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+--- Thread: don't know whether to laugh or cry.... (/showthread.php?tid=2814)
don't know whether to laugh or cry.... - grindlecat - 10th March 2010
Right....is everybody paying attention?
This post will address a number of inter-related issues...
1. I've just ahd a call from a very nice guy at a midlands local authority unit offering me work. So good so far.
The pay was at the grade 2/3 level, so about ?300 approx [take home, after tax, about ?245 ish...]...very gratifying tom get an offer, after i cant recall how many applications...
BUT....they pay monthly, in arrears by a month, so effectively first pay in the bank after 8 weeks work...and when i asked about length of contract...
4 - 6 weeks, possibly a bit more. At least he was straight about that, as other units I've worked for in the last year back in the UK [after Ireland] have blatantly bullshitted about the amount of work available [ i wont name names but the units' name rhymes with '(EDIT)'.
And another BUT...when i asked about accommodation etc, he said, rather shamefacedly i thought, that the company had a 'house', with rooms at ?50 a week [taken direct from wages...]...
so, in effect, i could work for them, if i was happy not to get paid for 8 weeks for a start, and to loose ?50 a week, to pay THEM to work for them!
I actually almost felt sorry for him..he was direct and honest and clear with me, which as i say, is a rarity with companies in this country, in my experience and other posters, who may have followed what i write here, will realize how unusual it is for me to feel sympathy for any employers...
now, that means that at a take home pay of ?250 a week [minus another ?50], for possibly less than 6 weeks work. So i could be unemployed again before i even saw my first months wages...and i'd be homeless again if i moved for that job, as the accom. goes with the job...
so i'd need to keep my rent up on the place i have here in the North East...
he was a nice guy, as i say, and when i asked him how he thought i could afford to do that, he just said he was sorry [but he damn well knew what i meant] and that they'd had over 150 applications for that...
so...my point...
it doesn't matter what all this Union posturing and pontificating we do...the situation is shxx and will get worse, as i've said elsewhere.
Even if you're self employed, it'd still be really hard to do this...if you still live at 'home' and dont have to worry about keeping a home elsewhere running, it would still be really hard to do this.
So, i turned it down. He said they wanted people with my experience...so what?
When engineering companies pay more [and accom. ] for their basic labourers, let alone the skilled chippies, engineers, cable layers and pipe layers they employ, why should we be treated differently.
We are skilled, highly educated workers, yet get this shit all the time.
2. Now, some of you have commented on 'my attitude', in other threads....if you think my attitude is unreasonable, please explain why!
3. If you still live at home, as i say, then maybe this is ok for you, but, as a middle aged man, with a huge range of experience, a Masters degree and all that, supervisor and PO experience, why should i put up with this. Like i say, he was ok, and he knew what i was getting at with my questions.
4. I've put a bit more up on my profile, as i notice a few of you have looked at that...Drunky, Troll, Misty and 'amiable'....however, i tell you now...i will accept any kind of abuse on this Forum, but if you leave me any shxx on my Profile, please don't'(EDIT)'!
5. IT DOESNT MATTER what Union any of us join now. Even if the whole archaeology profession joined up it still won't make any difference. Archaeology is not a priority for any local council and private units DON'T GIVE A FLYING XXXX about thier field workers.
6. There was a comment about 'profits' on another thread...i've seen the cars company bosses drive and i see how they live, so don't tell me there's no profit being made! If these clowns that run units cant break even [sob], then maybe they should look at their own pay and perks before they start hitting us, as field workers.
7. Now, im sitting here holding me head in me hands and almost in tears...what the xxxx has happened to this profession? We're fxxxx and it will get worse!
8. I can make more doing spuds on the farm next door than i can in a profession i used to love...and not feel bitter and pissed off about it....
so i'll be one of the highest qualified farm albourers in the country...
and if anybody wants to make a comment about my 'attitude', '(EDIT)'
weeping now...xxxx this job!
don't know whether to laugh or cry.... - trowelmonkey - 10th March 2010
You'll get no stick for an attitude problem from me. I'm in the same boat. Presently, I can only accept work in places where I have friends who'll sub me including the fare to get there. In three months I've gone from having a surplus to get me to the next job, sink into some (what's the point CPD) and pay off some debts to getting threats to having my power disconnected.
(I'll vent some spleen on the local authority which not only made me sit a "voice stress detector" test, but has still not process my housing benefit claim after three months some other time.)
Don't get me wrong, I really love my job, but how long is it sustainable for? I'm not young anymore and this is embarrassing. Had I a pound for ever job I've been turned down for for either (a) "employment periods of insufficient length to show commitment to a company," or (b) "being over-qualified for the appointment," I could start my own business.
You have my sincerest commiserations.
don't know whether to laugh or cry.... - grindlecat - 10th March 2010
word up trowel...'power will come through the power of a gun' Mao Tse Tung! thanks x
don't know whether to laugh or cry.... - grindlecat - 10th March 2010
ooops mis quote...'change will come thro the power of a gun'....thanks again x
don't know whether to laugh or cry.... - grindlecat - 10th March 2010
YouTube - Mao Tse Tung Alabama 3 Ireland China
[video=youtube;EMRANk8t0rE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMRANk8t0rE[/video]
don't know whether to laugh or cry.... - BAJR - 10th March 2010
I have left this up with minor edits.. because it is what is happening... at teh Nottingham meeting the discussion turned to the real crisis happening right now... So do we set up an committee to talk? Do we create a sub working party? NO... we organise and together try to save the shambles that is happening...
I would say that driving a good car is not good enough to say, hey... you are doing well. Pay is crap from top to bottom... I know the pay of many top level .. and its crap for the stress the job provides... IF field staff were on 18500k + accomodation, travel and subs, the supervisor should be on 23k the PO of 30 then the Project Manager should be 45k
I always thought to myself, why bother take on teh extra stress, the extra pressure and paperwork for a few extra quid a week... not worth it... I have sofa surfed and eaten food off plates in cafes when people left... and been sickened when I was told by older profs that it was harder in their day... sleeping on the portacabin floor using the days papers as a bed... yup been there, done it... and won't say... "well it did me no harm".. what it did do was make me want to make a difference... welcome to BAJR.
Now I am one person... ONE. and gave the last ten years to this... IF I had support... real support... where people would not work for shitpence ha'penny would not accept poor conditions... then we would not be here now... but there is always someone willing to take the job. A vicious circle... company A can't bid less than company B... and company B knows company A will try to beat them on cost... etc etc... nobody wins in the end... and the resources for archaeology? less and less... the motivation of the workforce? less and less?
Break out the cycle... can't do it alone... so will the anger be dissapated in a new round of diggers coming in? of old lags geting teh hell out? never ending story of woe... because nobody stood up...
Well... I stand up and others do... hells teeth... its worth a try.
don't know whether to laugh or cry.... - grindlecat - 10th March 2010
still crying..just on the cheap Aldis red wine....fxxx this man! what can we do?...r[edit]...FIGHT bACK...thanks for leaving it up...ok for editing....typing thro tears...
don't know whether to laugh or cry.... - grindlecat - 10th March 2010
jesus..that was quick..subtle editing there Hostie....sorry...just get so angry....
don't know whether to laugh or cry.... - Unitof1 - 10th March 2010
Quote:i know what you mean, there must be a different way
IT DOESNT MATTER what Union any of us join now. Even if the whole archaeology profession joined up it still won't make any difference.
don't know whether to laugh or cry.... - grindlecat - 10th March 2010
yeah right...find your kalishnikov...YouTube - Luke Kelly The Auld Triangle
YouTube - Mattafix - Big City Life
YouTube - Alabama 3 'SOULJAH'
fight the power....
drunk on cheap wine and crying for freedom! bollox to it all, eh?