8th September 2008, 01:06 PM
I'm assuming diggingthedirt, that you work in Eire. Personally I'd like to join the archaeological millionaire's club too, although realistically it's not going to happen.
I do get the impression from many that the ambition to make a comfortable living from the sector I have chosen to work in is somehow reprehensible, and that I should equip myself with a scourge as well as a trowel.
It seems to me that there is some disconnect in their reasoning, i.e. we want good terms and conditions and equivalent pay to other sectors although they are paid well/better because their company directors and staff are ambitious and require decent financial reward from truly privatised sectors (which "commercial" archaeology in the UK clearly is not). Simply - they charge themselves out at a sensible rate in the first place and make a decent profit, which may allow their directors to drive around in 7 series BM's, but also enables sensible training budgets and decent salaries for the companies employees.
As suggested above, I believe that we do not work in a fully privatised industry and my perception is that we suffer as a consequence. The pegging of archaeological salaries to council pay scales is a clear indication that the archaeological sector has failed to grasp the free market nettle. It is, however, necessary because of the remaining affiliation (to whatever extent) of some companies with local government, which lowers the rates that truly private companies can charge as they must compete with local government assisted companies which can often quote for work at a lower rate because they may not pay the true market price for support services, for example, and can also take a longer term view of profit and loss - as in the short term the taxpayer will pick up the bill.
Happiness depends on ourselves.
I do get the impression from many that the ambition to make a comfortable living from the sector I have chosen to work in is somehow reprehensible, and that I should equip myself with a scourge as well as a trowel.
It seems to me that there is some disconnect in their reasoning, i.e. we want good terms and conditions and equivalent pay to other sectors although they are paid well/better because their company directors and staff are ambitious and require decent financial reward from truly privatised sectors (which "commercial" archaeology in the UK clearly is not). Simply - they charge themselves out at a sensible rate in the first place and make a decent profit, which may allow their directors to drive around in 7 series BM's, but also enables sensible training budgets and decent salaries for the companies employees.
As suggested above, I believe that we do not work in a fully privatised industry and my perception is that we suffer as a consequence. The pegging of archaeological salaries to council pay scales is a clear indication that the archaeological sector has failed to grasp the free market nettle. It is, however, necessary because of the remaining affiliation (to whatever extent) of some companies with local government, which lowers the rates that truly private companies can charge as they must compete with local government assisted companies which can often quote for work at a lower rate because they may not pay the true market price for support services, for example, and can also take a longer term view of profit and loss - as in the short term the taxpayer will pick up the bill.
Happiness depends on ourselves.