I wholeheartedly disagree with the assumption that museum professionals should know "what they are getting into." As a librarian, I too, knew that I would not be wealthy from my choice of careers. Yet I still chose to 'follow my bliss.' Of course wealth is not the motivating factor, that has already been established. Yet to insist that low pay and non existent benefits are just part of the way things are I find to be a spurious argument. Slavery too, used to be part of the "way things are," so did the 6 day work week, so did the subjugation of women. I'm not comparing museum work to the despicable institution of slavery. Museum workers *do* have a choice. But  I am suggesting that to accept the status quo is dangerous and reactionary. Some museum  and library administrators make tremendous salaries. As well they should.  They work long hours and have put their time in. I don't object to the hierarchical system which pays people better for more experience and for positions involving more responsibility.  But  that does not mean that lesser employees should not earn a living wage.  I understand that it is not the responsibility of individual museums and other non-profits to cure society's ailments. But if our most enlightened institutions don't bother to make even small changes, than we will all be living on Starbucks' wages, with a few well paid administrators pontificating about the "way things are."

Alison Warner


----------
From:  kocanda[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:  Tuesday, November 26, 1996 10:45 PM
To:  [log in to unmask]
Subject:  Re: Position announcement-Reply

Robert Connolly wrote:
>
> >As much as it sounds like an interesting place to work, the
> >Marion County Historical Society displays a stunning
> >disregard for the professional it is seeking to hire. What kind
> >of employer waits six months, to decide if you're worth
> >insuring? Perish the thought that the new director might need
> >medical treatment during the six-month trial period! He or she
> >certainly wouldn't be able to pay for an apendectomy, lump
> >biopsy, or pre-natal care on the salary.
> >
> >When we speak of raising salary standards, reasonable
> >health care should also be included. As professionals, we
> >deserve to be treated as human beings!
>
> Please do not take this as a flame, but your point touched a
> nerve with me.
>
> Although I am sympathetic to the point raised on delayed health
> care coverage, I don't think it is a matter of being a professional
> that qualifies one to be treated as a human being, but rather
> being a human being that qualifies one to be treated as same.  Prior
> to completing my Ph.D. and embarking on my new career I spent 15 years
> working in heavy industry where 6 month waits for health care have
> been routine for years.  So to answer your question as to what kind
> of employer does this - clearly a wide variety.  Whether one mops
> floor or designs displays in museums, health care needs are the same.

i have to say that this is a fascinating thread.  i agree that it's
pretty "low" to offer healthcare after a 6-mo. wait regardless of the
sector one works in.  on the other hand, i have to also agree with the
person who suggested that we as museum professionals should know what we
are getting ourselves into when choosing this career.

personally, i've experienced it as a routine matter to be hired as a
"consultant" or "temporary employee" so that my employers would not have
to pay _any_ benefits, ever!.  unfortunately that's par for the course
in this line of work.  just as is "hiring" at laughable rates (or
sometimes even _charging_ via tuition fees) students to do work that
expects an incredible sense of responsibility (i.e., the hands-on care
of valuable collections, or in the case of museum guards, the protection
of those collections).

i guess the bottom line is that i don't like it either.  but i think as
a whole, we tend choose this line of work becuase we like the work, not
for the bucks.

and since i'm currently looking for work, please forward all those job
opennings to me and let me decide for myself if they are worth applying
for ;)

kjk
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