UCU - Pensions and Pay Disputes

[SpackleFrog]

Not sure it would have to be indefinite, but it's certainly a high stakes poker/not blinking game. I was on a reps training course in November and got the impression that senior figures in the (Northern) Region are very hostile to a marking ban (for the reasons you indicate).

Some senior figures in UCU are just pretty hostile to campaigning to be fair...

I mean that once 100% pay deductions are live it's basically a lock out. How long it would last would be anyone's guess but it would stop everyone graduating until it was resolved.

 

[SpackleFrog]

It makes me chuckle really. We have head teachers (yes, a bit different, but the point is the same) piously intoning that taking a child out of school for a day to go on holiday, is a tragedy that will stunt the child's education for life. However, it would seem that industrial action days are magic, they don't harm the child's education.

I know you shouldn't feed trolls but since I'm operating in a state of heightened emotional exhaustion as a result of running around organising academics to take historic industrial action if anyone inboxes me to tell me who you are you're going on the "People I have ambitions of punching" list.

 

[scalyboy]

Our HR dept have declared that any UNISON members not wishing to cross a UCU picket line will not be subject to disciplinary action, just loss of pay. Myself and a few other agency/temp UNISON colleagues are waiting to hear if the same guarantees apply to us.

 

[heinous seamus]

From a BBC article on the strike:

And there are hawks too, with City and Reading universities telling staff they could be included in any legal action for compensation taken by students.

"The university further reserves the right to join you as a party to any claim for breach of contract brought against the university as a result of this action," said Reading's director of human resources in a letter to staff.

While Mary Luckiram, who holds the same position at Reading, warned staff they could be "personally liable for any damages awarded in those claims".

 

[Jeff Robinson]

About 28 people out of a staff of 70 odd have expressly committed to the full 14 day strike in my department, with a number more committing to the first 5 days. The strikers are predominantly younger members of staff though there are some senior lecturers and a handful of Profs also striking. Hoped there'd be more put hopefully things'll pick up. I'm gonna join the picket line next week (recovering from a cold atm) but looks like a good atmosphere from the photos.

 

[PursuedByBears]

Lancaster UCU picket

 

[DotCommunist]

good luck to all.

 

[Ground Elder]

My PhD student daughter is on strike today in Sheffield. Solidarity and best of luck to you all

 

[Doctor Carrot]

Just heard some toff student on the news trying to claim compensation for lost lecture time due to the strike

 

[DotCommunist]

Just heard some toff student on the news trying to claim compensation for lost lecture time due to the strike

I read that some hawkish managers have made threats of including strikers liable in any claims brought against them.Which I don't think they can do but wankers either way

 

[MickiQ]

I read that some hawkish managers have made threats of including strikers liable in any claims brought against them.Which I don't think they can do but wankers either way

That's utter bollocks, if it's a properly authorised strike that has been balloted for then they can't be sued or claimed against.

 

[Doctor Carrot]

It's a pretty depressing state of affairs. I was at uni five years ago as a mature student, there were lecturer strikes then and students joined the picket line with them. Now they're turning on the lecturers? If anything it at least highlights the disciplinary nature of tuition fees on student behaviour.

 

[agricola]

It's a pretty depressing state of affairs. I was at uni five years ago as a mature student, there were lecturer strikes then and students joined the picket line with them. Now they're turning on the lecturers? If anything it at least highlights the disciplinary nature of tuition fees on student behaviour.

Perhaps - though given how the news media works they could easily have had 900 students speak in support of the strike and one against, and had "one from each side" so the reporting was balanced.

 

[cybershot]

Just heard some toff student on the news trying to claim compensation for lost lecture time due to the strike

This line from the BBC site pretty much sums it up, in that it makes no fucking sense.

Petitions signed by 80,000 students, many backing the lecturers, are demanding refunds for lost teaching.

 

[PursuedByBears]

It's to put pressure on the employers, not necessarily against the strike.

 

[strung out]

This line from the BBC site pretty much sums it up, in that it makes no fucking sense.

The universities will be making quite large savings from not paying the striking staff, so I'm assuming the students would like to see some of that back. As long as they're supporting the strikers, I don't blame them tbh.

 

[redsquirrel]

It's a pretty depressing state of affairs. I was at uni five years ago as a mature student, there were lecturer strikes then and students joined the picket line with them. Now they're turning on the lecturers? If anything it at least highlights the disciplinary nature of tuition fees on student behaviour.

Demanding compensation from the universities doesn't mean that the students aren't supportive of the strikes.
If they're paying £9000 a year why shouldn't the universities refund some of that money. Most universities are/were happy enough to make students consumers, refunds are the logical result.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

Loads of students joined the picket lines and rally here today.

 

[Dowie]

Just heard some toff student on the news trying to claim compensation for lost lecture time due to the strike

What is wrong with that?

This line from the BBC site pretty much sums it up, in that it makes no fucking sense.

Yes it does, lectures have been missed and so students (who are paying huge fees) are claiming compensation. As far as I'm aware most lecturers are quite happy about this as it puts additional pressure on the university and helps their cause.

 

[stethoscope]

It's a pretty depressing state of affairs. I was at uni five years ago as a mature student, there were lecturer strikes then and students joined the picket line with them. Now they're turning on the lecturers? If anything it at least highlights the disciplinary nature of tuition fees on student behaviour.

So far, there's plenty of support from students for the strike and those taking part, at the same time quite a number of those students have also said they believe they should be entitled to money back from lost lectures/tutorials because of it. Whilst in an ideological sense, I hate that higher education has turned students into consumers, as it stands, they're now paying a lot of money for their education and as such do have a right to ask Universities for refunds.

 

[chilango]

Yeah, each lecture I take costs me about £75. I have 9 lectures per module. Of course I'd want a refund (at the very least) if they don't happen.

But I won't be letting the Uni use that as way to bash the strikers.

I suspect it won't come to that though.

 

[Doctor Carrot]

Yeah fair enough it's not an either or situation I guess. I do find it depressing that higher education has become comodified and turned students into consumers above just being students wanting to learn. I guess the commodification of education is all part of the reasons for striking in the first place.

 

[Pickman's model]

Yeah fair enough it's not an either or situation I guess. I do find it depressing that higher education has become comodified and turned students into consumers above just being students wanting to learn. I guess the commodification of education is all part of the reasons for striking in the first place.

depressingly, many students feel that by virtue of paying fees they are buying a first class degree rather than the opportunity to achieve a first class degree.

 

[Pickman's model]

Yeah, each lecture I take costs me about £75. I have 9 lectures per module. Of course I'd want a refund (at the very least) if they don't happen.

But I won't be letting the Uni use that as way to bash the strikers.

I suspect it won't come to that though.

can you give me an example of any university which has given you grounds to think they might?

 

[chilango]

can you give me an example of any university which has given you grounds to think they might?

No.

 

[Pickman's model]

No.

i've seen a message from one college head hoping that the situation would be resolved in the staff's interest. being as the move to bugger with the pensions is based on arbitrary accounting rules and not the actual viability of the scheme i think it very unlikely any institution would seek to make hay from the dispute.

 

[chilango]

i've seen a message from one college head hoping that the situation would be resolved in the staff's interest. being as the move to bugger with the pensions is based on arbitrary accounting rules and not the actual viability of the scheme i think it very unlikely any institution would seek to make hay from the dispute.

Good.

 

[SpookyFrank]

It makes me chuckle really. We have head teachers (yes, a bit different, but the point is the same) piously intoning that taking a child out of school for a day to go on holiday, is a tragedy that will stunt the child's education for life. However, it would seem that industrial action days are magic, they don't harm the child's education.

Two questions:

1. What's your point?
2. You don't have a point do you?

 

[Jeff Robinson]

Student rally at my uni:

 

[Jeff Robinson]

Well fuckadoodledo:

University pension boss's £82,000 pay rise