Irish archaeologists campaign for a living wage

mocmo · 31-03-2015 2:34pm #1

An important development in the profession, particularly the commercial sector.

Over the last year archaeologists, mainly within the commercial sector, have been organisisng themselves and joined the union UNITE to seek better pay and conditions. The campaign has been gaining support and momentum with members recently voting not to accept jobs below the living wage of €11.45 an hour.

Now UNITE are campaigning for a Registered Employment Agreement for Archaeologists in the commercial sector in Ireland. This would mean that the current grades of fieldworkers and an agreed set of rates would be enforceable in law.

See the piece in The Journal

http://www.thejournal.ie/archaeology-low-pay-crisis-2021433-Mar2015/?fb_ref=Default

and more information on the UNITE archaeology website

http://unitearch.wix.com/unitearchaeology

slowburner · 22-04-2015 10:06pm

Any more developments on this?
What is the current position with firms agreeing not to pay below a set amount?

mocmo · 23-04-2015 10:36am

The campaign is going very well and gathering momentum. So far 22 archaeological companies have signed up and agreed not to pay below the living wage. While most of them are small enough outfits there are a good few recognizable names along with one or two glaring absences! With regard to companies who haven't signed up to it, members of UNITE have voted to refuse to work for less.

Recently some members working on site for less than the living wage and with sub-standard on-site facilities, contacted UNITE who within a week negotiated them a pay rise and significant improvement in conditions. This is really working.

This Saturday (25th) members of UNITE are holding a demonstration outside the gates of the NMI in Dublin to highlight the campaign, everyone is encouraged and welcome to come along and support or find out what it's all about. Their webpage is here http://unitearch.wix.com/unitearchaeology

Arsemageddon · 23-04-2015 11:28pm

mocmo wrote: »

So far 22 archaeological companies have signed up and agreed not to pay below the living wage. While most of them are small enough outfits there are a good few recognizable names along with one or two glaring absences!

I'd say I could guess who they are.

slowburner · 24-04-2015 11:37am

Just in case anyone is unaware of the campaign and hasn't liked the page.

robp · 28-04-2015 9:39am

mocmo wrote: »

The campaign is going very well and gathering momentum. So far 22 archaeological companies have signed up and agreed not to pay below the living wage. While most of them are small enough outfits there are a good few recognizable names along with one or two glaring absences! With regard to companies who haven't signed up to it, members of UNITE have voted to refuse to work for less.

Recently some members working on site for less than the living wage and with sub-standard on-site facilities, contacted UNITE who within a week negotiated them a pay rise and significant improvement in conditions. This is really working.

This Saturday (25th) members of UNITE are holding a demonstration outside the gates of the NMI in Dublin to highlight the campaign, everyone is encouraged and welcome to come along and support or find out what it's all about. Their webpage is here http://unitearch.wix.com/unitearchaeology

I was very pessimistic about this campaign early on so it is really wonderful to hear that it is bearing some fruit.

slowburner · 28-04-2015 11:00am

So far, 28 companies have agreed not to pay below a minimum wage of €11.45 per hour.

• Aegis Archaeology
• Aileach Archaeology
• Archaeological Consultancies Services Unit
• Archaeological Projects Ltd
• Archaeological Service Providers
• Archaeology and Built Heritage
• Archaeology Plan
• Atlantic Archaeology
• Byrne Mullins & Associates
• Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy
• Cultural Resource Development Services & Irish Archaeology Field School
• Daniel Noonan Earthsound
• Archaeological Geophysics
• Gregory Archaeology
• John Purcell Archaeological Consultancy
• Judith Carroll & Co Ltd
• Kilkenny Archaeology
• Lane Purcell Archaeology
• Laurence Dunne Archaeology
• Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd
• Moore Group
• Munster Archaeology
• Research & Dig Heritage Consultancy
• Rubicon Heritage Services
• School of Irish Archaeology
• Stafford McLoughlin Archaeology
• TVAS Ireland
• Wolfhound Archaeology          

Riamfada · 28-04-2015 11:02am

Its been a while since I was involved in the commercial sector but wont this push up their costs and they may lose out to tenders against others not featured on that list ?

slowburner · 28-04-2015 12:14pm

Riamfada wrote: »

Its been a while since I was involved in the commercial sector but wont this push up their costs and they may lose out to tenders against others not featured on that list ?

Sure there is that possibility, but is there any other way of ensuring a half decent wage in the sector? What should we do - nothing in fear of a select few employers who won't sign up to a humane pay scale? Bemoan the chronic pay rates and just accept it?
UNITE is a grassroots campaign and the level of support from the top is so far much better than expected, with some notable exceptions (that's another day's work).
The target wage is not at all unreasonable and is in line with SIPTU's own call for a national minimum wage of €11.45 (currently €8.65 per hour for an experienced adult worker). The national minimum wage has not risen since 2007.
Personally, I think that a target wage of €11.45 per hour (€458 per week before deductions) for specialised, experienced and educated workers is still too low...but you have to start somewhere.

In a private discussion with a UNITE member, the following points were made:

1. We have seen recently that there is a margin within tenders already that allows payment of that rate. The consultancies are taking that cut off the backs of their employees.
2. Companies not on the list have made a point in recent weeks that they are paying above 11.45 an hour because we have set the agenda.
3. While companies are very unlikely to do things which are against their commercial interests, they are also saying that paying poverty wages for qualified staff is absolutely unacceptable and anyone who does so is exploiting people.
4. UNITE members will not work for less - if there is a site paying less we will bring maximum pressure to bear on the employer.

Rahq Doljana · 28-04-2015 6:29pm

When we're told that these companies have committed to paying a minimum of €11.45 p/h, does this mean they they are now currently paying their staff at least this much, or that they will pay this rate when/if...(insert multiple cop-out caveats)?

If it's the latter, it's awfully reminiscent of the 1990's and the recommended pay rates agreed by IAPA members - a substantial number of who were company owners - which no employer then ever paid.

slowburner · 28-04-2015 7:56pm

Rahq Doljana wrote: »

When we're told that these companies have committed to paying a minimum of €11.45 p/h, does this mean they they are now currently paying their staff at least this much, or that they will pay this rate when/if...(insert multiple cop-out caveats)?

If it's the latter, it's awfully reminiscent of the 1990's and the recommended pay rates agreed by IAPA members - a substantial number of who were company owners - which no employer then ever paid.

Yes. Companies in the list above are currently paying the minimum rate and some are currently paying more.

slowburner · 30-04-2015 5:55am

The following statement was sent to UNITE on behalf of UCD School of Archaeology.

UCD School of Archaeology provides a range of undergraduate, taught graduate and research programmes, as part of its mission to be a centre of excellence in archaeological research and education in Ireland and internationally. The School recognizes that modern archaeological practice requires qualified, knowledgeable, skilled and experienced professional staff to investigate the past and to communicate archaeological knowledge in the present. A major part of modern archaeological practice is the commercial archaeological sector, which is the main source of employment for qualified archaeologists in Ireland today. UCD School of Archaeology supports the Unite Archaeological Branch – and indeed all our professional archaeological colleagues – in their recent efforts to ensure that all archaeologists receive pay and conditions commensurate with their qualifications and level of experience, and recognizes that this can best be achieved through a process of consultation and negotiation with employers.
UCD School of Archaeology supports all efforts by the Irish archaeological profession to ensure that archaeologists have the best possible employment conditions, as befits a highly-skilled and valuable professional discipline, so that Ireland’s archaeological and cultural heritage is managed, protected and investigated to the highest international standards.
Yours sincerely,
Prof Gabriel Cooney
Professor of Celtic Archaeology,
Head of School, UCD School of Archaeology

slowburner · 06-05-2015 12:46pm

Thirty one companies are now committed to paying a minimum wage of €11.45 per hour.

Aegis Archaeology
Aileach Archaeology
Aisling Collins Archaeological Services
Archaeological Consultancies Services Unit
Archaeological Projects Ltd
Archaeological Service Providers
Archaeology and Built Heritage
Archaeology Plan
Atlantic Archaeology
Byrne Mullins & Associates
Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy
Cultural Resource Development Services & Irish Archaeology Field School
Daniel Noonan
Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics
Gregory Archaeology
John Cronin & Associates Cultural Resource Management
John Purcell Archaeological Consultancy
Judith Carroll & Co Ltd
Kilkenny Archaeology
Lane Purcell Archaeology
Laurence Dunne Archaeology
Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd
Moore Group
Munster Archaeology
Research & Dig Heritage Consultancy
Rubicon Heritage Services
School of Irish Archaeology
Stafford McLoughlin Archaeology
Tobar Archaeological Services
TVAS Ireland
Wolfhound Archaeology

Marchandire · 12-05-2015 12:08am

Maybe a bit off topic, but there were less than 300 working field archaeologists in the country two years ago. How is it that more than thirty companies were still operating?

To go back on topic, I have to wonder if these agreements will hold when the economy starts booming again. It was during the Celtic Tiger times that the quality of wages and conditions dropped off a cliff in the first place. When the students and GOs start flooding back into the industry, will these companies not go back to the cheap, temporary labour model?

robp · 12-05-2015 12:15pm

What is the exact agreement? Does it apply to site assistants only?

Arsemageddon · 12-05-2015 1:13pm

Marchandire wrote: »

Maybe a bit off topic, but there were less than 300 working field archaeologists in the country two years ago. How is it that more than thirty companies were still operating?

Most of them are self-employed people that set up for themselves after many of the big companies laid off staff or went belly up during the recession.

To go back on topic, I have to wonder if these agreements will hold when the economy starts booming again. It was during the Celtic Tiger times that the quality of wages and conditions dropped off a cliff in the first place. When the students and GOs start flooding back into the industry, will these companies not go back to the cheap, temporary labour model?

Registered Employment Agreements were struck down by the Supreme Court as being unconstitutional in 2013. New collective bargaining legislation is on the way to replace this. Depending on how this legislation is framed minimum pay levels may become mandatory across an entire sector.

By the by I'd have to say that conditions (equipment, site facilities, etc) improved enormously during the boomiest part of the boom compared to what they were in the late 90s and early 2000s.

RDM_83 again · 18-05-2015 7:26pm

slowburner wrote: »

Thirty one companies are now committed to paying a minimum wage of €11.45 per hour.

Aegis Archaeology

Aileach Archaeology

Aisling Collins Archaeological Services

Archaeological Consultancies Services Unit

Archaeological Projects Ltd

Archaeological Service Providers

Archaeology and Built Heritage

Archaeology Plan

Atlantic Archaeology

Byrne Mullins & Associates

Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy

Cultural Resource Development Services & Irish Archaeology Field School

Daniel Noonan

Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics

Gregory Archaeology

John Cronin & Associates Cultural Resource Management

John Purcell Archaeological Consultancy

Judith Carroll & Co Ltd

Kilkenny Archaeology

Lane Purcell Archaeology

Laurence Dunne Archaeology

Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd

Moore Group

Munster Archaeology

Research & Dig Heritage Consultancy

Rubicon Heritage Services

School of Irish Archaeology

Stafford McLoughlin Archaeology

Tobar Archaeological Services

TVAS Ireland

Wolfhound Archaeology

Good to see Rubicon and TVAS on that list hopefully the other big company will also agree to the new terms soon, though there is a few small traders missing from the list in my experience they pay better than larger companies anyway (work for two last year and both paid aprox 450 anyway)

Irish archaeologists campaign for a living wage

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