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+--- Thread: BAJR Federation (/showthread.php?tid=1269)
BAJR Federation - troll - 9th December 2008
Hi to all. Apologies first of all if I sound a bit disjointed, am currently doing 7 days a week and am knackered. Having read through all the posts on this thread only once, I openly admit that my grasp of all comments thus far will be rudimentary.
In my view, whilst there are many faces of BAJR as a forum and website, the primary function for me is a space where professionals can discuss the failings of our industry in the hope that somehow, we can collectively promote change. With so many contributors who are specialists in their own fields, BAJR can be seen as a grass-roots collective and surely a vital asset to the "grown ups" steering us into the 21st century. I remember the introduction of "quality circles" into industries in the late 80s where failings were chewed over openly by the people who grappled with problems on a daily basis. The results were spectacular in the sense that the specialists themselves tabled and designed viable solutions and the management found themselves with a more cost-effective range of solutions that enhanced productivity.I would argue that the majority of BAJR subscribers discuss issues on this website simply because the grown-ups/management embodied by "other" organisations are either unwilling to accept that there are failings to be addressed or worse, that they are concinced that the people identifying failings are not qualified to do so. This, I feel is where BAJR could/should play a vital role. Take my favourite topic for example-professional standards. I have banged on for years over this issue but it goes something like this... working to standards is voluntary, standards are not effectively policed and they are interpreted and compromised into submission day in and day out. In my little world, I get to see the reality at the end of a long paper trail of grand project designs and method statements and it seems to be the case that so long as the paperwork is in place and the fees are paid-who cares? There are plenty of industries out there where workers lobby for more pay, longer holidays and bigger bonuses. I would argue that the archaeological community is fairly unique (alongside the NHS) in that they actually want to see the end product improve. Contributors to BAJR are those people. To argue that any BAJR Federation would not be seen as an alternative to other organisations makes me a bit uncomfortable. I certainly wouldn`t see BAJR as an opposition to other organisations but, I would join a BAJR organisation over and above others simply because in my view, the others have patently failed to achieve any substantial objectives that as a frontline worker, I see as vital. Moreover, the other main organisations have been hugely successful in turning blind eyes and deaf ears to the workforce over decades. I like the idea of a lobby group with teeth. I certainly dislike the idea of one of those silly organisations where committees and officers with silly titles (Life of Brian stylee) have a nasty habit of becoming autocracies and legends in their own lunchbreaks. We have plenty of those and they have succeeded in maintaining the status quo-the worst possible outcome in my view and a very expensive mistake for the industry and the finite resource on the whole.
..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)
BAJR Federation - achingknees - 9th December 2008
Wow, a lot of text above this and not sure I have digested a big enough portion to fully appreciate all flavours. But...have to say from the first I met BAJR as a web phenomenon I sort of liked its anarcho-syndicalist hints (and the personal history of David, musico/politically at least, has been discussed before)! Not sure David would describe himself as such now but it still seems that there is a general anarchism in BAJR, and the seeming empowerment of the many workers, of several 'grades' can be described as a sort of syndicalism. Effectively an unofficial union.
I suppose the biggest difference would be our modern desire to enhance the wage structure rather than banish it as in the 19th century...
Oh yes, my point, think this alraedy acts as a good forum for the many flavours of workers. David, it's what you already do anyway, call it a federation if you will.
Back to the real world though, work on Monday coming up close, and just thinking about a previous post from BAJR about preparing for the worst in the short term. Given that situation, I have to think that this might not be the right time to be going down this road. Still, good banter and ideas.
BAJR Federation - kevin wooldridge - 9th December 2008
I think the Co-operative movement provides a good parallel for how BAJR (the jobs page/advertising/money making section) and BAJR Fed can be structured. I belong to the Co-op Bank (part of the Co-op organisation) and I also have a Divi card with my local Co-op supermarket (part of the Co-op organisation). The two are connected but for business purposes ring fenced and separate. They share an ethos, but day to day business is entirely independent. That, I believe, should be the relationship between BAJR Fed and BAJR the business.
As for BAJR Fed. I have a very clear vision of how this can work and here are some examples.
I start a small group called 'Archaeologists in Trade Unions'. The purpose of the group is to effect communication between archaeologists who happen to belong to or want to join a trade union. Could be Unison, could be Prospect who cares. I start this coven as a Facebook group and I am able to use Facebook to invite and vet members. I and my members decide if we want to exchange cash for membership or whatever. Having accrued a number of members, we decide that we would like to advertise the existence of our coven to a wider audience and approach BAJR Fed. Can we affiliate to BAJR Fed please. Here is a copy of our aims and those we see as potential members. Yes as a group we agree to follow the ethos of BAJR Fed etc etc. Can we make a donation? Are there BAJR Fed services we can use to get out message across. A link to a web-page maybe. Could BAJR Fed host a copy of our groups manifesto? Etc etc.
Or I take one of my existing enterprises, such as the OUTWAGE blog site and ask David is there any way that ths service could be improved if it were directly linked or more closely linked to BAJR Fed instead of a separate web-site. Again I provide a copy of the aims of OUTWAGE to David, discuss what I see as the audience for this group and agree to follow the ethos of BAJR Fed etc etc.
Or maybe the Diggers Forum having failed to get the IFA to provide it with a web page for approaching 3 years now come to BAJR Fed and say can't we do something together rather than carry on with something that is making no-one happy.
Of course as an affiiate to BAJR Fed I would expect a say in the direction of BAJR Fed, but that would be entirely separate to BAJR the business which I would be happy for the Connolly family to run as they wished. I don't see that BAJR Fed needs anymore organisation, a great deal greater finance or very much more work, than would be required to run affiliated groups anyway. And it would work.
Just think of BAJR Fed as potentially the FACEBOOK of UK archaeology....
BAJR Federation - BAJR Host - 9th December 2008
Lots to take on here... and aching... you know me too well..
but it may scare people.!Sadly.. the DF website - I made it only two weeks after it was asked for... it still sits... waiting for a descision from IfA - I have made it clear I may have set it up and paid for it.. but it was nothing to do with me.. I had no control over it.. it was a gift, freely given... no strings... it is still there, gathering dust.. unused... some 7 months later.. nuff said.!
I don't tink as Kevin said, BAJR Fed needs any real structure other than it has... but it does need members and a mandate - at the moment it just me saying what I feel (albeit tempered by what is said here.. ie.. I take on board what is said - but cannot be said to truely 'represent' anyone) BAJR Fed would be the will of the people who joined... I like the concept of the CooP and the Coop Bank ... there would have to be a connection --- but a separation..
This is not an IF... but a WHEN.. and that when is happening right now... I do think right now is the time... as a strong voice an established voice must be in place when the profession comes out the other side.. as it must, and will. Strike while the iron is hot... and temper it in the times to come
"Gie's a Job.."
Prof. 'Dolly' Parton
BAJR Federation - Dirty Dave Lincoln - 10th December 2008
So is it going to be a Federation, Cooperative,Association,Syndicate, Solidarity, Collective or even a Confederation?:face-huh:
Still a VERY good idea whatever the name will be.:face-approve::face-approve:
BAJR Federation - BAJR Host - 10th December 2008
An alliance or association of organisations or individuals which have freely joined together for a common purpose. It don't matter if you are left-wing or any other political specrum (though I draw the line at BNP!) The common support and purpose is the main criteria.
"Gie's a Job.."
Prof. 'Dolly' Parton
BAJR Federation - Dirty Dave Lincoln - 10th December 2008
I certainly agree that now is the time to get something up and running for when we come out of the recession,in fact with a lot of people out of work then the time could be spent productively doing just that-lets work out what needs to be done and do it (Hosty for Prime Minister
)How about the (B)ritish (A)rchaeological (P)arty?
BAJR Federation - RedEarth - 10th December 2008
Quote:quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host
An alliance or association of organisations or individuals which have freely joined together for a common purpose. It don't matter if you are left-wing or any other political specrum (though I draw the line at BNP!)
What about the SNP - I'm joking, I'm joking!
Instead of BAP could it be 'BAJR Union'? We can then be BUns rather than BAPs. (Insert regional variation here - sorry, that wasn't supposed to sound like an innuendo!)
BAJR Federation - BAJR Host - 11th December 2008
Will take into consideration ALL that has been said.. and will be said.. and over the weekend come up with a revised concept, based on what peoples thoughts are...
I may also make voting on issues a three strikes and you are out.. which might focus people on getting involved in major debates... or at least put forward a 5 second effort...
"Gie's a Job.."
Prof. 'Dolly' Parton
BAJR Federation - 1man1desk - 12th December 2008
If the federation operates by obtaining mandates to lobby on specific issues via polls on the issues, then you need a very robust system not only for voting but for devising the questions.
As any polititian or opinion pollster would tell you, you can skew the results of a poll quite dramatically by the wording of the question, or by the selection of multiple-choice answers offered to respondents. So, what we would need would include:
- a system for defining how issues are identified (who can put them forward, how much support do they need before a poll is set up, how is that support to be demonstrated);
- a system for devising the words of the question to be put forward, to ensure that it is clear, addresses the issue, and is neutral (not skewing the result by asking a loaded question).
For answering, you need to decide if it will be yes/no, yes/no/other (fill in your own answer), or multiple-choice.
If it is multiple-choice, you need to be very careful about the wording of the choices.
Once you have your results, how do you define what constitutes a 'mandate'? For instance, if there are 1000 registered members, but only 50 people vote on a particular issue, of which 26 say 'yes' and 24 say 'no' - the 'yes' camp have a small majority of the votes, but can you say they are representative of the BAJR Federation membership?
Overall, quite difficult to set up.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished