28th October 2011, 06:52 PM
I am with Sparky on this I too went away and looked at the figures from the same sources. What ever way you want to look at it the IFA do not represent the majority of working archaeologists. It is clear that the guiding principal for curators is that archaeologists and archaeology units should have a proven track record above everything else. Currently councils who state that contractors working in their area need RO status are in the minority and a legal challenge to this is perfectly feasible. I am, like many here, not totally against the IFA but I do wonder at their agenda. The debate makes it clear that they seem to represent their own self perpetuation rather than better pay, working conditions etc for the front line archaeologists. Do the IFA recognise they have a problem with how they are perceived and if so how are they addressing it?
The perception that it is club for management from a particular range of companies is not good and does not inspire confidence if they cannot rid themselves of this image. ( I may added that I do not see them this way but I am aware that many people do and perhaps those people know better than me)
The perception that it is club for management from a particular range of companies is not good and does not inspire confidence if they cannot rid themselves of this image. ( I may added that I do not see them this way but I am aware that many people do and perhaps those people know better than me)