14th August 2008, 08:33 PM
aaaaaaaaaarg 
Here we are... some of the greatest minds in British Archaeology and all you can think about is retirement!
seriously though.. here is my answer
1. Whether the link between IFA minimum salaries and local government pay scales should broken
YES
2. Whether any increase to the minimum salaries should be based on the minimum shortfall (i,e 13%)
NO - the whole scale needs telescoped to allow for progression (I for one whooped with joy when I got 10 times as much work and thruppence extra)
3. If so, over what sort of timescale?
5 year
4. Should there be a review mechanism for minimum salary recommendations, and if so, what factors should it take account of and how should it work?
YES... open consultation between Employers reps (say SCAUM) and employees reps (say PROSPECT) with minor input from BAJR - I have to say the IFA should not have anything to do with wage discussions... if they are a professional org, they can observe but thats not what a professional organisation should do - they have brought it to this, and should now let it go.
5. Should the process be linked to progress on barriers to entry to professional practice and, if so, how?
BIG question and not one that is atached to pay and conditions - by definition.. as with BAJR grades... if you are employed to do a particluar skill then you have to be able to do particluar skills and therefore are worth a pre determined minimum ammount
6. What other mechanisms should IFA use?
Forcing people both works and does not work... this requires consensus and mutual benefit for the employer as well as the employee.. again I say... the IFA are about standards and guidance and represnting the profession - the duty of pay and conditions belongs to SCAUM / PROSPECT - and is supported by IFA and BAJR
"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers
Here we are... some of the greatest minds in British Archaeology and all you can think about is retirement!
seriously though.. here is my answer
1. Whether the link between IFA minimum salaries and local government pay scales should broken
YES
2. Whether any increase to the minimum salaries should be based on the minimum shortfall (i,e 13%)
NO - the whole scale needs telescoped to allow for progression (I for one whooped with joy when I got 10 times as much work and thruppence extra)
3. If so, over what sort of timescale?
5 year
4. Should there be a review mechanism for minimum salary recommendations, and if so, what factors should it take account of and how should it work?
YES... open consultation between Employers reps (say SCAUM) and employees reps (say PROSPECT) with minor input from BAJR - I have to say the IFA should not have anything to do with wage discussions... if they are a professional org, they can observe but thats not what a professional organisation should do - they have brought it to this, and should now let it go.
5. Should the process be linked to progress on barriers to entry to professional practice and, if so, how?
BIG question and not one that is atached to pay and conditions - by definition.. as with BAJR grades... if you are employed to do a particluar skill then you have to be able to do particluar skills and therefore are worth a pre determined minimum ammount
6. What other mechanisms should IFA use?
Forcing people both works and does not work... this requires consensus and mutual benefit for the employer as well as the employee.. again I say... the IFA are about standards and guidance and represnting the profession - the duty of pay and conditions belongs to SCAUM / PROSPECT - and is supported by IFA and BAJR
"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers