Dear Colleagues
The salary for the Hereford job is extraordinarily low. However to give the impression that it will have been set arbitrarily by a
senior manager is misleading. The post will have presumably been evaluated within a framework which applies across the County Council, and graded on a par with comparable posts within that organisation. Given that, ARA’s representations couldn’t have any impact
on the grading of this or any other individual post.
It was interesting to see the salary for recently advertised post of County Archivist of Durham - £33,782 to £37,890. This is quite
on the low side for such a senior post, heading up an important service in a populous county. Low salaries are an issue at every level in local authority archives structures, although individual councils often differ considerably. For every Hull there’s a
Durham or a Herefordshire. Inevitably this has an effect on career progression within the local authority sector, impacting recruitment, sustainability and diversity.
While there’s an advocacy role for ARA in improving salaries, and the ARA Pay Review Group has been addressing the issue, local authorities
are more likely to take notice of a regulatory body. A link between acceptable levels of appropriately paid staff and Archive Accreditation would be the most effective way of addressing the issue as well as improving the resilience of individual services and
the local authority sector as a whole.
Martin Taylor
City Archivist
Hull History Centre
Responding in a personal capacity
From: Archivists, conservators and records managers. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Adam Sach
Sent: 02 September 2021 10:16
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Vacancy for Archivist at Herefordshire Archive Service
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Thanks Anne, Wendy and David- well said, and yes exactly - what is the point of a professional body if it does not act in the interest of its members?
Sadly the ARA don’t seem remotely concerned by this situation or see it as something in which they should intervene. This is one of the reasons that I’m no longer a member.
These salaries are appalling and this issue should be a priority for the ARA.
Project Archivist, The Horse Hospital
Member & Volunteer Archive Assistant, The Marx Memorial Library & Workers’ School
Please could ARA set out how they are helping local government archives secure funding/support for adequate payment for staff? It's an impossible situation, we're all struggling in local
gov, but our professional body - to which we are paying our subs - should be really going to town on this. Otherwise what's the point?
It is absolutely appalling. I swore I wasn't going to continue to comment on these outrageous salaries, but I am fed up with seeing these time and time again. We should all be angry
about these shameful salaries. No more. Stop advertising them. Let's care more about those coming into the profession.
Again, I got paid more than this as an archives assistant 12-13 years ago.
I really do not think we should remain silent about this.
In my humble opinion, a starting salary of £21748 for a qualified archivist position is quite appalling, and reflects very badly indeed upon our profession (as well, of course, on the
way local government is funded - although that should not be used as an excuse). This is quite clearly a para-professional salary for a professional position.
Hello all,
We are currently looking for a permanent full time Archivist to join our team at Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre. The successful candidate will carry out the full range of professional duties, including accessioning and cataloguing, in particular with
regard to developing our digital preservation policy. In addition, you will be working substantially with the public by supporting visitors to our search room, participating in our outreach programme and engaging with an enthusiastic group of volunteers. The
closing date for applications is Wednesday 1 September.
To apply, and for further details, please follow the link to:
https://www.hoopleresourcing.co.uk/Job/Plough-Lane--Hereford_Archivist-(8349).aspx.
With best regards,
Rhys Griffith
Senior Archivist
Tel 01432 260750
Email: [log in to unmask]
Economy and Place Directorate
Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre
Fir Tree Lane
Hereford HR2 6LA
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