An Experimental Organization of Precarious Professionals

Abstract

This article discusses the sector-wide organization of contractual archaeologists in Québec, beginning with the formation of a workers’ committee and leading subsequently to union accreditation. We theorize the difficulty of organizing these “precarious professionals” and suggest that self-organization outside of an industrial relations framework may be required to overcome barriers to their unionization. Deliberation, norm setting, and informal parlays with employers lead to clarifying class distinctions that professional identification often occludes, while self-organization increases worker confidence in collective action.
 
 Cet article traite de l’organisation sectorielle des archéologues contractuels au Québec en commençant par la création d’un comité de travailleurs et menant par la suite à l’accréditation syndicale. Nous mettons en théorie les difficultés qui ont entravé l’organisation de ces «professionnels précaires», et proposons que l’auto-organisation en dehors d’un cadre de relations industrielles peut être nécessaire pour surmonter les obstacles à leur syndicalisation. La délibération, l’établissement des normes et les discussions avec les employeurs conduisent à clarifier les distinctions de classe que l’identification professionnelle occulte souvent, tandis que l’auto-organisation augmente la confiance des travailleurs dans l’action collective.

Legend of the locked doors: The sexualization of archaeological site workers in the Middle East

“…2021; Nicholas 2016), queer researchers (Rutecki and Blackmore 2016), disabled archaeologists (Clarke and Phillips 2012; Kajda, Michalik, and Kobiałka 2015; Phillips et al. 2012), and members of other marginalized communities (Heath‐Stout and Hannigan 2020; MacDonald and Kolhatkar 2021). These movements have had clear effects, creating advocacy and affinity spaces like the Society of Black Archaeologists and the Disabled Archaeologists Network.…”