IFA membership

[1man1desk]

quote:ppg 16 mandates the IFA with maintaining standards.It`s not happening.

- posted by Troll

No no no. PPG16 is guidance to local authorities, and if it mandates anyone with maintaining standards it is the curators. Any lack of action in relation to PPG16, and any compromises, lie with the curators and the local authorities.

IFA is not an official body. It has no role or powers at all in PPG16, and the only mandate it has from anyone is from its members.

1man1desk

to let, fully furnished

[1man1desk]

Mercenary,

Yes, the IFA do do quite a lot more now than when they started. Over the years, they have steadily introduced new initiatives, many of them long-term ongoing commitments. Just to give some examples -

- they have published technical and legal guidance papers that could not have got published elsewhere;

- they developed, published and revised Standards and Guidance documents - no one else has even tried (where are you, ALGAO?);

- they published the first minimum wage guidelines, which did result in improvements (wages may be low now, but not as bad as they used to be);

- they developed the first, and so far only, system for the registration and regulation of archaeological organisations;

- recently, they co-operated with the Institute of Civil Engineers to develop a standard contract for archaeological investigations that actually worked, now published by the ICE.

Just a few examples from many. Not all of these initiatives are as effective as we might hope - but then, no one else is even trying. I don't count ranting on a website as trying.

1man1desk

to let, fully furnished

[1man1desk]

quote:My personal standards are far and away higher than IFA guidlines

- posted by Mercenary

In what respects? Can you tell me what, specifically, should be in the standards that are not but which you do as standard?

1man1desk

to let, fully furnished

[BAJR Host]

I would guess that the difference is between guidelines and the visible enforcement

the recommendation of pay scales and the enactment of these pay levels. (such as refusing to include jobs on the JIS that fall below minimum levels (as BAJR does))

It is good to publish minimum standards, but by making minimum standards it is providing the contract cop out of saying "we have adhered to the minimum requirements." rather than standards which are above these minimum... to do 'more' is to jeopardise the tender.
:face-confused:

The need for the IFA to publicise its work out with the IFA membership, in order to ?show? those that are not members what is happening, why it is worthwhile joining, what it is doing. The list you provided is a simple and worthwhile course.. as is a section on BAJR where the IFA can announce what is going on ? for all to see.

The sticky issue of membership fees as well. Much confusion there? and perhaps a simple statement with examples of how much it would cost and what you get for your cash (remembering that most diggers make a lot less than the 13458 per year ? even if the weekly rate is equivalent) :face-confused:

The IFA should and could be a professional body for all archaeologists (hence my suggestion that I join) but communication is paramount.

Ps?. Although people may rant on this forum (though now under the AUP policy!) BAJR always does positive action?. Whether it is the list of 16 guidance documents (new one on Battlefields coming in a week) or the enforcement of pay levels and the quiet resolutions of disputes (usually comes down to a lack of communication). So rants are turned into positive action.



Another day another WSI?

[1man1desk]

Ok, on your specific points:

- pay scales: I would agree that JIS shouldn't accept adverts that don't comply - but at least they got the ball rolling by setting scales in the first place.

- publishing minimum standards: well, I don't think the IFA call them 'minimum' standards. However, what else can you publish? Any standard you publish becomes a 'minimum', no matter how high you set the bar. The alternative is not to define standards at all, and then how do you enforce (or even encourage) good practice?

- I think that an IFA section on BAJR would be a good idea. However, BAJR is basically a website - info about the IFA's activities is already available on their own website, all you have to do is look; it's no harder than looking on BAJR.

- membership fees - well, all of that info is also available on the IFA website. The fees are graduated by income, rather than grade of membership, to take account of low pay in the profession. Don't know why it is a 'sticky issue' - how else is the IFA to be funded if not by subscription? It isn't free to run you know!

On ranting - I didn't mean you, because you always look for positive solutions to problems (whether or not I agree with them). Not everyone posting on BAJR is so positive in their outlook.

I have to say that the creation and development of BAJR over the last few years is probably the most positive thing that I have seen happen in the profession since ... the creation of the IFA! Hence my enthusiasm for both.

1man1desk

to let, fully furnished

[troll]

1man1desk-greetings, hope you are well.
I must be reading the wrong ppg16 then.My copy clearly states that the IFA are responsible for maintaining standards.
The IFA first set wage levels-granted.But what they did in essence was to undervalue archaeologists at the very outset.To mirror the sentiments of Mercenary-I`m not interested in joining an organisation that validates those who bring the profession into disrepute through poor behaviour and crass incompetence.On this issue Mr Hosty, after sending your good self details relating to a certain comment I made about a certain firm recently, I`m still waiting for a response! The IFA certainly don`t have a transparent and coherent mechanism in place for the chastisement of muppetry...would be good to see one hereabouts?

[sniper]

unsurprisingly, I would also like to see a response about said comments and letter. I may be back posting, but I haven't forgotten

++ i spend my days rummaging around in dead people ++

[mercenary]

quote:In what respects? Can you tell me what, specifically, should be in the standards that are not but which you do as standard?

After re-reading the guidelines I find it very difficult to identify any specifics in relation to field techniques. There's plenty of vagueness about techniques being appropriate to the type of site, but few specifics.

So, in answer to your question, I'd like to see some appropriate field techniques listed for types of site. What is acceptable and what is not.

Far too often I've seen inappropriate techniques employed to save time and money, and this is where I feel I do far more than the minimum. Likewise, I frequently do more than the minimum required by briefs set by curators and/or consultants, all of which are informed by the IFA guidelines.

As David says, it's largely the lack of enforcement that frustrates. This though is not a problem of the IFA alone.

As for ranting on websites, I do think this helps. I've seen more developments come from BAJR discussion than anywhere else. Hell, there's excavator wages advertised over ?16000 pa on the site as we speak! I hope some of my postings help inform curators, consultants, specialists, or new fieldworkers in the same way I am learning from them.

The ranting is entirely due to the passion I still feel for my job. If I believe something, I'm going to say it as strongly as I can. I'm not in the diplomacy business, although I respect that others have to be. As far as negativity is concerned; if I wasn't optimistic about the future of the profession, and what BAJR is achieving, I wouldn't bother ranting. I'd just like a few things to change, that's all.

[BAJR Host]

Good posts everyone.... jsut think what the IFA and BAJR could do together... and if I become a MIFA ... then I could also request changes from the 'inside' BAJR has now grown beyond just jobs... it does deal with lots of other issues. Quesries come in every week... how to start, where to go, what can I do in xxx situation... I don't think whats happening on this site is right can you help... etc.

I would like to see the IFA as THE professional body of archaeolgists... not just one of.

Perhaps one thing that the IFA could do to start is enforce payscales on the JIS. It worked for me...

Another day another WSI?

[Venutius]

If you became a member of IFA, would that not mean you could no longer speak out in public about anything other than general issues?

Save the Thornborough Henge Complex - http://www.timewatch.org