1st December 2008, 02:26 PM
In agreement with Gorilla's sentiments.
I think also in this difficult times an archaeologist who is out of work is effectively disenfranchised. Of course they can remain an 'unemployed' member of Prospect, but vacuously floating in a membership class that contradicts the root and branch structure of the Trade Union; they can remain a member of the IFA, but essentially impotent because of their unemployment.
I also sense, from comments on BAJR fora over the past few days, that so many folk are worried about their own jobs, they have little more than platitudes to offer those who have recently lost jobs or are unable to gain employment.
Correspondents to the BAJR Facebook site have also identified other lost 'groups' and individuals i.e sole traders, freelancers, specialists, students etc who appear not to have a real voice in our industry. To which I would add the large number of archaeologists who rely on short term and fixed term contracts for the majority of their employment.
My personal view is that the archaeology industry ignores the disenfranchised at its own peril and I therefore support any attempts to construct inclusive networks where those voices get to be heard. I don't think it can be a trade union (for legal reasons), but I don't see why BAJR and BAJRites can't promote a politically neutral pressure group. It already has a head start. I bet for example more archaeologists have heard of BAJR than have heard of the Diggers Forum.
I think also in this difficult times an archaeologist who is out of work is effectively disenfranchised. Of course they can remain an 'unemployed' member of Prospect, but vacuously floating in a membership class that contradicts the root and branch structure of the Trade Union; they can remain a member of the IFA, but essentially impotent because of their unemployment.
I also sense, from comments on BAJR fora over the past few days, that so many folk are worried about their own jobs, they have little more than platitudes to offer those who have recently lost jobs or are unable to gain employment.
Correspondents to the BAJR Facebook site have also identified other lost 'groups' and individuals i.e sole traders, freelancers, specialists, students etc who appear not to have a real voice in our industry. To which I would add the large number of archaeologists who rely on short term and fixed term contracts for the majority of their employment.
My personal view is that the archaeology industry ignores the disenfranchised at its own peril and I therefore support any attempts to construct inclusive networks where those voices get to be heard. I don't think it can be a trade union (for legal reasons), but I don't see why BAJR and BAJRites can't promote a politically neutral pressure group. It already has a head start. I bet for example more archaeologists have heard of BAJR than have heard of the Diggers Forum.