23rd March 2006, 08:29 AM
The payment of a dignity wage; the introduction of holiday pay, sick pay and compassionate leave and pension rights have become a necessity because of years and years of abuse in matters of archaeological employment. The fact that many of these abuses could be righted for as little as a one-off payment of 13% shows that the situation is redeemable given a concerted will across the industry.
I accept every single point you have made about business competitiveness in archaeology etc, local and regional factors etc, business and management efficiency etc, but IMHO archaeology does need a great grand gesture (even if that does require dragging and screaming) to right many of the errors of the past. The 13% would after all only affect the worst of employers. For many the extra costs would be considerably less and for some (such as Mercenary's employer) probably nothing at all.
I accept every single point you have made about business competitiveness in archaeology etc, local and regional factors etc, business and management efficiency etc, but IMHO archaeology does need a great grand gesture (even if that does require dragging and screaming) to right many of the errors of the past. The 13% would after all only affect the worst of employers. For many the extra costs would be considerably less and for some (such as Mercenary's employer) probably nothing at all.