UCU - Pensions and Pay Disputes

[Lord Camomile]

considering that last time Unison sent us out on strike for one day, then folded, thus losing us a day's pay for no good reason, I have mixed feelings even about them calling a strike. They don't seem to do it with the intention to win, just to look like they're doing something.

Yeah, I think that's how a lot of our members feel.

Again, like with this UCU strike - if we all went out in support, then I think you'd see some action, but as it is...

This was an interesting response. We've had slightly related difficulties in our branch, where we represent a number of different grades/roles and members' interests don't always match up.

 

[Pickman's model]

Pretty sure the Dave Prentisses of the union world hate the idea of strike action so it surprises me not at all that Unison is trying to avoid it. My housemate who is in the UCU strike has the impression UCU are also quite scared by the idea of striking and don't really like the radicalism it stirs up in the rank and file. It's just that on this occasion they realised there would literally be no point to their existence if they didn't take serious action.

I've just been balloted by Unison on the NJC pay deal. I voted to not accept it, but considering that last time Unison sent us out on strike for one day, then folded, thus losing us a day's pay for no good reason, I have mixed feelings even about them calling a strike. They don't seem to do it with the intention to win, just to look like they're doing something.

to be fair when there was the last he ballot it was something like the famous 52% in favour and 48% against. the reason the sge didn't pursue strike action was because of the narrow margin in the vote, as i recall. in the past unison strikes, though they have been in many ways symbolic, have won for members more than was intially on the table. i may not be a great fan of unison, but they're not all bad.

 

[Rosemary Jest]

to be fair when there was the last he ballot it was something like the famous 52% in favour and 48% against

A bit like Brexit...

Yes, Unison aren't all bad, better than nothing at least and are fairly well represented in HE.

Just wish there'd be some co-ordination between Unions, they do like to shoot themselves in the foot it seems.

 

[Pickman's model]

A bit like Brexit...

Yes, Unison aren't all bad, better than nothing at least and are fairly well represented in HE.

Just wish there'd be some co-ordination between Unions, they do like to shoot themselves in the foot it seems.

last year and this year ucu have not coordinated their actions with unison or unite. it's been a cause for some comment down our way

 

[Lord Camomile]

Quite a bit being made of this.

 

[aqua]

interesting things seem to be afoot today, some sense of a wind of change coming from Oxford (cheers 2hats), wonder how long this will go on for...

 

[teuchter]

Vice chancellor u-turns on UCU strike

 

[PursuedByBears]

We should have this on our picket line!

 

[PursuedByBears]

A film studies lecturer friend of mine shot and edited this little film of our picket line today

Spot me at 1:10 looking cold in green coat & orange scarf!

 

[redcogs]

A film studies lecturer friend of mine shot and edited this little film of our picket line today

Spot me at 1:10 looking cold in green coat & orange scarf!

More of a red/russet colour id say. Thanks for vid link PursuedByBeers and blinking good luck with the strike.

You are gonna win!

 

[PursuedByBears]

Solidarity! I bloody well hope we're going to win! More and more of the VCs and employers are coming round to our position (on day 8 of the strike now) and it feels like we're making progress.

The strike now seems to have gained a momentum of its own, it's no longer just about pensions, it also encompasses a massive feeling of FUCK YOU to all the marketisation agenda, all the thousand ways in which we're measured all day every day (REF/TEF), all the horrendous casualisation/low pay precariat of the RAs and hourly-paid lecturers etc etc. It's brought the professoriat and the junior and casual staff, and technical and professional staff like me, all together as one for the first time in a long time. FUCK YOU UUK and be afraid of the newly politicised monster you've helped to create!

 

[aqua]

Oxford earlier, tweets about Cambridge tonight. The ride is turning. UUK lol like a pathetic shambles and I'm having so much fun on our picket

 

[muscovyduck]

I'm so confused - I'm trying to find out the strike dates over the next few weeks, are they different for different universities? I have the option to not cross a picket line if I plan ahead now

 

[PursuedByBears]

We're out all week next week - the whole five working days. Anything else is up to UUK and their willingness to negotiate.

Some (five?) uni's have different dates because they were re-ballotted and the FE colleges are also out on a different timetable I think?

 

[muscovyduck]

We're out all week next week - the whole five working days. Anything else is up to UUK and their willingness to negotiate.

Some (five?) uni's have different dates because they were re-ballotted and the FE colleges are also out on a different timetable I think?

Cheers!

 

[Riklet]

Hope the strikes continue with some good aggressive demands too now that they have these fuckers on the back foot.

It's a travesty what's been happening in UK higher education.

 

[cybershot]

Taking non-strike action

 

[PursuedByBears]

Today's email from Sally Hunt at UCU says:
"As things stand there is no agreement at Acas. Because of this our negotiators today sought and received the support of HEC for a further fourteen days of further strikes if no acceptable agreement is reached.

These strikes, if they are needed, would be staged in such a way as to maximise disruption to the forthcoming exams and assessment period in USS institutions between April and June. HEC also agreed to sanction, if necessary, further strikes immediately after Easter in institutions where scheduled teaching continues. Strike pay will be available for any action undertaken."

I guess that the employees aren't budging and this is to keep the pressure on.

 

[aqua]

Well as I see it UUK aren't going to budge quickly, because there would be serious questions asked of their purpose (rightly so, but they won't want it). The absolute contempt shown in this by UUK is quite stunning, and with the VCs who are asking to discuss being ignored I can see this being a turning point in HE. It's also showing those uni's who arse lick the whole neo-liberalism ideology too.

Another 14 days would be awful for us, but fuck them. I'm really actually quite angry about this in a way I wasn't when I started. That's what happens when you talk to people you never normally see. I'm central services, and spending time forging relationships with academics in schools I never get to go to normally has been amazing.

 

[philosophical]

Should students get a refund for cancelled lectures/contact time because Education has been turned into a commercial transaction? I heard that given the 9000 pounds a year, on one calculation each student is paying upwards of 100 pounds per lecture or tutorial.
I suppose non contact situations such as 'marking' and access to resources could be assigned a monetary value too, but a student deserves some kind of delay repay situation from their institution I would have thought.
Otherwise from the point of view of the student, money is demanded off them and nothing is delivered.
If institutions have to repay to students, it might focus the minds of all those in power over their lives to re think if Education ought to be treated as a commercial enterprise.

 

[Miss-Shelf]

Solidarity with striking UCU colleagues. Amazing work that is having an effect.

 

[heinous seamus]

Turned back at the picket line this morning.

 

[heinous seamus]

I told my boss I wasn't coming in and he said ' you know USS pension scheme doesn't affect you?'
I said ' it affects my colleagues though'
He replied 'true but they are much higher paid and can afford to lose a week's pay. Why don't you go for a coffee and come in at 10'

 

[Pickman's model]

Should students get a refund for cancelled lectures/contact time because Education has been turned into a commercial transaction? I heard that given the 9000 pounds a year, on one calculation each student is paying upwards of 100 pounds per lecture or tutorial.
I suppose non contact situations such as 'marking' and access to resources could be assigned a monetary value too, but a student deserves some kind of delay repay situation from their institution I would have thought.
Otherwise from the point of view of the student, money is demanded off them and nothing is delivered.
If institutions have to repay to students, it might focus the minds of all those in power over their lives to re think if Education ought to be treated as a commercial enterprise.

pls show your working. and then fuck off.

 

[philosophical]

pls show your working. and then fuck off.

Bing

 

[Pickman's model]

Bing

if you want to be taken seriously then (for a start) give the source of this 'one calculation'. what subject does it refer to? and at what level? is it for an arts & humanities degree? or law? or science? do you really believe students have 3 lectures & tutorials a week?

you haven't a clue what you're talking about.

 

[philosophical]

if you want to be taken seriously then (for a start) give the source of this 'one calculation'. what subject does it refer to? and at what level? is it for an arts & humanities degree? or law? or science? do you really believe students have 3 lectures & tutorials a week?

you haven't a clue what you're talking about.

Really?
Education has or is being transmogrified into a business, where the debate has been about fees relating to future earnings. Hence the justification for fees.
If a student is patently paying for something they don't get, whatever the course, of whatever variable each bit of contact time comes to (minus the other costs like access to a library or lab, or dance studio or he infrastructure) in the context of Education as a business shouldn't they get some money back for missed contact time?

 

[Pickman's model]

Really?
Education has or is being transmogrified into a business, where the debate has been about fees relating to future earnings. Hence the justification for fees.
If a student is patently paying for something they don't get, whatever the course, of whatever variable each bit of contact time comes to (minus the other costs like access to a library or lab, or dance studio or he infrastructure) in the context of Education as a business shouldn't they get some money back for missed contact time?

so no source for your claim.

 

[Pickman's model]

Really?
Education has or is being transmogrified into a business, where the debate has been about fees relating to future earnings. Hence the justification for fees.
If a student is patently paying for something they don't get, whatever the course, of whatever variable each bit of contact time comes to (minus the other costs like access to a library or lab, or dance studio or he infrastructure) in the context of Education as a business shouldn't they get some money back for missed contact time?

that's utter bollocks. 'the debate has been about fees relating to future earnings'? tosh. fees bear no relation to future earnings. do come back when you have an iota of an inkling of what you're on about.

 

[philosophical]

so no source for your claim.

And no answer to my rather straightforward question.