The background to this is that one government/agency and academic library
(on two occasions) have both argued that my research posts can be downgraded
to my "library" job, as the "library" job counts as precedent. I am not
giving you names here, and really names are unimportant because then it
gives people a chance to say "oh these are isolated instances" (they are not
- as a research assistant I always earned more than as a "non-qualified"
librarian). I have proper research qualifications - this is not what is
being "used against me". While I "won" against the first case (the aXXXXX
librarian man in charge, who makes Mr Bean look like Brad Pitt, said that I
was "just inputting data", hardly helpful to get recognition at personnel
level to be considered for parity of pay with external departments). Now I
want to draw a line bet. library work and research work, and again I find
that personnel is arguing for library scales !!! I have been assured that
this can be fought, but this is not the point - I have not considered what
we are called very seriously and have always looked at the pay and status
discussion as belonging to within the profession. The message has hit truly
home while I have been looking for work outside the sector and see that
interesting jobs are out of bound because of background, even worse, than
once I get them I get a message from personnel saying they won't pay me what
I am demanding because of the "librarian" label of a previous job in the
same organisation. Before the damned MA which led nowhere at library school
it was understood that I was seen as a research assistant having to
supplement income with low-paid library work - now that perhaps (and
erroneously !) I am "seen" as a librarian, it is used to be paid less in
OTHER posts worth having in TWO organisations (this, I hasten to add, is not
about "interest" (as I was told at the British Council "the reason I was not
doing interesting work was because I was part of ISM, while "project" work
was being done elsewhere while we were a glorified call centre, more or less
- needless to say I resigned) - but at least at the BC it was not about
money as everyone is paid badly).
You can't do nothing - I got screwed - I only want to warn people against
what seems to be common practice (if not, why two instances in such a short
time ?)
Emilce
>From: JACKIE FISHLEIGH <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "'Emilce Rees'" <[log in to unmask]>, [log in to unmask]
>Subject: RE: A warning to research staff on the list
>Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 14:23:22 +0100
>
>Emilce
>
>Are you able to please clarify the following:
>
>Your background e.g. level of experience and qualifications in both library
>work and research work.
>
>Could also please give an indication of which sector you work in e.g.
>college, university, professional body etc.
>
>Could you explain what happened on the two previous occasions you
>mentioned.
>
>Could you also elaborate as to what the pay differential is between library
>and research work.
>
>This will help to build a clear picture of the scenario in question.
>Otherwise it is very difficult for us to comment in any kind of meaningful
>way.
>
>Kind Regards
>
>Jackie Fishleigh
>Librarian
>Payne Hicks Beach
>10 New Square
>Lincoln's Inn
>London
>WC2A 3QG
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Emilce Rees [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: 07 April 2003 13:14
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: A warning to research staff on the list
>
>
>This is the THIRD time in the space of half a year that an organisation
>tries to argue that "as I worked as a librarian" I "deserve librarian
>wages" for research work (which they wouldn't dream of doing if I had
>started working as research personnel from the start). I am furious and I
>am outraged, I don't blame them but I blame librarians for allowing this to
>happen.
>
>I can't possibly believe this is an isolated occurrence, so I wonder how
>people on the list (or indeed, ANY of your colleagues who are doing proper
>research work) has dealt with this situation, which is to my view, more
>discriminatory than colour, race or gender.
>
>Two people on this list have answered before giving me examples of how
>personnel or school librarians deal with this (the lack of parity with
>academic/school teachers were two examples). This event has taken things a
>bit further down into the pit, in the sense that "working in the library"
>is being used AGAINST me for the other half of the week !!!
>
>As it's much too late to get out, and I have lost precious time in a
>profession which only now I am starting to realise is so, so badly
>considered, I would very much like advice on how to rectify this MESS -
>even being a foreigner has not been taken against me as coming onto the
>payroll as "librarian" !!!
>
>Any useful comments (part. how AUT/Unison might negotiate this) gratefully
>received.
>
>
>Emilce Rees
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