21st January 2012, 04:43 PM
RedEarth Wrote:It might sound like heresy but I don't necessarily agree with this - the archaeology is only made into anything by the skills understand hard work etc of the archaeologists who find, explore, record and explain it. Without them it is essentially nothing. So, no, the archaeologists need to be seen as the most important thing, hence dealing with the poor employment conditions and pay, excuses, bad decision making and basically exploitation that mean that make it inevitable that bad practice will result. Continue the mantra of 'the archaeology is the most important thing' but that will only increase the pressure on those trying to do a good job (which I would assume is more or less everyone) because once one person or organisation starts to cut corners (without necessarily cutting standards) everyone is essentially forced to. Any discussion about standards needs to acknowledge that it will basically mean nothing until employment standards are generally increased at the same time, although it is a bit of a Catch 22 situation. Why should anyone be forced to martyr themselves to standards while being forced to worry about whether they will still have a contract after Christmas or whether that receipt for fuel is going to be reimbursed, or whether the site will have a cabin this time etc etc. We will all be held hostage over archaeological standards while our ability to treat each other as professionals continues to diminish.
I hear what you're saying RedEarth (I think) but the way I see it, there needs to be one body - whether that's a Union or the IfA that can place pressure on those commissioning work to ensure the environment for raising employees working conditions is created. The current model where profit margins are so slim that cut corners (not standards) are necessary to win tenders is, I agree, the problem. However, if it is stipluated that work can only be carried out by RAOs and the IfA is setting standards and pay minima alongside all the other working conditions its' members must provide to their workers it generates a more level playing field as undercutting to get work can no longer be used as an excuse to cut pay. Then pay can gently move upwards as was the idea after profiling the profession.
The only way I see it working is if there is a requirement.. otherwise we're back where we are now and the loophole is being exploited!