22nd October 2008, 02:47 PM
Might as well get the ball rolling... my changes. Some are... errr... a bit pie-in-the-sky while others will be seen as being 'Stalinesque'. Whatever... my thoughts.
1. IfA... fully registered, fully chartered, compulsory to join. To call myself an archaeologist, I will have needed to prove that I am an archaeologist... and no, this does not necessitate having a degree. Experience, aptitude (knowing which end of a trowel to hold) and archaeological savvyness are as valuable as any BA/BSc. Some of the best archaeologists I know don't have degrees (and conversely, some of the most qualified I know couldn't dig a hole to save their life).
2. IfA accountable, transparent and answerable to its members. If something is wrong internally (ie structurally, operationally) or with a member organisation / individual... there is adequate arbitration and whatever decisions are made (have to be made), are through judiciary meetings. No-more boys club (sometimes I see the IfA as a bit of a masonic lodge). Internal (and possibly external audit) necessary and done without baulking. Membership of the chair open to all. Representatives of all factions of archaeology to sit in on meetings.
3. All archaeological organisations (and working individuals) should become (must?) RAO.
4. IfA fees reduced in line with ability to actually pay.
5. RAO's invest in staff... continuing development and training compulsory (and paid).
6. Pay brought in line with other chartered organisations (particularly at the starting, lower scales). For a developer to have to employ a RAO registered archaeologist, they should pay an archaeologist what he/she is properly worth. If building surveyors and lawyers can get away with it, why can't we?
7. Pay scale is predetermined and correct across all sectors... how can some organisations (for the same job description) pay a pittance when others pay well?
8. Job descriptions and titles are also predetermined... one unit's supervisor is another's project officer. Silly, confusing and, in the view of other professions, laughable.
9. Proper, formal provision of a pension (for all, to all).
10. Membership of a union(s) is permitted. Also, the individual should be able to join a different union to that of his employer... seen examples in the past where there was a conflict of interest due to the plaintiff and accused being members of the same union.
1. IfA... fully registered, fully chartered, compulsory to join. To call myself an archaeologist, I will have needed to prove that I am an archaeologist... and no, this does not necessitate having a degree. Experience, aptitude (knowing which end of a trowel to hold) and archaeological savvyness are as valuable as any BA/BSc. Some of the best archaeologists I know don't have degrees (and conversely, some of the most qualified I know couldn't dig a hole to save their life).
2. IfA accountable, transparent and answerable to its members. If something is wrong internally (ie structurally, operationally) or with a member organisation / individual... there is adequate arbitration and whatever decisions are made (have to be made), are through judiciary meetings. No-more boys club (sometimes I see the IfA as a bit of a masonic lodge). Internal (and possibly external audit) necessary and done without baulking. Membership of the chair open to all. Representatives of all factions of archaeology to sit in on meetings.
3. All archaeological organisations (and working individuals) should become (must?) RAO.
4. IfA fees reduced in line with ability to actually pay.
5. RAO's invest in staff... continuing development and training compulsory (and paid).
6. Pay brought in line with other chartered organisations (particularly at the starting, lower scales). For a developer to have to employ a RAO registered archaeologist, they should pay an archaeologist what he/she is properly worth. If building surveyors and lawyers can get away with it, why can't we?
7. Pay scale is predetermined and correct across all sectors... how can some organisations (for the same job description) pay a pittance when others pay well?
8. Job descriptions and titles are also predetermined... one unit's supervisor is another's project officer. Silly, confusing and, in the view of other professions, laughable.
9. Proper, formal provision of a pension (for all, to all).
10. Membership of a union(s) is permitted. Also, the individual should be able to join a different union to that of his employer... seen examples in the past where there was a conflict of interest due to the plaintiff and accused being members of the same union.