​UNITE ARCHAEOLOGY IRELAND

Fairly traded archaeology

UNITE The Union, Archaeological Branch have lots of ideas about different ways to make Irish commercial archaeology a sustainable place to work. There are a small number of us at the moment, perhaps a pool of less than 150 workers with many only working part time. This is a sad situation but also a time when we can act to have our rightful say. Our main goal and focus is to secure a Registered Employment Agreement for Irish Archaeologists. This will mean that we take into our own hands the power to legally enforce the meaning of our on site grades and set a decent floor for our rates

A Registered Employment Agreement for Irish Archaeology

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The recent IAI survey and report into pay rates in Irish commercial archaeology, largely a result of pressure from the Representation for Irish Archaeology campaign, shows what we already knew; rates of pay have plummeted and are appalling. The IAI report also suggests greatly increased rates of pay but notes that it cannot enforce them.

 

A Registered Employment Agreement would agree minimum rates and core competencies for the main grades of archaeologists in the commercial sector. If a majority of employers and employees agreed to it the agreement would be considered by the Department of Trade, Industry and Employment.

 

If approved it would come into law meaning that all tenders whether public or private would have to abide by these rates. We are currently writing our side of such an agreement and are discussing the same with politicians, employers along with state and semi-state bodies. We need all our members to contribute and actively debate the text. We have a short time to achieve this, we aim to deliver significant momentum by next Spring.

 

Remember UNITE HAS THE LEGAL MUSCLE AND EXPERIENCE TO CHALLENGE A BREACH OF THE AGREEMENT WITH THE LABOUR COURT

 

Our current UNITE RATES are those directly recommended by the IAI

 

IAI Recommended Rates from WGRPR 2014

 

Position                          Hourly rate (RoI)  Hourly rate (NI)

Archaeological Trainee          €11.65               £7.65

Site assistant grade 1           €12.85               £8.50

Site assistant grade 2           €17.50              £11.50

Supervisor                            €22.20             £14.60

Site director/project officer  €26.85            £17.70

Project manager                   €31.50             £20.80

Specialist                              €20-€46         £13.20-£30.40