IfA - A Chartered Institute

[Oxbeast]

why are you letting your employer get away with it?

Oh, I see, it's my fault. Will chartering prevent it from being my fault? If I tell the IfA that my employer no longer provides CPD, they will give me the option of listing my bed time reading on a form, and charge me for the privilige. A comittment to CPD exists now, but is meaningless. Why would this change?

Yes, I am certainly at risk of losing my job, but only in a medium-long term sort of way. I'll ask you again, what are these employment benefits that you mention?

[barkingdigger]

This is an interesting thread - I wonder if the same debate occurred at the birth of the RIBA, RICS, etc? Chartered Institutions all affect who can and can't work in their professions, and are probably controlled by the top 3% of managers/directors who run the bigger firms (just like in IFA), but for better or worse folks wanting to get on in those professions wind up trying to get in because it opens doors regardless of how much they "like" the institution! If IFA gets itself chartered and eventually gets to influence employment as predicted, the simple choice for most diggers will be to join or to be excluded. I'm sure it will remain a controversial organisation, with internal fights and calls for it to serve the common digger better, but show me any big institution without these ongoing power-struggle problems. Of course, part of the reason the top 3% run the show is because many of the 97% are only in it to get the necessary letters after their name, and are not necessarily keen to raise their voices...

The IFA cannot now police its own policies because it has no real authority. Getting chartered status would be a step on the road to the necessary authority, so I wouldn't expect to see any "teeth" growing until the whole chartered business bedded in. I fully expect that achieving member status will get tougher too, as the institution matures. (But aren't we already well past the much-quoted era of the "self-certified MIFA"? I thought the remnant who wouldn't provide evidence got relegated to Honourary status.)

[Dinosaur]

you may well be getting undercut by ro's but i bet it is not because they pay less than your mob

Well they're cutting corners somewhere! Or maybe we're spending too much on CPD, training, welfare, accomm, travel etc? (possibly why people like working here)

[kevin wooldridge]

Oh, I see, it's my fault. Will chartering prevent it from being my fault? If I tell the IfA that my employer no longer provides CPD, they will give me the option of listing my bed time reading on a form, and charge me for the privilige. A comittment to CPD exists now, but is meaningless. Why would this change? Yes, I am certainly at risk of losing my job, but only in a medium-long term sort of way. I'll ask you again, what are these employment benefits that you mention?

If your employer is an RAO and is failing in its duty to provide the facilities such as CPD required by RAO status you should in the first instance ask your employer why that is. If they continue to fail to undertake their committment, you have the right to complain to the IfA. You don't have to be a member to do so...and there is no charge. (Not quite sure where you got that idea from!!). It seems that the resolution of this matter is entirely in your and your colleagues hands, if you care enough to do something about it.

[Oxbeast]

and there is no charge. (Not quite sure where you got that idea from

I mean that they would try to get me to join.

It seems that the resolution of this matter is entirely in your and your colleagues hands, if you care enough to do something about it.

Seeing as I'm virtually the only minion left, it would be just me versus lots of managers, arguing about whether being forbidden from going to conferences that I was previously allowed to go on is compensated for by being sent a link for a teach-yourself-computing website. Frankly I'm just too cynical and fed up with archaeology to want to tackle that one. I'm off to do my Open University course now and try to find a better career. So yes, you could say that I don't care enough to do anything about it.

[CARTOON REALITY]

I think Kevin represents 'Ideal culture' and Oxbeast represents 'Actual Culture.'

Both are correct in their own way but the example of what happened at Cherrywood Crannog reminds me of what happens to the little people when they stand up for what's right.

[P Prentice]

the example of what happened at Cherrywood Crannog reminds me of what happens to the little people when they stand up for what's right.

and thats why the little people should join together in a chartered ifa

[kevin wooldridge]

I think Kevin represents 'Ideal culture' and Oxbeast represents 'Actual Culture.' Both are correct in their own way but the example of what happened at Cherrywood Crannog reminds me of what happens to the little people when they stand up for what's right.

I don't think that is entirely accurate. What I said previously, was that the power to resolve a shit situation lay in the hands of Oxbeast and his colleagues....for reasons they have made clear Oxbeast is reluctant to follow that route...thats OK.

But applying that generalisation to the IfA, if people don't like the situation they have the power to change it. That has been the case for the past 30 years. Some people (Diggers Forum predominantly!!) are in there and fighting, other people are outside and following their own path. I think one group has the right to be critical of the IfA.....

[Wax]

I would really like to see some examples of where the IFA have stood up for individuals against employers. No one needs to name names but do lets have some examples spelled out for us it would really help if people could quote real situations. We can all think of examples of ROs who tread very thin lines. I admit the diggers forum are doing a good job but I want to see concrete evidence of the IFA standing up for the principals it is preaching.

If they want charted status then surely there must be lots of good examples they can tell us about?

[kevin wooldridge]

I would really like to see some examples of where the IFA have stood up for individuals against employers.... If they want charted status then surely there must be lots of good examples they can tell us about?

You seem to be under the impression that the IfA is a trade union. It isn't....but I can give you plenty of examples of where trade unions have stood up against archaeological employers!!