13th February 2014, 10:50 AM
less spittle flecked, but also has some misunderstandings...
First is the idea that IfA or indeed any organisation like them could be a union or is a collection of unit managers running the show. there are indeed two unions who can represent archaeologists... PROSPECT and UNITE. neither of whom do a good job (sorry... tis true) in actually actively promoting themselves. and there is FAME for the unit managers. Who sits on council at the IfA is really up to the members, and sad but true, there is an immense apathy about voting. Nobody cares, nobody votes and then they get to complain that it does not represent them. ( there are of course the large number out side the IfA who can- rightly or wrongly make the valid point that they are being affected by decisions taken by another organisation - BUT.. and it is a huge but... they are not organised into another organisation, they are individuals) In the Council are a number of field working archaeolgoists and members of the Diggers Forum, who - like BAJR fight for pay, conditions and training rights. this also affects everyone... and boy is it draining!
I also have 4 (soon to be 5) letters after my name - and whether I feel it has any meaning or gains me anything is up[ for debate. That it exists and is recognised in the real world... and across Europe is not however up for debate, it is a bald fact. There are weirdnesses... I had to work bloody hard to get my MIfA. proving my worth and capabilities, and presenting my case. the second time... I was made a MIFA because I was in the AAI&S so second time was painless... and to my mind devalued the idea of MIfA ... anyway. another argument to be had there.
THe biggest issue I have... is summed up in these lines:
So all in all. I am neutral on the whole thing. my only tip to positive, is that it may... MAY... in the long term, help push our pay up... but let us not concentrate on just being well paid professionals, lets also be archaeologists who do more than just decontaminate the time wastes on development sites.
First is the idea that IfA or indeed any organisation like them could be a union or is a collection of unit managers running the show. there are indeed two unions who can represent archaeologists... PROSPECT and UNITE. neither of whom do a good job (sorry... tis true) in actually actively promoting themselves. and there is FAME for the unit managers. Who sits on council at the IfA is really up to the members, and sad but true, there is an immense apathy about voting. Nobody cares, nobody votes and then they get to complain that it does not represent them. ( there are of course the large number out side the IfA who can- rightly or wrongly make the valid point that they are being affected by decisions taken by another organisation - BUT.. and it is a huge but... they are not organised into another organisation, they are individuals) In the Council are a number of field working archaeolgoists and members of the Diggers Forum, who - like BAJR fight for pay, conditions and training rights. this also affects everyone... and boy is it draining!
I also have 4 (soon to be 5) letters after my name - and whether I feel it has any meaning or gains me anything is up[ for debate. That it exists and is recognised in the real world... and across Europe is not however up for debate, it is a bald fact. There are weirdnesses... I had to work bloody hard to get my MIfA. proving my worth and capabilities, and presenting my case. the second time... I was made a MIFA because I was in the AAI&S so second time was painless... and to my mind devalued the idea of MIfA ... anyway. another argument to be had there.
THe biggest issue I have... is summed up in these lines:
Quote:I won't go into the cowboy-like practises that some RAOs indulge in...Nobody does... nobody collects the info and then passes it on in such a way that something can be done. therefore nothing is done. how can you investigate, if there is no complaint?
So all in all. I am neutral on the whole thing. my only tip to positive, is that it may... MAY... in the long term, help push our pay up... but let us not concentrate on just being well paid professionals, lets also be archaeologists who do more than just decontaminate the time wastes on development sites.