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UCU - Pensions and Pay Disputes

Benjamin F said:
Cheers, but this is largely organised by IWW members in Dumfries. The Dumfries campus is 70 miles from Glasgow. Though technically the Dumfries Wobs are members of the Clydeside branch as they are not (yet) separately chartered.
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Sooner or later, I manage to turn every thread I post on into a "hitmouse understands fuck all about geography" thread, and apparently that time is now for this one.
 
Crossposting here, in the local Goldsmiths dispute Unison are going to be out from March 2nd-4th:
Goldsmiths UCU have their own, somewhat more ambitious programme of action:
goldsmithsucu.org

Statement for Students about Industrial Action, Spring 2022 - Goldsmiths University and College Union

Statement and FAQ to students from the staff union (GUCU) about industrial action in Spring 2022: Dear students, As many of you already know, the staff union (GUCU) had a ...
goldsmithsucu.org goldsmithsucu.org
 
Crossposting from the strike thread, City University has been totally closed these past few days, which shows what can be achieved with cross-union action:

Statement on partial campus closure | City, University of London

The University campus will be partially closed on Monday 28th February, Tuesday 1st March and Wednesday 2nd March.
www.city.ac.uk www.city.ac.uk

Strike fund for City University Unison is here:
www.gofundme.com

Donate to City University UNISON Strike Fund, organized by City University UNISON

SUPPORT FUND FOR LOW-PAID STRIKING WORKERS AT CITY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON … City University UNISON needs your support for City University UNISON Strike Fund
www.gofundme.com www.gofundme.com
 
The causes that the UCU strike are fighting for are just (today is my first day back in after 7 windswept chilly days on the picket line), but I honestly can't see how the strike can be successful. The union is in a weaker position than 2019-20 (and the strike action wasn't terrible effective then), where I work, and I assume the circumstances are similar at many HE institutions. The union here lost good members who retired during Covid, but we haven't had much of chance to speak to new staff and have the informal union conversations, because of remote teaching and social distancing. Similarly the vital links to students have not developed as strongly because of the same factors. Staff as whole are worn out by the additional demands of Covid and the prolonged campaign which seems to have gone on for years without resolution. The union oddly seems to underplay the initial (though brief) 2018 success. Here the strike whilst still resulting in most classes being cancelled and delays in 'vital admin' was far less thorough than in recent years. Zoom has made it easier for scabs to scab, by moving lectures online for. More importantly the University management and students are now used to disruption, so impact is reduced.

It is not just about the just of the cause, but the likelihood of success. So right cause - wrong time. If, as with the the Four Fights, I'll obviously stay out next week and continue to support the Union, but I wish I could feel more positive about the likely outcomes. Instead I fear, if it leads to an all-out strike (potentially its only small chance of success) it will instead result in weakening the union further, as fewer people will remain loyal. Maybe the Union Exec have a clever trick up their sleeve and I am being unduly pessimistic (it has been known) but past experience has taught me to expect little from that quarter. Sorry for the downbeat message. Hopefully someone can post up reasons for greater optimism, which I can then share around.

(Edit: some spelling and grammar corrections)
 
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Benjamin F said:
The causes that the UCU strike are fighting for are just (today is my first day back in after 7 windswept chilly days on the picket line), but I honestly can't see how the strike can be successful. The union is in a weaker position than 2019-20 (and the strike action wasn't terrible effective then), where I work, and I assume the circumstances are similar at many HE institutions. The union here lost good members who retired during Covid, but we haven't had much of chance to speak to new staff and have the informal union conversations, because of remote teaching and social distancing. Similarly the vital links to students have not developed as strongly because of the same factors. Staff as whole are worn out by the additional demands of Covid and the prolonged campaign which seems to have gone on for years without resolution. The union oddly seems to underplay the initial (though brief) 2018 success. Here the strike whilst still resulting in most classes being cancelled and delays in 'vital admin' was far less thorough than in recent years. Zoom has made it easier for scabs to scab, by moving lectures online for. More importantly the University management and students are now used to disruption, so impact is reduced.

It is not just about the just of the cause, but the likelihood of success. So right cause - wrong time. If, as with the the Four Fights, I'll obviously stay out next week and continue to support the Union, but I wish I could feel more positive about the likely outcomes. Instead I fear, if it leads to an all-out strike (potentially its only small chance of success) it will instead result in weakening the union further, as fewer people will remain loyal. Maybe the Union Exec have a clever trick up their sleeve and I am being unduly pessimistic (it has been known) but past experience has taught me to expect little from that quarter. Sorry for the downbeat message. Hopefully someone can post up reasons for greater optimism, which I can then share around.

(Edit: some spelling and grammar corrections)
Click to expand...

My only hope is that people will realise now that the shit has hit the fan. Our pensions have been slashed and unless urgent mass action is taken immediately we can forget ever retiring comfortably.
 
Jeff Robinson said:
My only hope is that people will realise now that the shit has hit the fan. Our pensions have been slashed and unless urgent mass action is taken immediately we can forget ever retiring comfortably.
Click to expand...
That's what I was fearing, a strategy of more of the same, but dependent on getting a broad group of people who have so far been either unaware or highly distracted from engaging with this suddenly and effectively. This is highly unlikely to happen. Some are sympathetic, but cowardly or vulnerable (happy that others strike, but fear being victimised/not having contract renewed/no longer funding in place) if they take action. Others are positioned where the impact won't hit them - I can always move to a better job - or arrogantly misguided enough to believe it.
 
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Benjamin F said:
That's what I was fearing, getting a broad group of people who have so far been either unaware or highly distracted from engaging with this suddenly and effectively is highly unlikely to happen. Some are sympathetic, but cowardly or vulnerable (happy that others strike, but fear being victimised/not having contract renewed/no longer funding in place) if they take action. Others are positioned where the impact won't hit them - I can always move to a better job - or arrogantly misguided enough to believe it.
Click to expand...

It has been dispiriting to see strike action fritter away over the years. Many people feel pulverised and burnt out, have lost a large amount of money and in the face of employer intransigence, don't see the point in continuing. The thing that has really pissed me off though is the total lack of support of more senior members of staff. Strike action here has been made up almost entirely of junior members of staff, and people on part-time and fixed-term contracts. For people earning £90k+ a year losing a week or 10 days wages will have a fuck all effect on their lives, but - literally bar one person - Professors haven't shown a smidgen of solidarity (in my department at least). The fight for a decent pension, an end to casualisation and pay inequality has been shouldered almost exclusively by the people who need their salaries the most.

Like I said, this pension hit will be make or break. Either it will absolutely shatter people's spirit or it will mobilise enough anger and concern to finally turn the corner. There has undoubtedly been a massive change in mood in academia since the decision was made yesterday

 
Benjamin F said:
It is not just about the just of the cause, but the likelihood of success. So right cause - wrong time. If, as with the the Four Fights, I'll obviously stay out next week and continue to support the Union, but I wish I could feel more positive about the likely outcomes. Instead I fear, if it leads to an all-out strike (potentially its only small chance of success) it will instead result in weakening the union further, as fewer people will remain loyal. Maybe the Union Exec have a clever trick up their sleeve and I am being unduly pessimistic (it has been known) but past experience has taught me to expect little from that quarter. Sorry for the downbeat message. Hopefully someone can post up reasons for greater optimism, which I can then share around.
Click to expand...
I mean, not to be too one-track, but in terms of optimism the fact that we've seen proper cross-union action for the first time in ages feels like a very positive development? I mean, looking at that City statement again, if they could get that happening at insitutions across the UK instead of a tiny handful that'd be a real shift... but then again, we're a long way off there.
On the other hand, as bad news goes, this lockout/deducting 100% of pay for ASOS shit seems as significant as the pensions stuff?
www.ucu.org.uk

Staff warn rogue university bosses to prepare for more strike action over pay deductions

UCU has warned hardline university bosses that they could be hit with even more strike action - on top of the ten days already planned - if they go ahead with 100% deductions in pay for staff taking action short of a strike (ASOS).
www.ucu.org.uk www.ucu.org.uk
 
I'm still just not convinced by the action having any impact at all, but then I am but meh about a few HE sector things atm so it's all rolled into one.
I am however thoroughly enjoying time off to recharge after the last two years.
 
Hmmm, as much as I'd like to be proper strike boosterish it has felt like energy/numbers have been pretty low this last two weeks compared to November/December. And the weather wasn't even shit this morning so can't blame it on that.
 
Yeah, based on what I've seen of the pickets these last two weeks it's hard to see a way to winning the dispute - the current level of action doesn't really seem to have UUK/UCEA running scared, I suppose the "correct" answer is that action needs to be more intense and disruptive but it doesn't look to me like the membership would have much appetite for more strikes in the immediate future, so really struggling to see a way the UCU could win from here.
 
hitmouse said:
Yeah, based on what I've seen of the pickets these last two weeks it's hard to see a way to winning the dispute - the current level of action doesn't really seem to have UUK/UCEA running scared, I suppose the "correct" answer is that action needs to be more intense and disruptive but it doesn't look to me like the membership would have much appetite for more strikes in the immediate future, so really struggling to see a way the UCU could win from here.
Click to expand...
Locally we have been really quiet this strike. I think the general consensus is if we were going to 'win' it would have happened by now. Striking numbers were low, energy low. Not a reflection on our local union leaders tbh, but just an overlying sense of 'not sure what the point is here'.
 
WTF?
I could dip into my savings to make up the financial loss, but it's the effect on my workload that really worries me.
I've worked about an extra 10 hours this week to catch up from the last strike, and I've got some leave planned mid-March that I really don't want to cancel.
Talk about a rock and a hard place :(
 
Single income here. Days lost have a huge impact on me and the kids. I'm hoping to have to really think about this and if I can afford it. I think part of my issue is I don't really feel anything positive will come from it.
 
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