Fellow HistArchers:
Please consider contributing a SHA 2001 paper to the proposed ethics in
archaeological employment session described below. The deadline for
abstracts fast approaches, so please let me know ASAP if you would like
to contribute a paper. I anticipate a summary of the discussion to
appear in the SHA Newsletter and/or as a forum in a regional or national
journal. I am seeking clear, concise statements of position followed by
a reasoned discussion with audience participation.
Jim Gibb

Organized Session: Ethics in Contractual Archaeological Employment:
Flexibility or Denied Responsibility
Session Abstract
Every year talented, well-educated, well-trained, hard working
practitioners leave archaeology, while others endure frustration,
inadequate healthcare, and financial hardship. Employers often deny
contractual and self-employed persons adequate compensation, workers'
compensation, benefits, and rights comparable to those given merit
employees with similar credentials, experiences, skills, and duties, and
despite their treatment in all other respects as employees. Benefits
include insurance and pension plans, paid holidays and sick time, and
social security contributions worth thousands of dollars a year to
individual workers.

The use of contractual workers and self-employed contractors figures
prominently in archaeology's failure to retain and fairly treat many
colleagues, while potentially holding government agencies, universities,
museums, and corporations liable for millions of dollars in penalties
and back taxes. Contributors to this session will discuss contractual
employment, the roles of contracted workers in archaeology,
price-cutting through the use of contractual labor, and guidelines for
professional conduct in hiring and compensating archaeologists,
historians, conservators, other allied professionals, and support
personnel. The session also is open to other issues in ethics and
employment.

James G. Gibb
2554 Carrollton Road
Annapolis, MD  21403
410.263.1102
[log in to unmask]