10th April 2006, 01:50 PM
The tone of this debate seems to imply that absolutely everyone that wants to go should be able to, and shouldn't be out of pocket. That just doesn't reflect reality in any profession. I haven't been for several years, and I'm not going this year even though it is in my home town. I do encourage members of my team to go, and the company pays.
For a start, cost considerations aside, all workers will find that there are times that they or their employers just can't afford the time to go, and that is perfectly fair. That particular aspect does hit temporary contract staff hardest - very hard for a company that has taken someone on for, say, a 4-week contract to wave bye-bye for 25% of their period of employment. As long as archaeologists work on those sorts of contracts, that will be a fact of life. Notwithstanding that, I used to be able to go more often when I worked on site than I can now that I am in consultancy.
Secondly, the more subsidy for low-paid members, the higher the fees for everyone else. The higher the fees, the larger the proportion of people needing subsidy, and so on ad infinitum. The whole thing (venues, accommodation, food, etc) has to be paid for somehow you know.
Finally, on one of Troll's particular points, why should non-members (who have not paid a subscription) get any subsidy, no matter how poor? It is the IFA's conference after all, and any subsidy would come out of the subscriptions paid by other individuals. I wouldn't expect IEMA to subsidise my (hypothetical) attendance at their conference, even though I do relevant work, while I am not a member.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
For a start, cost considerations aside, all workers will find that there are times that they or their employers just can't afford the time to go, and that is perfectly fair. That particular aspect does hit temporary contract staff hardest - very hard for a company that has taken someone on for, say, a 4-week contract to wave bye-bye for 25% of their period of employment. As long as archaeologists work on those sorts of contracts, that will be a fact of life. Notwithstanding that, I used to be able to go more often when I worked on site than I can now that I am in consultancy.
Secondly, the more subsidy for low-paid members, the higher the fees for everyone else. The higher the fees, the larger the proportion of people needing subsidy, and so on ad infinitum. The whole thing (venues, accommodation, food, etc) has to be paid for somehow you know.
Finally, on one of Troll's particular points, why should non-members (who have not paid a subscription) get any subsidy, no matter how poor? It is the IFA's conference after all, and any subsidy would come out of the subscriptions paid by other individuals. I wouldn't expect IEMA to subsidise my (hypothetical) attendance at their conference, even though I do relevant work, while I am not a member.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished