3rd July 2014, 06:28 PM
BAJR Wrote:Next gripe is the rise of the "trainee grade". some really are. I have spent time talking over such positions with a company recently. Others are just because rates have sunk below minima... no worries, we will just call em trainees, mutter something about on the job training, and pay less ... whooo hoo. --- so now you need at least 6 months commercial experience to even get paid the bare minimum for a commercial archaeologist. - tell me... if I have 5 months. does that mean I suddenly go up to the full 17094 rate after a month..? or does that not count?
Other companies seem to be able to afford the enormous £14 a week to bring them up to the bare minimum ----
I may have to bring in a new rule on BAJR... nothing... NOTHING less than 17094 ( unless we have talked about it first, and it is something like a pay grade that needs the bottom level put in for HR Department not to kick up a stink) the words BAJR Approved means, "I knows what goes on, and we have a handshake agreement... that the minima is really (wink) what it should be."
Anyways. before people say... ah... but where do I get experience. it is not rocket science FFS... 6 months is perhaps over long to learn how to write your name and the colour of soil on a context card... or take a digital photograph of a pit..... being good at it... takes time. but really. these are not shaved apes... these are your graduates (in the main) who have shown they can hold a thought and perhaps have a modicum of ability in holding a shovel the right way up... and if not. then it will take less than 6 months to work that one out!
aaaarg! I despair!
I just did part of a short term contract for a well known unit, the pay was 16160 pa despite my twenty seven years experience ! The lack of diggers this year now things have taken off had this outfit using inexperienced students as diggers. This current state of affairs should be pushing wages UP not down. The day rate has not gone down so it is a case of project managers keeping their arses on comfy seats in most cases. OUTRAGEOUS !