Here is information we use on wages. Albeit, construction related. FYI.
http://www.dol.gov/compliance/laws/comp-sca.htm
http://www.dol.gov/whd/govcontracts/dbra.htm
Mark Howe
"Life is how you make it, the future is how you leave your past."
> Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 15:19:47 +0000
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Positions Available - Pay
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Well said, Ian.
>
> Andy
>
> Andrew Weir, President
> Commonwealth Cultural Resources Group, Inc.
> www.ccrginc.com
> Coastal Carolina Research
> www.ccrtarboro.com
> Sagebrush Consultants
> www.sagebrushconsultants.com
> [log in to unmask]
> Cell: 517-262-3376
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Friday, September 13, 2013 9:11 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Positions Available - Pay
>
> I am pleased to see this subject being raised. I suppose, however, somebody may soon decide it's inappropriate for this site, people will flounce off the list, and discussion will be terminated. It's a pattern. I will not make or respond to ad hominem attacks or other abuse.
> Dr. King must be wondering what she did to bring this all down, but it's touched a nerve.The truth is that archaeology and CRM wages are lousy for most people,
> and particularly for those trying to break into the career. I'm not qualified
> to comment on academic research grants, but I do know something about CRM.
> Although we would all like to believe that quality of work should be the main criterion for clients when selecting CRM companies, we all know that money talks. This is especially disheartening in the case of those Federal clients who always make noises about balancing various factors in order to get "the best value for the Government", but who (as many of us can attest) very often go low-bid anyway. Of course this tends to be even more pronounced in the private sector. In such an environment employers cannot set company wages so high as to price themselves out of the market. If they want to remain in business, that is.
>
> So what can we do? One thing CRM companies cannot do is to get together to fix wages and prices. That is illegal, and rightly so. There are however a couple of other avenues.
>
> One would be to encourage Federal agencies (who essentially can fix wages) to use Service Contract Act wage determinations as much as possible. In my experience these are usually higher than prevailing CRM rates for a given area, at least for lower pay grades. This has the effect not only of putting more money in people's pockets, but also of leveling the playing-field as far as proposals are concerned, in that level and quality of effort are able to take a more prominent role in decision-making. A knock-on effect may be seen through the industry as a result.
>
> The other route is better quality control. The Federal archaeology program in the U.S. depends very heavily on State Historic Preservation Offices to ensure that work meets specific standards. Federal agencies do not have to agree to SHPO requirements, but most of them reflexively do. So we need really strong, well-resourced, Historic Preservation Offices. They need to be systematically staffed by highly qualified, experienced, and realistically paid, CRM professionals who are at professional grades in their State governments high enough to command political respect. With those conditions in place we would, I think, see a greater insistence on high quality work.
>
> What does high quality work require? Skilled people, effectively managed.
> What do skill and effective management command? Higher remuneration.
>
> Please do not take this as a denigration by me of people who currently work in HPO's. Those in the HPO's I'm familiar with are highly dedicated to what they do, are horribly overworked, underpaid, sometimes subject to political pressures, and sometimes, I suspect, find their work frustrating and under-appreciated. What I am suggesting is that we look into ways to raise their profile and authority so that poor quality work, done at cut-throat costs, is a thing of the past.
>
> Two other things:
>
> If you are qualified to Register as an RPA, please do it.
>
> If your CRM firm isn't in ACRA, please consider joining.
>
>
> Ian Burrow
>
>
>
>
> On September 13, 2013 at 9:35 AM Daryl Armour <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > I wanted to change the subject title so as not to pull Julia King's
> > initial email into the wrong direction. I am not trying to bash anyone
> > here, but these are just my observations and thoughts (shooting from
> > the hip with little coffee). Also, first post on the list,
> >
> > print( "Hello World!" ):
> >
> > Its unfortunate, but its an ever more reoccurring trend within CRM.
> > When you think about it, it shouldn't come as a surprise when you hear
> > people speaking out about the uselessness of Anthropology at the
> > public/governmental level (for example Governor Scott). We have been
> > undervaluing people with a BA, and in some cases up to an MA, in our
> > own profession for so long I feel it was only a matter of time before
> > it began to be mirrored in the policy-makers sentiments. I couldn't
> > say I know the cause for this as I have nowhere near the amount of
> > years put into this profession as most on this list. On one level, you
> > have those who paint Archaeology with a romantic brush, on the other
> > hand, one can then look at those within the lower levels of CRM who
> > can barely afford to pay their bills, nor have the opportunity to get a house or raise a family.
> >
> > I am not saying that money is everything, and I hate that response to
> > anyone who discusses money and archaeology, of course everyone should
> > do what they find fulfillment out of and that is why all of us are
> > here. But shouldn't you at least expect to have a "normal" life in
> > which you can actually pay your bills and go out to eat once in a
> > while? I can only assume at SOME (not all) academic and private-sector
> > levels, its the big business mantra of "Efficiency! Efficiency!
> > Efficiency! Profit! Profit! Profit!" coming through, mixed with "make the best out of what you've been given."
> >
> > There, I said it, please don't blacklist me!
> >
> > On Sep 13, 2013, at 12:53 AM, Richard Lundin wrote:
> >
> > > Julie:
> > >
> > > That is ridiculous! With the new proposed MINIMUM WAGE + benefits +
> > > required employer supplied healthcare they could do better at McDonalds.
> > > This is a waste of the time and money getting a BA\BS in
> > > Anthropology\Archaeology. When I am asked how to get into
> > > archaeology, I say DON'T!- UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EXCELLENT MATH AND
> > > SCIENCE BACKGROUND AND CAN GET INTO ARCHAEOSCIENCE (I.E.
> > > ARCHAEOGEOPHYSICS, ARCHAEOCHEMISTRY OR FORENSIC ARCHEOLOGY!
> > >
> > > My Two Cents!
> > >
> > > Richard J. Lundin BA, MA, RPA, ISAP, AIPG Consulting Historical
> > > Archaeologist & Archaeogeophysicist
> > >
> > >
> > > On Thu, Sep 12, 2013 at 5:12 PM, King, Julia <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > >
> > >> Dear HISTARCHers,
> > >>
> > >> St. Mary's College of MD is searching for a Project Archaeologist
> > >> and crew
> > >> (3) for a major survey focused on documenting Piscataway Indian
> > >> landscapes in Southern Maryland. More information about the
> > >> positions can be found at this link:
> > >> http://www.smcm.edu/hr/employment.html#assist_arch. The positions
> > >> will remain open until filled. The project begins on or about October 15.
> > >>
> > >> Julie King
> > >>
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