unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology
@unionizearch.bsky.social
150 followers 230 following 39 posts
An account run by archaeologists organizing to secure a better future for archaeological field technicians in American CRM https://linktr.ee/archunion
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · 2d
ICYMI 🏺
unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · 5d
Statement on American Cultural Resource Management Companies and Saudi Arabia
White text on Black background. Statement on American Cultural Resource Management Companies and Saudi Arabia In recent days, the news of comedians accepting money from the government of Saudi Arabia to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival has cast a spotlight on the ethics surrounding business ties to a government with a documented history of human rights abuses including slavery, the murder of journalists, and financial support of terrorism. While the current media cycle focuses on the involvement of celebrity comedians, we take this opportunity to condemn the lesser known, but no less unethical, business relationships between the American cultural resource management industry and the government of Saudi Arabia. Namely, Chronicle Heritage, AECOM, and WSP each have extensive contracts with the Saudi government, with Chronicle Heritage specifically providing archaeological services to the Saudi government through the Royal Commission for Al-Ula to support the development of their cultural tourism industry. These business entanglements are especially troubling as they directly support the advancement of development projects that will almost certainly be carried out by exploited slave laborers, as is the case with countless projects sponsored by the Saudi government. As a collective of cultural resource management professionals organizing for better labor conditions for archaeological technicians in the United States, Unionizing American Archaeology stands in solidarity with exploited workers around the globe, and strongly condemns the participation of American CRM companies in Saudi government development projects. Archaeological technicians who work for multiple companies on a contract basis are in a unique position to take a stand against this massive ethical violation by refusing employment offers from companies with business relationships with the Saudi government. We urge archaeological technicians to refuse work with Chronicle Heritage, AECOM, WSP, and an…
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alexfalcone.bsky.social
Alex Falcone @alexfalcone.bsky.social · 9d
Two things everybody’s missing about the Riyadh Comedy Festival.
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acarv.in
Andy Carvin @acarv.in · 7d
The Saudi government murdered Jamal Khashoggi seven years ago today. His editor @karenattiah.bsky.social wrote this two years ago.
Opinion | The moment I knew the world would try to move on from Jamal Khashoggi
I could see it coming at Time’s 2018 Person of the Year celebration.
wapo.st
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · 5d
🏺
unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · 5d
Statement on American Cultural Resource Management Companies and Saudi Arabia
White text on Black background. Statement on American Cultural Resource Management Companies and Saudi Arabia In recent days, the news of comedians accepting money from the government of Saudi Arabia to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival has cast a spotlight on the ethics surrounding business ties to a government with a documented history of human rights abuses including slavery, the murder of journalists, and financial support of terrorism. While the current media cycle focuses on the involvement of celebrity comedians, we take this opportunity to condemn the lesser known, but no less unethical, business relationships between the American cultural resource management industry and the government of Saudi Arabia. Namely, Chronicle Heritage, AECOM, and WSP each have extensive contracts with the Saudi government, with Chronicle Heritage specifically providing archaeological services to the Saudi government through the Royal Commission for Al-Ula to support the development of their cultural tourism industry. These business entanglements are especially troubling as they directly support the advancement of development projects that will almost certainly be carried out by exploited slave laborers, as is the case with countless projects sponsored by the Saudi government. As a collective of cultural resource management professionals organizing for better labor conditions for archaeological technicians in the United States, Unionizing American Archaeology stands in solidarity with exploited workers around the globe, and strongly condemns the participation of American CRM companies in Saudi government development projects. Archaeological technicians who work for multiple companies on a contract basis are in a unique position to take a stand against this massive ethical violation by refusing employment offers from companies with business relationships with the Saudi government. We urge archaeological technicians to refuse work with Chronicle Heritage, AECOM, WSP, and an…
2
unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · 5d
Statement on American Cultural Resource Management Companies and Saudi Arabia
White text on Black background. Statement on American Cultural Resource Management Companies and Saudi Arabia In recent days, the news of comedians accepting money from the government of Saudi Arabia to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival has cast a spotlight on the ethics surrounding business ties to a government with a documented history of human rights abuses including slavery, the murder of journalists, and financial support of terrorism. While the current media cycle focuses on the involvement of celebrity comedians, we take this opportunity to condemn the lesser known, but no less unethical, business relationships between the American cultural resource management industry and the government of Saudi Arabia. Namely, Chronicle Heritage, AECOM, and WSP each have extensive contracts with the Saudi government, with Chronicle Heritage specifically providing archaeological services to the Saudi government through the Royal Commission for Al-Ula to support the development of their cultural tourism industry. These business entanglements are especially troubling as they directly support the advancement of development projects that will almost certainly be carried out by exploited slave laborers, as is the case with countless projects sponsored by the Saudi government. As a collective of cultural resource management professionals organizing for better labor conditions for archaeological technicians in the United States, Unionizing American Archaeology stands in solidarity with exploited workers around the globe, and strongly condemns the participation of American CRM companies in Saudi government development projects. Archaeological technicians who work for multiple companies on a contract basis are in a unique position to take a stand against this massive ethical violation by refusing employment offers from companies with business relationships with the Saudi government. We urge archaeological technicians to refuse work with Chronicle Heritage, AECOM, WSP, and an…
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Aug 21
Archaeological field technicians are long overdue for a union and the time to organize is NOW! If you're a field tech in CRM and interested in organizing your workplace, let us know and we can help connect you with the resources to get started!
A black outline map of the continental United States. The map is titled "Join a union, join the MOVEMENT" and subtitled " CRM Union Elections...so far!" 4 states are colored in, which represent the states where CRM union elections have been held. Each state is labeled with a text box with an arrow pointing to a locator pin at the city where the election was held. The text boxes read: Salt Lake City, UT March 2024 Archaeologists at SWCA Environmental Consultants vote to join Teamsters Local 222 Denver, CO July 2025 Archaeologists at SWCA Environmental Consultants vote to join Teamsters Local 455 Pittsburgh, PA* January 2025 Archaeologists at SWCA Environmental Consultants vote to join Teamsters Local 341 *Election held, ballot tally pending Frederick, MD June 2024 Archaeologists at Goodwin & Associates vote to join Teamsters Local 992
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sfchronicle.com
San Francisco Chronicle @sfchronicle.com · Aug 30
Facing waves of cuts to national park workforces and programs, federal lands workers in California voted to join a national union of government employees.
Workers at two popular California national parks are unionizing
Facing waves of cuts to national park workforces and programs, federal lands workers in California voted to join a national union of government employees.
bit.ly
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luciddreamrr.bsky.social
🎂 Ly Lyra (1/10)🎂 @luciddreamrr.bsky.social · Aug 30
US federalization of Labor Day was intentionally designed to disconnect the day from international Labor Day (May 1st). To weaken international solidarity and US worker consciousness about transnational labor power.
agirlnamedblaze.gay
✨️A Girl Named Blaze 😶‍🌫️ @agirlnamedblaze.gay · Aug 30
America's relationship with labor is funny.

And by funny, I mean fucking disgusting. America hates labor. That's why we have a history of sl*very, and prisoners (see: sl*very), and that's why only non-labor workers get the day off on Monday. WTAF, America.
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Jun 6
Why zines? Because archaeological field techs have been using zines to discuss labor issues in cultural resource management since the 90s! 🏺
Best of "The Underground" From 1993 to 1995, The Underground was a zine written by and for people who lived in motels- archaeological field technicians. The Underground functioned as a community space in a pre-internet age by providing a way for archaeological workers to widely discuss both the positive and negative aspects of the CRM industry and of the field as a whole. Its role as a trusted venue for honestly reporting personal accounts of the poor labor conditions in field archaeology makes it an invaluable archive covering a significant period in the history of unions in CRM, as well as an intimate lens into the experiences of field techs 30 years ago... Ask yourself why they sound so familiar.
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Jun 19
There's no such thing as a union of one, so start talking to your coworkers and build solidarity in the workplace!
Digital image of two light blue stick figures centered on a light gray background. They are holding shovels with a speech bubble above one of them indicating they are talking to each other. White text above them reads, "it starts with a conversation" and white text below them reads, "talk to your coworkers!" Digital image with white text written over multiple faded blue speech bubble graphics on a light gray background. Text at the top of the image is written on a blue title banner that reads, "Start A Conversation" and the white text over the speech bubbles reads, "Bosses want you to believe that talking about wages and other benefits will lead to tension, but the truth is being transparent with your coworkers builds solidarity!"
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Jun 20
Once you get the conversation started, it's important to identify other people in your workplace who can commit to helping you organize! 1/3
Graphic with a green clip art image of two hands shaking on a light gray background with white text above it reading "Find your allies" Graphic with white text over a light green image of 3 stick figures standing with their arms around each other. The top of the image has a dark green title banner with white text that reads, "Find your allies" The text over the image reads "if you're thinking about organizing, chances are you aren't the only one. Organizing takes work, and there is strength in numbers, so finding other ready to put in the time is key"
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Aug 27
Check out this new mutual aid network for people working in historic preservation and cultural resources! 🏺 We're all stronger together!
Mutual Aid Network
Launching a Mutual Aid Network for Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Workers We're Coming Together The past year has brought seismic shifts in the historic preservation community. Across th...
sites.google.com
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Aug 22
🏺🪏
unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Aug 21
Archaeological field technicians are long overdue for a union and the time to organize is NOW! If you're a field tech in CRM and interested in organizing your workplace, let us know and we can help connect you with the resources to get started!
A black outline map of the continental United States. The map is titled "Join a union, join the MOVEMENT" and subtitled " CRM Union Elections...so far!" 4 states are colored in, which represent the states where CRM union elections have been held. Each state is labeled with a text box with an arrow pointing to a locator pin at the city where the election was held. The text boxes read: Salt Lake City, UT March 2024 Archaeologists at SWCA Environmental Consultants vote to join Teamsters Local 222 Denver, CO July 2025 Archaeologists at SWCA Environmental Consultants vote to join Teamsters Local 455 Pittsburgh, PA* January 2025 Archaeologists at SWCA Environmental Consultants vote to join Teamsters Local 341 *Election held, ballot tally pending Frederick, MD June 2024 Archaeologists at Goodwin & Associates vote to join Teamsters Local 992
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Aug 21
Archaeological field technicians are long overdue for a union and the time to organize is NOW! If you're a field tech in CRM and interested in organizing your workplace, let us know and we can help connect you with the resources to get started!
A black outline map of the continental United States. The map is titled "Join a union, join the MOVEMENT" and subtitled " CRM Union Elections...so far!" 4 states are colored in, which represent the states where CRM union elections have been held. Each state is labeled with a text box with an arrow pointing to a locator pin at the city where the election was held. The text boxes read: Salt Lake City, UT March 2024 Archaeologists at SWCA Environmental Consultants vote to join Teamsters Local 222 Denver, CO July 2025 Archaeologists at SWCA Environmental Consultants vote to join Teamsters Local 455 Pittsburgh, PA* January 2025 Archaeologists at SWCA Environmental Consultants vote to join Teamsters Local 341 *Election held, ballot tally pending Frederick, MD June 2024 Archaeologists at Goodwin & Associates vote to join Teamsters Local 992
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Jun 28
This is what companies wish they could get away with but we won't let them!!
A recent job posting on shovelbums was retracted and reposted after receiving backlash for trying to offer $13/hr for a tech position (a living wage in Pennsylvania is estimated to be $22.91/hr) 🏺
Screenshot of an email. Subject line reads: [ShovelBums] Archaeological Field Technician Opportunity in Ligonier, PA - The Markosky Engineering Group Inc. Email reads: June 25 To: ShovelBums@groups.io Please post: Job Description: Archaeological Tec nician - Hourly rate: $13.00-20.00 FSA Status: Non-exempt Feports to: Principal Investigator/Archaeological Coup Leader (directly to Field Cupervisor/Field Director when in the field Job Summary: Archaeological Technicians provide general archaeological support with fieldwork, lab work, inventorying, and curation. If their training allows, assist with artifact identification, or other specialization. Screenshot of an email. Subject line reads: EXT: [ShovelBums] (Wages corrected) Archaeological Field Technician Opportunity in Ligonier, PA - The Markosky Engineering Group Email reads: to ShovelBums [Edited Message Follows] [Reason: Salary updated to $21-23/hr] Job Description: Archaeological Technician - Hourly rate: $21-23/hr
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Jun 20
Start with a core group of organizers and build out from there! 3/3
Graphic image with white text over a faded light green image of a social network graph. There is a dark green title banner at the top of the graphic with white text that reads, "Build your network." The white text over the image reads, "The more support you can build amongst your coworkers, the more successful your campaigns will be. Meet your coworkers where they are and you can learn together the ways a union can change your workplace for the better."
unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Jun 20
Mapping your workplace is an important early step in the organizing process 2/3
Graphic with white text overlain on a faded light green image of street map in the shape of a speech bubble. There is a dark green title banner at the top of the image with white text that reads, "map your workplace." The text over the image reads, "Who talks to who? Who do people turn to for leadership? What motivates your coworkers? What do they value? Understanding your coworkers & how they interact will help you connect w them & build momentum."
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Jun 20
Once you get the conversation started, it's important to identify other people in your workplace who can commit to helping you organize! 1/3
Graphic with a green clip art image of two hands shaking on a light gray background with white text above it reading "Find your allies" Graphic with white text over a light green image of 3 stick figures standing with their arms around each other. The top of the image has a dark green title banner with white text that reads, "Find your allies" The text over the image reads "if you're thinking about organizing, chances are you aren't the only one. Organizing takes work, and there is strength in numbers, so finding other ready to put in the time is key"
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Jun 19
Want more specifics? Check out this page from our zine on the basics of organizing
unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Jun 3
The WHO, WHEN, and WHERE of getting organized
Get Organized! Who? Employees eligible to participate in union elections are known as the bargaining unit. This varies from workplace to workplace, but generally any non-supervisory employee is included. At a CRM office, this might include field and lab technicians, staff archaeologists, crew chiefs, and sometimes field directors. You should "map" your workplace early to define the bargaining unit, find allies, and rely on existing relationships to strategically bring more co-workers on board. Start by talking to the people you trust or that you know are pro-union and build out from there. When? You have the right to discuss your working conditions with your co-workers and participate in organizing actitivies during non-work hours. This includes any time you are at work (office or field) but not on the clock, like breaks, crew dinners, or unpaid drive time. Where? Certain activities can take place anywhere in the workplace during non-working hours. However, other activities, like passing out union literature, must ALSO take place in non-working areas, like the parking lot. Even when it is allowed, be careful where you talk about unionizing at work. The earlier your employer knows about your campaign, the more time they have to organize against you.
unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Jun 19
There's no such thing as a union of one, so start talking to your coworkers and build solidarity in the workplace!
Digital image of two light blue stick figures centered on a light gray background. They are holding shovels with a speech bubble above one of them indicating they are talking to each other. White text above them reads, "it starts with a conversation" and white text below them reads, "talk to your coworkers!" Digital image with white text written over multiple faded blue speech bubble graphics on a light gray background. Text at the top of the image is written on a blue title banner that reads, "Start A Conversation" and the white text over the speech bubbles reads, "Bosses want you to believe that talking about wages and other benefits will lead to tension, but the truth is being transparent with your coworkers builds solidarity!"
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Reposted by Unionizing American Archaeology
archhelmer.bsky.social
Dr. Angry Anarchist (Free 🇵🇸) @archhelmer.bsky.social · Jun 9
Good article laying out how the administration is stripping cultural resource protections 🧪🏺
Trump administration attacks the preservation of archaeological resources
Funding and staff cuts will gut the protection of archaeological sites under the National Historic Preservation Act.
www.wsws.org
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fightforaunion.bsky.social
Fight For A Union @fightforaunion.bsky.social · Jun 6
EVERYBODY WATCH.

ICE IS OUT OF CONTROL.

Video of SEIU California’s President David Huerta getting assaulted & arrested during an ICE raid in the warehouse district of Downtown Los Angeles today.

He’s an LA native, American citizen and labor leader.

Don’t turn away.
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Jun 6
Want to learn more about how The Underground built class solidarity and community amongst archaeological field technicians? Check out last year's article in the Bulletin of the History of Archaeology: archaeologybulletin.org/articles/10....
The Underground Zine and the Labor Movement in 1990s Compliance Archaeology | Bulletin of the History of Archaeology
archaeologybulletin.org
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Jun 6
You can find archived issues of The Underground, along with photos and related articles from the time, at The Digital Archaeological Record (tDAR)🏺: core.tdar.org/project/4905...
The Underground Digital Archive | the Digital Archaeological Record
The Underground Digital Archive contains scanned copies of The Underground, a zine created by and for archaeological field technicians in the 1990s, along with related ephemera curated by the zine's o...
core.tdar.org
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unionizearch.bsky.social
Unionizing American Archaeology @unionizearch.bsky.social · Jun 6
Repatriation and Ethics- Part of the Conversation
Repatriation and Ethics-Part of the Conversation Zine text: Field techs were at the forefront of some of the longest running ethical debates in archaeology. The Underground editors and readers were voicing their support for Indigenous rights decades before these positions were widely accepted. Even today, some of the ethical critiques presented in The Underground would be considered radical, especially when it came to anti-capitalist critique of the industry. Text excerpts from The Underground: "One Archaeologist on Ethics & Activism- Owing to the mix of people at the conference (collectors academics, contract folk) the consensus was pretty much repatriation is something to be dealt with unfortunately. I am constantly surprised how hostile "archaeologist" are toward the native americans they devote their lives to studying." "Development the very bread and butter of our professional existance is quickly destroying the natural environment that existed in this country for the entire history of the aboriginals we study. Native American rights are still ignored by our government and archaeologists feel that they are antagonistic toward our aims well what have you done for them lately?"
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