{"id":1403,"date":"2020-02-25T15:07:03","date_gmt":"2020-02-25T15:07:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewitnessexet.wpengine.com\/?p=1403"},"modified":"2021-02-05T14:39:56","modified_gmt":"2021-02-05T14:39:56","slug":"more-strikes-to-cross-or-not-to-cross-the-picket-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewitnessexeter.co.uk\/?p=1403","title":{"rendered":"\u2018More strikes: to cross or not to cross the picket line!\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>5 Minute, 17 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n

Unless you have been living under a rock – and didn\u2019t notice the countless<\/em> emails in your university mailbox \u2013 you will be aware that the second round of strikes is in motion right now with the University of Exeter being one of the 74 universities on strike across the country.  You can see which universities are striking for which particular reason here<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

74 members of the University and College Union (UCU) began 14 days of strike action on Thursday 20th<\/sup> February; the largest wave ever seen on UK campuses. The UCU has a membership of 120,000 – the largest further and higher education union in the world – demonstrating not only its power in numbers but also its strength as a union in negotiating with some of the best universities in the UK and the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strikes\nare set to increase in length over four weeks. Starting with two days last\nweek, three this week, four the following week; concluding with five full\nconsecutive days of striking from Monday 9th<\/sup> to Friday 13th<\/sup>\nMarch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the disputes over<\/strong>?

1. Pay and Working Conditions <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The casualisation of workers, in particular, is a significant issue. There are severe concerns over the lack of job security as a result of increasing short-term contracts. One member of staff, in particular, I spoke to has been working for the university for several years and has yet to receive a formal contract \u2013 meaning at the end of each year, they face the prospect of becoming unemployed. In addition, staff are experiencing heavier workloads and pay disparity in relation to gender and ethnicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Pensions<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding disputes over the sustainability of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (private pension scheme for higher education institutions in the UK). The dispute relates to changes to the scheme, seeing an increase in the contributions made by staff and <\/em>employers. Universities say this is needed to sustain the pension scheme, but of course, the UCU denies this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vice-Chancellor Sir Steve Smith has talked of his wish to \u2018resolve these institutional dilemmas\u2019 through \u2018working closely with colleagues, trade unions and student representatives\u2019, particularly through the Fair Employment For All working group. Personally, this seems more like a PR measure to damage control than real progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I spoke to a\nmember of staff, who said: \u201cI definitely do support the strike\u2026the\nissues of pensions and temporary contracts are important to me. The fact that\ngetting a permanent appointment as a lecturer is difficult and without the\nsense of job security that it brings, it is an important issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This comment depicts in a nutshell what staff are striking\nfor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if members of staff are not engaging in this particular\nform of last-resort industrial action, some are already engaging in \u2018actions\nshort of a strike\u2019. Including refusing to cover for absent staff or\nrescheduling lectures affected by the strike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impact on\nus – the fee-paying<\/em> students? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cancelled\nlectures, cancelled seminars\u2026or not? How will we know? The point is that the\nnature of these strikes is intended to cause as much disruption as possible. At\nthe discretion of the staff member – if they so choose – we are informed of\ntheir position on the strikes and are left to make our own decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Students\u2019\nGuild conducted a student poll from 10th<\/sup>– 12th<\/sup> February\nto gauge the views of students. The result was interesting: 85% of those who\nvoted said they supported the cause<\/em> of industrial action, but a\nsignificantly lower 37% supported strike action<\/em>, down 4% from the\nNovember strikes. The Students\u2019 Guild website even has a dedicated page for\ninformation on strike action, which you can take a look at here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An estimated\n1 million students were affected nationally because of the last strikes\nstarting in November, but the full extent remains to be seen. Already, I have\nreceived emails from subject departments informing me of deadline\nretentions\/extensions due to the industrial action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One student I spoke to who does not support the strikes said: \u201cThe strikes have meant a significant amount of learning time for students has been disrupted or lost, putting our grades at risk. It is also unfair that we are not getting the most out of the extortionate tuition fees that we pay.\u201d I cannot help sympathising with this statement, whilst feeling that I too should boycott along with tutors and lecturers. It is the students the university will listen to.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whereas\nanother student, whose timetable is literally empty<\/em> for the next four\nweeks, commented: \u201cI feel that all my academics have ensured that as students,\nwe are being supported. In the best way possible\u2026therefore I have been able to\nsupport my tutors in their choice to strike, whilst continuing with my\nstudies.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fellow\nstudents will have almost their entire timetable affected, whilst some will not\nexperience a cancelled seminar or lecture \u2013 seems fair for the price we pay,\nright?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A first-year\nstudent \u2013 does this bode well for the next 3 years? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since I started university in September it seems as though serious dissatisfaction is entrenched in members of staff. The last series of strikes were something I and many others had never experienced before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless,\nthe staff members striking are not taking the decision lightly. Some lose\nthousands in wages and face considerable stress in the workplace. Personally, I\nhave the utmost respect for those on strike. And whilst my timetable currently\nlooks depressingly empty, resources have been provided for me on the Exeter\nLearning Environment so I can continue my studies in the meantime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope there\nis a resolution to be found. I do not fancy another three years of disruption\nor unhappy academics teaching me, particularly for the \u00a39250 per year I load up\nin debt. I did choose not to cross the picket line last term however I am\nunsure whether I too will boycott once more. It is the choice of all students\nto determine their position and use their voice to make sure the university\nlistens. We put the money in their pockets, after all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Thank you to\nthe students and staff members who granted me permission to use their comments\nanonymously and took the time to speak to me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

**I contacted Steve Smith\u2019s office for a comment and received no response.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written by Jess Mahon<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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