Is the time right to sort out pay and conditions?

[drpeterwardle]

Sorry for not posting for so long I have been busy.

In England at least there is a shortage of archaeologists.

Market forces would suggest that people will start paying more.

Can this situation be maximised?

Dr Peter Wardle

[Marc Berger]

Great to have you about good Dr. Yes there is a shortage of.....archaeologists? Or do you mean diggers who will work for the great ifa director?

[P Prentice]

but market forces have already started to drive down wages. a surfeit of european diggers and trainee posts on the increase shows no sign of abating. when will diggers will unionise and demand better wages?

[Jack]

but market forces have already started to drive down wages. a surfeit of european diggers and trainee posts on the increase shows no sign of abating. when will diggers will unionise and demand better wages?

Yep.

In my experience its not market forces that dictate wages its price fixing

[Dinosaur]

Be interesting if/when HS2 kicks off

[gonetopot]

The prospect of major HS2 recruitment is slightly alarming, as the bottom has already dropped out of the jobs market in southern England due to two major units recruiting for large prjects, and another investing highly in a 'regional' office. And while they may offer that 'dodgy-metal-plated' trophy of 6 month contracts, they are still paying low (above 'minima' I grant) and a career it does not make. Add in cross-rail, and right now there is a staff merry go round in full swing, and a large number of 'new' excavation staff lining up for what passes as on the job training.

In short, better structure and conditions are no closer than they ever have been. A notable exception is the provsion, or at least acknowledgement, of more formal on the job training, largely thanks to the likes of Mr BAJR, so struggles have not been in vain. But given the pick up in development projects, wages are disconsalately low

[Sith]

...now there is a staff merry go round in full swing...

Sorry to lower the tone/misdirect the thread, but is that the 21st century equivalent of the fabled 'circuit'?

I agree though, I don't see much sign of the wages situation improving anywhere.

[Mike.T.]

but market forces have already started to drive down wages. a surfeit of european diggers and trainee posts on the increase shows no sign of abating. when will diggers will unionise and demand better wages?

That is the only way things will ever improve pay and condition wise. Get a proper union going, ie not Prospect.

As for HS2 I really don't think that'll drive wages up for the existing Archaeological workforce. Most likely any shortfall in staffing will be made up ''trainees'' / students rather than offering a real financial incentive for others to enter the profession.

[monty]

The trainee posts (trowel fodder) situation will not help ! apparently these trainees just dig and the diggers do the recording ! Wages are still pathetically low and a proper union and all that goes with it is the only way forward. The Diggers Forum for all it's good intentions has made no difference whatsoever.

[Tool]

The trainee posts (trowel fodder) situation will not help ! apparently these trainees just dig and the diggers do the recording ! [...]

Just for any potential trainees reading this forum, the above is not true, at least with the company I work for. You will be taught how to record as well as dig right from the start. It's considered to all be part of the process. And on a practical level it's not an efficient way to work, expecting the experienced people to pick up all the recording.