Archaeologists go on STRIKE!

[RESCUE]

RESCUE would like to offer our support to the striking staff of MoLAS today, and have sent a message. We hope that today's action helps to achieve a satisfactory outcome.

RESCUE Council.

[BAJR Host]

Thanks RESCUE... I know they appreciate your support... its a BIG boost.

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

[oldgirl]

It's on the BBC here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7443567.stm

[BAJR Host]

Thanks for that

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

[tom wilson]

According to my spy on the barricade, there will be footage on ITV London this evening too.

'Antediluvian pay' is a cracking phrase. It really is a nonsense that MoLAS staff should be held to these drastic pay restrictions when they didn't receive the decent pay rises in previous years that are used to justify them.
Independance for MoLAS, I say.

[m300572]

Its particular nonsense if the Museum was prepared to pay more but was stopped by the Treasury as I think was reported.

We have had a reasonable pay settlement this year compared to some of the private sector and still below inflation - but at the same time we are in the process of shedding 10% or thereabouts of our staff through VER/VES

[BAJR Host]

been trying to phone to get some info...

anyone had more luck?

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

[BAJR Host]

Got through...

its going to be a couple of days before we really know... but thanks to all that supported.

BAJR is now fully back online.



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

[BAJR Host]

Interesting post by Museum of London Human resources on About.Archaeology

http://archaeology.about.com/b/2008/06/0...london.htm

including this line

"Just 87 staff voted to take industrial action, from a total workforce of 436 and the majority of staff are expected to work as usual today."

This is quite confusing as the 436 staff mentioned include all three groups of the Museum of London. The original statement specifically states the strike was by ARCHAEOLOGISTS at MoLAS - not the whole group... who are anyway under a different union. The statement that 86% of those who voted in the Strike Ballot by PROSPECT union members is therefore true.

I was under the impression that the MoL group was wanting to pay more - and it does say that later. However, making statement such as that... on an American site ... is strange. Statistics...



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

[BAJR Host]

Dear BAJR,



The Museum of London branch of Prospect would like to thank you wholeheartedly for your support for our one-day strike on Monday 9 June 2008.



This was the first time the Museum?s archaeology service (MoLAS) has ever gone on strike and the first time a strike has extended across the entire Museum of London group.



The strike was over our pay award for the last financial year ? it was 13 months late and less than half the rate of current RPI inflation. Ironically, our employer has the money to pay us more and wants to pay us more, but their hands have been tied by the government?s 2% pay cap.



The strike was a big success. We held a morning rally outside the main entrance of the Museum of London, based at the Barbican. Paul Noon, the Prospect General Secretary, and Graeme Henderson, a former Prospect President, both spoke at the rally and I read out the many messages of support ? including from BAJR users. The fact that BAJR closed down for the day cheered the strikers.



The strike closed at least ten MoLAS sites across the capital, including three sites where the entire archaeological workforce joined the union and went on strike. The few sites that did open did so with a much reduced workforce. A picket line was maintained at MoLAS HQ at Mortimer Wheeler House in Hackney where executive management contracted in extra (non-unionised) security to guard what was virtually an empty building.



After the rally, many union members went to the TUC ?Speak up for public services? event at Westminster. There we heard that there are hundreds of thousands of workers in the same boat as us, worried about housing costs, the cost of food and travel and also subject to below-inflation pay awards. The big unions are galvanising for further strike action later in the year against poverty pay ? it is a fight for us all.



Many thanks for your support!

Antony Francis, Chair of Museum of London branch of Prospect


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