21st August 2009, 07:15 AM
I am sure that competitive tendering has something to do with keeping the value of archaeological salaries down, but as for it being the root or even major cause, I am not convinced. As an archaeologist who remembers life before competitive tendering, I don't recall that life was a bed of roses then either.
My personal view is that competitive tendering if anything has actually raised the value of archaeological wages in real terms and there are some sectors of our industry who are actually doing quite nicely (and good luck to them..) One only has to think of the number of so called 'voluntary' jobs that existed in archaeology prior to 1990 to realise the progress that has been made in archaeological employment over the past 20 years, albeit slow progress.
My opinion has always been, for all the good intent in and amongst archaeologists, that wages will never rise significantly until archaeology is established on a firm legislative footing in the UK. That doesn't mean that any of us should give up the struggle in the meantime, but sometimes we do have to look at the forest and not just consider the trees...
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...
My personal view is that competitive tendering if anything has actually raised the value of archaeological wages in real terms and there are some sectors of our industry who are actually doing quite nicely (and good luck to them..) One only has to think of the number of so called 'voluntary' jobs that existed in archaeology prior to 1990 to realise the progress that has been made in archaeological employment over the past 20 years, albeit slow progress.
My opinion has always been, for all the good intent in and amongst archaeologists, that wages will never rise significantly until archaeology is established on a firm legislative footing in the UK. That doesn't mean that any of us should give up the struggle in the meantime, but sometimes we do have to look at the forest and not just consider the trees...
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...