'What has IFA ever done for us...?'

[Dinosaur]

Maybe part of the 'attitude' problem dates back to the early days of IFA when there was an alternative digger's organisation? (ACT)

[Jack]

Hmm, been looking at the IFA website and delving a little.............lots to look at. Seems they are ran by a council of democractically elected bods, who take advise from several committees. Has anyone been on any of these committees? Was wondering how the whole process works in practice?

[kevin wooldridge]

I have been a member of an IFA working party . We had meetings, we took advice, we consulted, we drafted a policy that was presented to the AGM and passed and is now part of the Code of Conduct. It was civilised, democratic and above board. Has to be said that I don't recognise much of the 'conspiracy' and collusion that sometimes enters discussion regarding the IFA.

Dinosaur - ACT was never proposed as an 'alternative' to the IFA. In fact much of our discussion within ACT back in 1985/86 was how we could increase our representation in the IFA. It was closer to the present day Diggers Forum in outlook and indeed many of the original attendees of the original ACT group meeting went on to serve (and still serve) the IFA in various ways..

[Dinosaur]

That was not at all the perception of any of the diggers I was having dealings with at the time, but then again I'm not aware that any of them were members of either, so if you've had experience of being associated with both I'll bow to your greater knowledge/wisdom :face-approve:

[Jack]

I have been a member of an IFA working party . We had meetings, we took advice, we consulted, we drafted a policy that was presented to the AGM and passed and is now part of the Code of Conduct. It was civilised, democratic and above board.

:face-approve:How did you become a member of this working party? What steps did you have to take? Was it the same as the commitees listed on their website, or are these different?

[monty]

hey are we losing the thread here.....exactly what has IFA/IfA ever done for the digging fraternity ???????????????????

[kevin wooldridge]

I don't think this actually losing the thread. It might be of interest to readers as to how the IFA works.....and I am happy to answer Jacks query.

How did I become a member of an IFA working party? I was invited or more properly co-opted.

Why was I invited? At the time two members of the IFA council worked for the same company as me. The working party was concerned with drafting part of the IFA Code of Conduct (Principal 5) that refers to working conditions, equal opportunites etc. I happened to be Secretary of the Prospect branch at the time which with over 300 members was the largest archaeological branch in the UK and I was a member of the IFA , so I guess it kinda fell into my lap.

Who else was on the working party? The then chair of the IFA. a member of the IFA council from Scotland, myself and two other council members. I was the only non-council member.

Did it take much time? We had three meetings all in my office on the same day as IFA council were meeting so the other members were in London anyway. My employer allowed me time to attend the meetings (about 2 hours or so) and I perhaps spent another day or so on ring around and compiling responses to the initial meeting and drafting the policy. No money exchanged hands and my company were happy to allow me time for the IFA business.

It was enjoyable and I think we did a reasonable job given the constraints that the IFA charter placed upon us. I am sometimes amused (especially on BAJR) when people quote the IFA Code of Conduct Principal 5 at me or to me (for good and bad reasons) cos' I was kinda responsible with the rest of the working party for drafting it!! Mea culpa.....

[BAJR]

Top answer... shlockh horror.. IfA may not be totally evil and corrupt ! And people can do things -- though it can take a blessed long time!

[Dinosaur]

Top answer... shlockh horror.. IfA may not be totally evil and corrupt ! And people can do things -- though it can take a blessed long time!

I think those who've contributed (including myself) to the yellow bar which is currently in the lead don't actually disagree with that! Just the 'could do better' that needs addressing....

- hope you are suitably horrified that my view on this subject appears to be 'mainstream'?

[GnomeKing]

For the IFA 'to do better' a clear knowledge of what it does and is capable of doing must be had...many of the complaints i have heard from the 'coal-face' tend to suggest that the workforce is insufficiently educated in the merits of collective action (based around unionisation) and that many of the issues they face daily can only be addressed in this 'bottom-up' way - the IFA is clearly a 'top-down' organisation that must focus on heritage policy,archaeological standards, accreditation and so on...and eventually high-level Dishonourable Discharge from the fold for individuals or organisations that consistently impact negatively the sustainability of the profession, or the progression of UK archaeology.

Complaints about the IFA are often in fact complaints arising from pay/conditions - they are commercial issues that require Workforce Participation to solve...

NOT - "what has the IFA done for me?"
BUT - "what am i prepared to do for myself, my colleagues, and the archaeological discipline?"