7th January 2010, 02:12 PM
Found it: from the previous Pay and conditions thread:
Archaeologists seem to want it all without putting anything in. Bleating that they can't afford a couple of quid a week, complaining about the union, about everyone, except themselves.
Having worked in unionised, and non-unionised units I have seen the differences a union make in a quiet way on a day to day basis. Joining a union is not just about getting a decent pay rise, and anyone who thinks that is the be all and end all of a union is naive. Unions provide a mechanism for all the members to stand together and protect each other against unreasonable actions by the employer. If you are an individual and have a problem at work you are totally reliant on your employer -and they could well be the problem. With a union you have a network of other members -and professional back-up- to help and support you. Yes it extends to pay, but just as importantly it covers site conditions, health and safety concerns, extra equipment if you have a disability, workstation assessements, getting all your legal allowances for flexi-working if you have kids, getting decent CPD opportunities, dealing with discrimination, legal advice on workplace matters, a whole host of issues that are otherwise left to the Boss or HR. If you trust them to decide then fine. But I'd rather have a seat on the table through my union. If the shit hits the fan then the union will back you up. It can't stop you getting sacked, but it will do its best to make the process fair and transparent, and can often reduce the numbers getting the chop. I've seen first hand what a union can and will do to support a member in trouble, and it makes a big difference. Even when you lose.
And who is this union? It is me, it is you, its the person sitting next to you in the sitehut, or writing the desk top in the office. The union (whichever you choose) is its members and is only as strong as its members make it. The union is not something 'over there', that can be called on when times are tough, and ignored or slated when things are ok. It is us. It is staffed by volunteer reps, voted for by members -yes there is a professional staff in head office, but the real work is done day in day out by members. And they need your support. So when you blame the union for being weak, what did you do to make it stronger?
There are quite a few people out there who are struggling to get pay increased and conditions improved, here, in the Ifa, even heads of ROs. Unfortunately it often seems that they are generally unsupported by the mass of archaeologists. The reason why IfA pay minima were not scrapped a few weeks ago is because the three members of the Digger's Forum on Council (with other support) stood firm and argued against it. These people deserve your support, they don't get paid, they don't even get thanked most of the time, and it doesn't exactly help your career prospects to stand up and be counted like that. You have been given the opportunity to make a difference, and for many of you, you avoided the decision.
Archaeologists need to get a grip on themselves and recognise that they are failing themselves and their profession. Don't blame everyone else, look to what you can do. Join a Union, support Diggers' Forum, support David, put your time (and a little bit of money) where you mouth is.
Archaeologists seem to want it all without putting anything in. Bleating that they can't afford a couple of quid a week, complaining about the union, about everyone, except themselves.
Having worked in unionised, and non-unionised units I have seen the differences a union make in a quiet way on a day to day basis. Joining a union is not just about getting a decent pay rise, and anyone who thinks that is the be all and end all of a union is naive. Unions provide a mechanism for all the members to stand together and protect each other against unreasonable actions by the employer. If you are an individual and have a problem at work you are totally reliant on your employer -and they could well be the problem. With a union you have a network of other members -and professional back-up- to help and support you. Yes it extends to pay, but just as importantly it covers site conditions, health and safety concerns, extra equipment if you have a disability, workstation assessements, getting all your legal allowances for flexi-working if you have kids, getting decent CPD opportunities, dealing with discrimination, legal advice on workplace matters, a whole host of issues that are otherwise left to the Boss or HR. If you trust them to decide then fine. But I'd rather have a seat on the table through my union. If the shit hits the fan then the union will back you up. It can't stop you getting sacked, but it will do its best to make the process fair and transparent, and can often reduce the numbers getting the chop. I've seen first hand what a union can and will do to support a member in trouble, and it makes a big difference. Even when you lose.
And who is this union? It is me, it is you, its the person sitting next to you in the sitehut, or writing the desk top in the office. The union (whichever you choose) is its members and is only as strong as its members make it. The union is not something 'over there', that can be called on when times are tough, and ignored or slated when things are ok. It is us. It is staffed by volunteer reps, voted for by members -yes there is a professional staff in head office, but the real work is done day in day out by members. And they need your support. So when you blame the union for being weak, what did you do to make it stronger?
There are quite a few people out there who are struggling to get pay increased and conditions improved, here, in the Ifa, even heads of ROs. Unfortunately it often seems that they are generally unsupported by the mass of archaeologists. The reason why IfA pay minima were not scrapped a few weeks ago is because the three members of the Digger's Forum on Council (with other support) stood firm and argued against it. These people deserve your support, they don't get paid, they don't even get thanked most of the time, and it doesn't exactly help your career prospects to stand up and be counted like that. You have been given the opportunity to make a difference, and for many of you, you avoided the decision.
Archaeologists need to get a grip on themselves and recognise that they are failing themselves and their profession. Don't blame everyone else, look to what you can do. Join a Union, support Diggers' Forum, support David, put your time (and a little bit of money) where you mouth is.