6th November 2012, 11:04 AM
(This post was last modified: 6th November 2012, 11:05 AM by trowelfodder.)
I wasnt talking about genuine self employed people, freelancers and one man bands.It is the poor practices of a limited number that put the fear into the rest of us! Sort of agree a little with Kevin in that I mix freelance work with my own projects and I guess I would fall foul if there was a required day rate - not on commercial projects but I do other research/ work for charities on a reduced rate or free of charge! But for people who are not freelance by choice and who do not have the experience to do anything but take it there is a big problem. Stupid thing is that if everyone said no enough is a enough then these companies would be forced to change. Short term thinking again and once more a complete inability to act in the common good 
!
But back on topic - I think it is important that the unscrupulous practices of some non-IfA units should not cloud our judgement on what is right and fair and should not hold others back from striving for improvements in pay and conditions. To reiterate my earlier post 3.5% is not a large amount when you consider the nature of archaeological employment. Many archaeologists will not be in employment all year - and as the majority of companies retain only a core permanent staff there is not a huge increase in outgoings - when diggers are employed they are effectively bringing in money for the company which is charging them out at a dayrate.
Costs are going up and times are tough - I hope this will focus the minds of those who were unwilling to challenge for improvements during the better pre-recession times. We didn't act then when we had leverage and look what has happened. It is now being argued we cant change now, tough foreveryone etc etc. It will have to come - we cant continue as we are there isn't going to be a good time to do this and we really need this now.
!But back on topic - I think it is important that the unscrupulous practices of some non-IfA units should not cloud our judgement on what is right and fair and should not hold others back from striving for improvements in pay and conditions. To reiterate my earlier post 3.5% is not a large amount when you consider the nature of archaeological employment. Many archaeologists will not be in employment all year - and as the majority of companies retain only a core permanent staff there is not a huge increase in outgoings - when diggers are employed they are effectively bringing in money for the company which is charging them out at a dayrate.
Costs are going up and times are tough - I hope this will focus the minds of those who were unwilling to challenge for improvements during the better pre-recession times. We didn't act then when we had leverage and look what has happened. It is now being argued we cant change now, tough foreveryone etc etc. It will have to come - we cant continue as we are there isn't going to be a good time to do this and we really need this now.