten. I'm surprised that they have so little interaction with BAJR. Their logo is proudly displayed in the 'Invisible Diggers' project thingie, which is basically all about addressing terms and conditions.
Troll, which other unions do you think are more grown up?
Has anyone got anything positive to say about Prospect, or should I just drink a couple pints extra a month?
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You will also be glad... or perhaps scared to know I am talking with teh Inland Revenue on Thursday... A new guide to Self employment will soon (like in the next 7 days) be ready for all... both digger and employer... know your rights... know your law and find out how to work legally..... hey.... better than Prospect or wot!!
Still... I would actually like to work with them (and the IFA) rather than as a separate entity... BAJR is aout Jobs, Courses, Resourses, Help, Planning, legislation, talking, information, guides, universities, colleges, local history, books, magazines, the Digger Online, games, education.... er... er... hold on... pay.... conditions.... hotline... you get all this for nought! ... so imagine just how much the IFA and PROSPECT can give you for the subs!!
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Well.... Sounds like sod prospect. Let all join BAJR instead!
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Just phoned up PROSPECT again (3rd time this week) ... they must think I am stalking them!!
Sorry got a bit carried away last post [:I] bad BAJR
I really hope they get in touch today... but then again??
Have talked to teh Inland Revenue... and are we are trying to deal with the self employed / employed problem .. basing it on teh construction industry... how does a small builder deal with bringing in casual labour... for big companies... there really is no excuse.
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Oxbeast- In all honesty, I really would`nt bother with a union sir. All you will be doing is lining the pockets of office staff who will make a lot of noise about doing things for you for years and do nothing.Except of course, include you in the figures they produce in marketing material designed to attract new members.A chain-letter scam really...provides well-paid jobs for people who frankly don`t deserve them. Same as the IFA really.I feel that as a profession, we are left to do things for ourselves-regardless of endless and tiresome studies carried out "over ten years" and come to sod all.We are being taken for a ride by all except our own. We need to organize the strands we have already in place and do it ourselves!
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I will be talking with Prospect in April... the new guy... Dave Allen sounds very open and reasonable.... I am willing to reserve judgement until then. I really hope we can all work together...
[xx(]
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Not really related, but has anyone else been in the same boat when signing on the dole recently that you have to prove that your actively seeking employment, but archaeology companies don't advertise in the papers etc so you can't point at the add and say "I applied for that". The main problem is in their wee computer thingy there is no subsection for archaeologist, which suprised me as there is in the Republic of Ireland. They ended up putting me down as a non-specified engineer.
Lucy
