If you had 10 minutes with an MP?

[Unitof1]

like architechs

[YorkBadger]

10 min with an MP?
Yes to archaeological licences and yes to pushing chartered status by the IFA. IFA = Insitute for Archaeologists! ;0)

But more importantly, getting an MP to understand why the Heritage Protection Bill is important and to vote for it would be a start and would be 10min well spent by any archaeologist.

[1man1desk]

Posted by Austin Ainsworth:

quote:Agreed - perhaps under the aegis of the only heritage organisation with statutory teeth, English Heritage?

Which statutory teeth are those then? EH have even less power over archaeological units and archaeological standards than the IFA, unless you happen to be working on a SAM.

Anyway - EH are a government body (hence tied to government policy) and a client/employer of archaeological units (hence with a commercial axe to grind); I would have thought we needed something independent and impartial...a bit like the IFA, in fact.

1man1desk

to let, fully furnished

[Sparky]

Hows about an independant and impartial IFA, in fact.

[1man1desk]

Posted by Sparky:

quote:Hows about an independant and impartial IFA, in fact

In what way isn't the IFA independent and impartial? on whom do you think it is dependent, and in whose favour do you think it is biased?

One hallmark of a genuinely independent and impartial organisation is that it is often disliked by several different parties, specifically because it is not biased in their favour.

Now, I see lots of complaints about the IFA on BAJR, which is essentially a grass-roots forum. You don't see many posts that appear to come from unit management on BAJR, so it doesn't reflect their views.

However, as a consultant, I also deal with the management of units throughout the country, both RAOs and others, and I hear many complaints about the IFA from them - some units are not RAOs specifically because their managers don't like the IFA.

So, the organisation is unpopular with parts of the worker side ... but also unpopular with parts of the employer side. At the same time, some members of both sides are enthusiastic supporters.

Sounds to me like an organisation that is acting in an impartial, independent way, and therefore sometimes p***ing off one side, and sometimes the other side.

1man1desk

to let, fully furnished

[Sparky]

1Man,

With the greatest of respect, I believe some the recent complaints penned on this site against aspects of the IFA more than suggest impartiality or independence. For example, the issue of no upholding complaints without the agrieved being named. You yourself were shocked by these acts of impartiality.

quote:Now, I see lots of complaints about the IFA on BAJR, which is essentially a grass-roots forum. You don't see many posts that appear to come from unit management on BAJR, so it doesn't reflect their views.

There are many archaeological managers and consultants who contribute to this site and specifically the IFA debate and some do, such as yourself, argue for the Institute.

Having attended the last IFA conference, I cannot stress how unhappy I was to see the lack of attendance from the grass roots though I'm not criticising that element due to the price, accomodation and time of work which would be incurred. But the fact that the vast majority of the attendees were managerial staff and it is undeniable that those people who chair the commitees are from the higher places in archaeological organisations. How is that impartial to the industry when the majority of those who are employed are at the grass roots level?

quote:Sounds to me like an organisation that is acting in an impartial, independent way, and therefore sometimes p***ing off one side, and sometimes the other side.

I'm sorry, but I don't buy into that 'Its the best system we've got' philosophy.

S

[1man1desk]

To be quite honest, if I had 10 minutes with an MP, the issues i would raise would not be about archaeology at all. I would probably use the time to talk about promoting micro-renewable generation of electricity and about highway infrastructure for cyclists.



1man1desk

to let, fully furnished