10th November 2009, 06:54 PM
All of you contract archaeologists, try asking your line manager/director of unit, etc. how much they charge the client per digger (ie., what is the day rate per site assistant). Do any of you know how much you are 'charged out' for? How much of that actually goes to you? Why the hell should diggers get a pay cut? What they should get is a bugger cut of the huge day rate charged by their unit to the client. I suspect most of you working for the bigger units will be costing the client upwards of ?250/day! How much of that are you getting? I was a contract archaeologist for many years, getting a measly ?60/day (a lot less in 'the old days')and being charged out at around ?180-?200/day. I'm now freelance, and me and many of my freelance friends would never go back to contract work because of the blatant exploitation. How can units justify giving such a small cut to the individual who earns them their money?