Archaeologists go on STRIKE!

[Austin Ainsworth]

There is to be a one day strike by Molas archaeologists on Monday 9th June to highlight their refusal to accept a 2 per cent wage rise. http://pasthorizons.wordpress.com/2008/0...as-london/

[Unitof1]

I cant see Boris being able to help until he ousts some of Browns crones off the board. Could it be some right wing left wing power play at this level. I have tried to size up the Lord mayor position but don?t get very much past this
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporati...occess.htm

[BAJR Host]

PROSPECT supposed to send info yesteray... have ed them...

am in field just now.. but staying in contact.

the 2% is part of whole strike action.

apologies for lack of solid info... this all happened too quick

"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

[BAJR Host]

Our one-day strike on Monday 9th June is over pay. Our pay award for the financial year 2007/08 was 13 months late. When it finally arrived, it was 2%, less than half the current rate of inflation.

Striking today is not a step we have taken lightly, but 86% of us voted for today's action. As archaeologists and specialists, we are committed to making the Museum of London Archaeology Service a world-class organisation. But we have been forced into taking industrial action by the government's crazy pay policy.

The government insists that public sector pay is restricted to 2%. Ironically, Museum of London bosses want to pay more and can afford to pay more, but have been forbidden from doing so by Gordon Brown.

The Prime Minister argues that public sector pay causes inflation. But even his own Office of National Statistics points out that inflation increases are caused by the rising cost of food, fuel and travel. The government has not listened to the Museum's arguments that there is a strong business case for a substantial pay rise.

We are not alone in being angry over our real-terms pay cut. In April, over 250,000 teachers staged their first national strike in 20 years alongside more than 100,000 PCS civil service workers. The Science Museum has just voted for strike action and other museums look set to follow suit. The Unison union is currently balloting its 600,000 members in the NHS, and will be balloting its 800,000 members in local government in England and Wales over strikes. The Unite union is also balloting members in local government for strikes.

The UCU lecturers' union has called a strike of its 7,000 members in further education colleges in London today. This afternoon in Westminster, the TUC is organising a lobby of Parliament in support of public services.

We fear that this low pay settlement will compound problems of low morale, recruitment and retention at MoLAS. That's why we are striking today. We hope you can support us.

What you can do:


Send a message of support to the strikers to Prospect House, 8 Leake Street, London SE1 or email it to:
supportmuseumoflondonstrike@live.co.uk

"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

[Unitof1]

Maybe bajr should invite the board of governors at Molas to give its view of the situation

http://www.molg.org.uk/English/AboutUs/G...efault.htm

They have got a lot of lawyers and financiers on it but there is possibly a archaeologist type with management credentials although unfortunately he wants to be a labour councillor and might be towing browns line.

Maybe the strikers should try and point out that they are not public service but as their director said

Our focus is trying to deliver meaningful results for cost-effective archaeology, which has a significant impact on our competitive position in todays market.

Maybe iparchaeology could point their web cam from Prescott street at London wall so that we can lookout for strike breakers

[lucy78green]

2% is more than I got!

Lucy

[BAJR Host]

I have heard that oxford turned down a 4%.

however... if you got less than 2% that is truely shocking...

"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

[27trowels]

good for Molas. I would be supporting it if i had a job, but i just quit. Just to add more information an other of the main london units got 5% pay rise last year and is just about to get between 4 and 4.5 this year. I suggest a 2% payrise should only be accepted as long as it comes attached to a total regrading of the pay structure to match other local government staff! viva la revolution.lol.

[BAJR Host]

support is growing... this a chance to place archaeology problems into the national arena

"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

[diggingthedirt]

2% is 2% more than I got too. No road schemes due until the end of the year, there have been redundancies at some of the bigger companies. We have had about 5 memos from senior management reassuring us that our jobs are safe and work is on the horizon, but we all need to dig deep and tighten the belt for the good of the team. Everyone's meekly getting on with things, just pleased that they've actually got a job. The truth is we've been press-ganged through pay rise month. If anyone's interested in joining the Irish struggle, Ryanair are doing a special on flying picket returns, no questions asked, although slogan bearing banners and carry-on picket signs will be charged by the letter.