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All the basics seem to be set out adequately and for the stage we're at it's worth working from the general to the specific. I had an interesting conversation down the pub the other night, about unionisation and discovered that a guy who DJ's occassionally is a UCATT (Union of construction, allied trades and technicians) representative. The up shot of this is that the possibility of the aforementioned union being able to represent archaeologists on large construction projects. I need to talk to the guy in more detail but I can see no reason why archaeologists should not be represented by UCATT . On a recent job which I worked on they had a very visible presence through news letters being left in cabins. They seem to be very proactive for their membership. Worth taking into consideration as they are sizeable union with membership of approximately of 120000, all of whom generally work in the same work environment as archaeologists!:face-approve:
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that would be good. how are peoole talking about the charter... any disagreement with the principal
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trowelfodder Wrote:Does the unit you work for have any union representation already? If yes prob best to go for that but if no or on short contract is worth scrolling through the old union posting discussions on bajr and the different websites and seeing which appeals the most. Bajr needs to be neutral and in essence as all are working together it wont make a difference as long as you join one
Thanks for that Trowelfodder :face-approve:
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So you can still afford to go down the pub Geli, jammy sod!
I agree with you though that the charter looks to be addressing all the sore points in archaeology, apart from the fact I aint got a job in it any more.
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No one here seems to be particularly interested in unions, is the enthusiasm for unionisation only strong in units that treat their workforce in a c**p manner? :face-thinks:
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I'm aware of the theory....
'listen to our fair demands and negotiate better pay/conditions etc. or we walk out...'
Hi
Question, how many archaeologist strikes have you ever seen? Not many, if any, would be my guess.
Strangely, I have experience of a country where archaeologists do go on strike, have done so regularly over the past 20 years. The strikes last a day, or two at most. They are days of action against goverment policy, not arm-wrestling with management. They are not designed to compromise the employer organisation. But then,t here, the employers are on strike too...The reason they strike has always been the same, a long passionate struggle for the maintenance of a state archaeological service in the belief that this is the only way to ensure conservation of the national heritage. I dont believe in twenty years they have once been on strike about pay and conditions.
However, through a high degree of union representation at work, they have been able to negotiate realistic professional pay scales, travel allowances, accommodation grants, in-hours travel times, limitations on away from home working. Archaeologists - site assistants - own houses and cars, dont have to live out of a rucksack, or with the parents, have long-term contracts - once they have passed the magic threshold and got the magic job - can still afford to be site assistants at 40 or more...
What unions are, what they do, is, I agree with a previous contributor, something that got lost in the process in the UK. Its not all about confrontation and stand-offs, its about representation, dialogue, articulation, defense of the law...and ultimately, about becoming collaborators in the future of our profession not simply its recipients, as is too often the case, a fact that deeply colours - our employer's attitude to us, our experience of our work, and our attitude towards the archaeology we practise.
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as you will be aware.. i am quite far away, so can"t give long answers.... but would like to thank overseas for saying it all. unions does not equate to confrontation... unions are not just needed for crp workplaces... it is your voice.... and helps everyone.
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Ah, am seeing a larger picture now...from peoples contributions here and the employmewnt law and prospects website. Cheers.
But I'm still not sure of how a union could change the face of archaeology on a grand scale (cf. pay and conditions) due to the situation of competetive tendering.
Am I understanding correctly (with respect to this issue of pay) that a union would negotiate with an employer on behalf of the member? So how about the case where a company of say 20 staff has one member of a union. This member is unhappy with his pay, would the union be obliged to negotiate on that single members behalf? Do unions have those kind of resources to cater for every individual...
Or is it a case of larger volumes of people and larger companies? i.e. the majority of archaeologists have to be in a union before anything is likely to happen (on the issue of pay and conditions)
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Jack Wrote:.....So how about the case where a company of say 20 staff has one member of a union. This member is unhappy with his pay, would the union be obliged to negotiate on that single members behalf?.....
Sounds like a member out on his a**e at the end of his contract? :face-stir:
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Please try and keep this thread serious... plenty of place for humour elsewhere...
In reply to Jack..
Quote:the majority of archaeologists have to be in a union before anything is likely to happen
Which brings us back to it again... yes people do have to join in a majority number. However, once again, we are heading off in the wrong direction for what a union does... it is not just about pay and conditions... it is more than that. YEs it would be good to have a method for which employers could discuss with unions about the issues. At the moment... BAJR is all there is... and I would dearly like not to. I sent out over 250 consultation documents... and as the most recent adverts have shown, the 2% rise has been accepted. Its not about rises, or minimum.. its about keeping the momentumn going until we can have a proper negotiation about the fabled IfA Benchmarking
I am in the union, but don't need to worry about pay and conditions, as I set my own, being a self employed person... I tell clients or companies how much I charge and what I will do... plus any expenses I will charge. However I do feel safer with the power of the union to support me should I need it, plus all the other benefits. I am glad that Jack took the time to learn about unions... hopefully, this will show that unions are more than striking and confrontation... its about support and help.
Its not much, and it will help archaeology as a whole... the companies, the archaeologists, the training (we are already ready to launch) the standards, this needs a cooperative effort... and is basicly a last chance... if field staff don't get invovled now, they will have given away the right to whinge. Don't like the way things are.... get invoveld. We are having another meeting in June... and I want to see more comment on teh charter....
There are only three main sections... so any comment.... :face-thinks:
