27th January 2013, 09:07 PM
ecmgardner Wrote:Can you explain a bit more because as far as I understand it the question is about whether it's actually legal to have pay minima...
Well it is certainly not illegal to have collective agreements that set a wage minima and of course most EU countries have a legislated minimum wage. The attached article sets out the principals. In the case of archaeology there are two 'regulatory' bodies that I see could be involved in the setting of wage minima - the IfA wearing its 'quality at a price' hat, or FAME wearing its 'archaeological employer' hat...and I am guessing that is in consultation with recognised trade unions. Question for the IfA is whether its charter allows it to be involved in negotiations with trade unions and how any collective agreement could be implemented. FAME is much easier as capitalist 'collective' syndicates are a well established blot on the skyline of any workers paradise.....As I said before I don't think there is a legal impediment in what the IfA currently does regarding pay minima, but I do wonder whether RAOs have to take any notice i.e it can only be voluntary. I think if I were wanting to challenge the legality of the IfA advice, that is the angle I'd choose to challenge - whether they have a right to INSIST that RAOs follow their advice, or whether it is purely voluntary....which if it is I guess makes the whole system of wage minima redundant...
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2005...07101s.htm
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