PROSPECT....where are you?

[BAJR Host]

Thats what people wanna see...

Positives ... :face-approve:

[chiz]

Found it: from the previous Pay and conditions thread:

Archaeologists seem to want it all without putting anything in. Bleating that they can't afford a couple of quid a week, complaining about the union, about everyone, except themselves.

Having worked in unionised, and non-unionised units I have seen the differences a union make in a quiet way on a day to day basis. Joining a union is not just about getting a decent pay rise, and anyone who thinks that is the be all and end all of a union is naive. Unions provide a mechanism for all the members to stand together and protect each other against unreasonable actions by the employer. If you are an individual and have a problem at work you are totally reliant on your employer -and they could well be the problem. With a union you have a network of other members -and professional back-up- to help and support you. Yes it extends to pay, but just as importantly it covers site conditions, health and safety concerns, extra equipment if you have a disability, workstation assessements, getting all your legal allowances for flexi-working if you have kids, getting decent CPD opportunities, dealing with discrimination, legal advice on workplace matters, a whole host of issues that are otherwise left to the Boss or HR. If you trust them to decide then fine. But I'd rather have a seat on the table through my union. If the shit hits the fan then the union will back you up. It can't stop you getting sacked, but it will do its best to make the process fair and transparent, and can often reduce the numbers getting the chop. I've seen first hand what a union can and will do to support a member in trouble, and it makes a big difference. Even when you lose.

And who is this union? It is me, it is you, its the person sitting next to you in the sitehut, or writing the desk top in the office. The union (whichever you choose) is its members and is only as strong as its members make it. The union is not something 'over there', that can be called on when times are tough, and ignored or slated when things are ok. It is us. It is staffed by volunteer reps, voted for by members -yes there is a professional staff in head office, but the real work is done day in day out by members. And they need your support. So when you blame the union for being weak, what did you do to make it stronger?

There are quite a few people out there who are struggling to get pay increased and conditions improved, here, in the Ifa, even heads of ROs. Unfortunately it often seems that they are generally unsupported by the mass of archaeologists. The reason why IfA pay minima were not scrapped a few weeks ago is because the three members of the Digger's Forum on Council (with other support) stood firm and argued against it. These people deserve your support, they don't get paid, they don't even get thanked most of the time, and it doesn't exactly help your career prospects to stand up and be counted like that. You have been given the opportunity to make a difference, and for many of you, you avoided the decision.

Archaeologists need to get a grip on themselves and recognise that they are failing themselves and their profession. Don't blame everyone else, look to what you can do. Join a Union, support Diggers' Forum, support David, put your time (and a little bit of money) where you mouth is.

[BAJR]

And there you have it.... in a succinct nutshell... What will you do....? Will you complain quietly or join the union? will you keep your extra 2 pints a month or put it where it means something... no point joining when you need them... you join when you don't...

Can we have some people to spread the word... BAJR Fed is your mouthpiece.. your point of contact... the Union and the Diggers Forum is your protection.

Listen to Chiz....

[chiz]

Steady on now dear chap!

The DF is not your 'protection', but it does provide a voice within the IfA for those who work in the field. Over the past few years DF members (not me) have been on the Ifa council and done what they can for the betterment of archaeology in Britain. Because let's face it, a skilled, motivated and properly rewarded workforce is the single greatest asset any unit can have, and is a clear way that standards can be improved. What the DF can acheive is, however, down to its membership. The same goes for the union

As with life, you get out as you put in; as Jimmy Pursey said:

'if the kids are united, then we'll never be divided'

but then he also wrote:

'I've been drinking too many pints of lager, I've been getting into to many bleedin' fights, I came home with sick all down me trousers, I've got lovebites all around me neck, Its a sunday morning nightmare....'

You pays yer money, you takes yer choice......

[BAJR]

Protection is in the numbers you talk of... currently the DF stands at some few score of people... and therefore have little mandate... but do still try to protect the rights from being eroded of the field archaeologist. this is the protection I write about, it the the protection that BAJR offers, the protection that the Union offers, the protection that the DF provides... the voice, backed up by members. A voice to be heard in the right places, and listened to. Individuals often get the brush off. Groups are harder to ignore.

IF people want protection it is there for the taking... however, it should be more than just protection, more positives as well.!

[kevin wooldridge]

Also, if you're PAYE, you could can get tax relief on union subs.....

Hi Oxbeast. I don't disagree with anything you have written, but just to clarify one point. You can only get tax relief on that part of a union subscription that goes towards 'death benefit' or similar mutuality schemes, not on the majority of your union membership.

[BAJR Host]

So... PROSPECT.... where are you... Helloooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Anyone there. I was told that Dave Allen would be contacted to provide some new info about what is happening.

I hope it gets here by the end of the month. :face-huh:

[BWA]

Hi all, the BWA have just written to Prospect requesting help/advice re. the IfA's recognition that a disproportionate number of women are leaving the field, directing them to the results of our 2008 survey which brought certain issues to the fore (gendered parenting legislation, genderd promotion, on-site sexism etc.). To date, we haven't been too impressed with Prospect's equality work, but it's early days for us and we've seen a couple of things recently which might suggest some stirring, fingers crossed.

If groups like BAJR and BWA make Prospect more visible/accessible to members, then hopefully it will gain critical mass. This maybe be an unduly naive outlook, but it's certainly worth exploring until there's solid evidence to the contrary! We'll let you know here when we get a response.

[Gilraen]

I am slightly humbled by Chiz's post.

However, the reason I - and most archaeologists - would join a union is if the shit hit the fan. Not because 'they' have any solution to make our lives 'less miserable' as a profession.

[BAJR Host]

If groups like BAJR and BWA make Prospect more visible/accessible to members, then hopefully it will gain critical mass. This maybe be an unduly naive outlook, but it's certainly worth exploring until there's solid evidence to the contrary! We'll let you know here when we get a response.

Exactly... if they want people to join... and are doing lots of great work... then visible might help.. replying might help... and being more active in the public arena might help.

hey they might be great... but I can't see it?

As Gilrean says.. we need something that is there when the shit hits...