10th November 2009, 05:23 PM
A big pointer to one of the things that doesn't help the case is the number of people on this thread who have said something along the lines of:
A. I'd happily do it for free if I could
B. I do it for the love of the job.
I would have to say I was guilty as charged on both points but it's hard to imagine many site labourers, engineers, etc doing their job for the love of it.
So if every year a load of keen new people start out in archaeology it's no wonder the wages and conditions stay low - just keep taking the enthusiastic ones and wait until the jaded ones leave.
I would agree with the point that many people at management level started in the days when competative tendering in archaeology was just a consultants dream, and also seem to treat the lower level staff like student volunteers so why bother treating them well?!
Exploitation combined with those who seem only too willing to be exploited is a dangerous combination. We need to do more to look after our own.
A. I'd happily do it for free if I could
B. I do it for the love of the job.
I would have to say I was guilty as charged on both points but it's hard to imagine many site labourers, engineers, etc doing their job for the love of it.
So if every year a load of keen new people start out in archaeology it's no wonder the wages and conditions stay low - just keep taking the enthusiastic ones and wait until the jaded ones leave.
I would agree with the point that many people at management level started in the days when competative tendering in archaeology was just a consultants dream, and also seem to treat the lower level staff like student volunteers so why bother treating them well?!
Exploitation combined with those who seem only too willing to be exploited is a dangerous combination. We need to do more to look after our own.