4th February 2010, 03:34 PM
What I think Prospects' lack of visibility basically boils down to is lack of involvement by the majority of Archaeologists. Prospect is a huge union which represents a very diverse workforce. Our Branch only has 300 members...if it was bigger it may carry more clout in the list of priorities of the paid union officials.
Please...if you want the union to do more than it already is (which is still a fair bit in the grand scheme of things), then join and get involved...a few people working very hard will lead to the collapse of the Branch structure every time those individuals are burnt out and must leave...and it is quite soul destroying to listen to complaints about how the union isn't changing things, mainly by people who aren't assisting change in any way.
It is a particularly harsh economic environment in Archaeology at the moment, and Units are behaving rather underhandedly in an effort to stay afloat (like taking post ex projects from each other, and undercutting until its hardly worth taking jobs at all). Staff suffer as a result (poor welfare, poor H+S, poor wages etc etc etc).
An ACTIVE union membership is the only way I can see of past gains remaining and future improvement of working conditions in the field. Management of Units aren't going to volunteer better conditions and pay at the risk of compromising their competitiveness...its only if each Unit moves forward together that gains can be made. And the workforce are the only ones to force those changes.
Please...if you want the union to do more than it already is (which is still a fair bit in the grand scheme of things), then join and get involved...a few people working very hard will lead to the collapse of the Branch structure every time those individuals are burnt out and must leave...and it is quite soul destroying to listen to complaints about how the union isn't changing things, mainly by people who aren't assisting change in any way.
It is a particularly harsh economic environment in Archaeology at the moment, and Units are behaving rather underhandedly in an effort to stay afloat (like taking post ex projects from each other, and undercutting until its hardly worth taking jobs at all). Staff suffer as a result (poor welfare, poor H+S, poor wages etc etc etc).
An ACTIVE union membership is the only way I can see of past gains remaining and future improvement of working conditions in the field. Management of Units aren't going to volunteer better conditions and pay at the risk of compromising their competitiveness...its only if each Unit moves forward together that gains can be made. And the workforce are the only ones to force those changes.