The Plight of UK Archaeology 2009

[vulpes]

quote:b) Bearing in mind that the adverts put out by company B are for also for PO'S and Supervisors (people intended to run the sites) how can the job have been awarded on quality when they dont know who they are going to get to do it?

You mean to tell me you think that Cotswold or whoever will have difficulty finding competent staff at all levels? I don't think this will be a problem. Not sure what all the fuss is about. First people moan because there are no jobs, then when someone is advertising, they moan too! I take it you won't be applying then.

[Gagumph]

I might do.. there is some good archaeology there :-)

[achingknees]

I know a little about this being based in the E Midlands. My unit was not invited to tender. We desperately need such a project. You would expect me to be sore about this but I know that there ARE 100s of staff in the E Mids who have been lost through 'natural wastage' or redundancies in the last 18 months.

Just wait and see! I expect there to be considerable fieldwork input from those with local knowledge in one way or another. There's more than one way for this to be achieved. It may prove in the end to be an example of wider partnership. We will see.

[BAJR Host]

The same T&C as before


?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[kevin wooldridge]

I think if accomodation allowances and subsistence payments weere incorporated into a decent dignified wage, we could all save ourselves some of the angst expressed over the past few days. Maybe that is a campaign that BAJR Fed would like to take up once it finds its feet.

It would also help sort out the unexpected demands from the taxman that some of us got hit with last year.



With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...

[chiz]

quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host

The same T&C as before

Good, that is a relief if that is the case; as I said, personally I was worried there may have been a variation to normal T&C meaning a drop in effective income.

On a wider front until we get back to having a dearth of archaeologists (which may or may not be a while) we probably won't be seeing accommodation and subs for these type of situations. Paying for these items certainly increases costs significantly. As long as it is clearly stated, then maybe there is no problem with that: 'This is a local site, for local diggers!'

I hope that at these site 'places of work' staff have access to all the services normally available at HQ.

on the taxed accommodation front, taxed accommodation is better than NO accommodation, the issue is whether you are told it is 'free' and then get stung for tax later. I personally wouldn't want accommodation for real away jobs to halt over the tax issue, it just needs the pay sorting to make sure it doesn't penalise those sent on away jobs IF that is possible legally!

Kevin is right that a decent wage would mean this issue was less contentious, but it would still be a highly difficult issue:
If wages go up to cover accom/subs but digger X is sent away 8 months a year and therefore pays double accommodation/bills for those 8 months, whilst Digger Y has a family/is a carer/is doing PX so can't be sent away at all and therefore only pays their home rent/bills: Digger X is clearly worse off, in two ways!
A complex issue that wasn't so bad before when the inconvenience of away work was mitigated by the daily allowance....before the tax man got involved!!

[kevin wooldridge]

I think what I was trying to suggest is that allowances and subs are paid as part of ones wage (and therefore taxed at source) rather than cash in hand payments. This would solve the problem with the taxman, give folk more choice in choosing where they stayed when away etc etc.

Re Bob's X v Y scenario. It wouldn't impact on staff who (for whatever reason) stayed at homebase as they would get their basic salary. Only staff on the away jobs would have the allowances added to their basic salary.

This is the situation that applies when I work away from the Kulturhistorisk museum here in Oslo and it seems to work out fine for most people. (But Norwegian archaeologists can be as picky as Brits when they so deisre, so there's never ever a totally happy workforce.....)





With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...

[BAJR Host]

Talking about BAJR Fed ... will be getting sorted properly by end of the week. and then people need to get going.

Thanks for waiting

?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[chiz]

quote:Originally posted by kevin wooldridge

I think what I was trying to suggest is that allowances and subs are paid as part of ones wage (and therefore taxed at source) rather than cash in hand payments. This would solve the problem with the taxman, give folk more choice in choosing where they stayed when away etc etc.

Ah, Ok. If that is fine with the taxman then yes that would be a good way around it, just a bit more tax and admin.

[Noddy]

quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host

The same T&C as before

Are you sure?

To quote a job advert from the IfA's Jobsheet dated 15/12/06:

quote:******** *********** is looking for experienced Project Archaeologists and Archaeologists for a number of large-scale pipeline projects in South and Mid Wales and Devon, as well as our continuing portfolio of work in the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire area, beginning in early January 2007. Trainee Archaeologist positions may also be available.

Six-month contracts are available. Paid holiday of 20 days per annum (pro rata) plus public holidays. Archaeologists based local to these projects would be advantageous, although accommodation (normally self-catering cottages), transport to and from site, and overnight subsistence is available for projects outside the Bristol and Gloucestershire area.

Overtime and weekend working to standard pipeline construction working hours will be required on pipelines, and it is envisaged this will occur on a rota basis over the duration of the project.

Payscales for basic 37.5 hour week: Project Archaeologists (?292.46); Archaeologists (?274.25). On specific pipeline projects overtime is paid at x1.5 on weekday/Saturdays and x2 on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Please send a CV with a detailed breakdown of time (in weeks, plus beginning and end dates) spent working for commercial archaeological organisations, and complete contact details of two referees with recent relevant knowledge of your fieldwork experience. Membership of the IFA is desirable, as is possession of an Energy and Utilities Skills Register (EUSR) training card.

A current driving licence is required for Project Archaeologist grade and would be an advantage for other posts. You will only be contacted if your application has been successful.