Strike 101

In this article, Goldsmiths Students' Union Campaigns Officer, Howard Littler, answers some basic questions about the strike on Thursday.

If you do have any further questions or want to get more involved in campaigning generally email him on campaigns@goldsmithssu.org 

 

What is happening?

 

This Thursday (31st October) a big portion of the staff at Goldsmiths (mainly lecturers, education workers etc) will not be coming to work. This means that some of your lectures and seminar classes will be cancelled, and the university won’t be running as normal. Instead of facilitating your classes, university staff will be outside the college on a picket line and/or at a rally as part of co-ordinated industrial action against their employers (the university). This isn’t just happening at Goldsmiths, but at higher education institutions across the country.  

 

Why is this happening?

 

University staff are unhappy that since 2008 they have faced a 13% decrease in their pay, in real terms. The universities response has been to offer a measly 1% increase, which has been rejected. The decision for education workers to go on strike and withdraw their labour is a last resort, and everyone who goes on strike will lose a days wages. Further reasons for striking can be found here http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/p/3/hedispute13_strikeA4leaflet_uson.pdf

 

What will happen on the day?

 

From 8.30am in the morning university staff and students will join together in various places around campus on a picket line (see below for definition), talking about their reasons for taking industrial action and encouraging other staff and students to join or support them in solidarity. The strike action only happened after the majority of members voted for it. 

 

What is a picket line?

 

The ‘picket line’ is a physical manifestation of the strike. Those striking on the day will stand outside their place of work (the university) with banners, placards etc and will be both encouraging fellow staff to join the picket as well as speaking to students and members of the public on their reasons for withdrawing their labour. It is both peaceful and legal and we’d encourage students to support and respect these picket lines by not crossing. 

 

I am not a member of staff, why does it matter if I cross the picket line?

 

It is important that students support the university staff in their quest for fair pay and conditions. It is in our interest to ensure that the staff who teach us and support us in our learning are treated fairly so we can get the best quality education. This is why student assembly this month unanimously voted in favour of supporting those on strike and this is why the student union will be actively joining the picket line on the day and asking students to do the same.  

 

I’m an international student what will happen if I don’t attend class?

 

Look out for an email from your department as they will let you know of any arrangements. You shouldn’t be punished for supporting university staff and not attending on the day, but if you feel like you have been or are being contact your student union: campaigns@goldsmithssu.org

 

But I paid 9 grand fees, will I get some of my money back?

 

Education isn’t simply a commodity and shouldn’t be treated as such. University workers haven’t made the decision to strike lightly, and all of them will be losing a day's worth of wages for doing so. It is understandable that you are keen to get the most out of your education, but if you are genuinely interested in the quality of your education the right thing to do would be to support your lecturers in fighting for better working conditions. After all an overworked, underpaid teaching body is far from ideal. Their fight is ours.   

 

Whose fault is all this?

 

Don’t be angry at those on strike. They’re simply reacting to a 13% decrease in their wages over the past 4 years, what has been described as “one of the most sustained cuts in wages since the Second World War” (source: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/13/england-leave-funding-universities-students). This is down to 2 groups:

 

The university bosses -- workers have been in negotiations with the universities over this massive pay discrepancy and their only offer is a 1% increase. This is despite pay and benefits for university leaders increasing, on average, by more than £5,000 (from 2011-12 figures). Conversely, the average university vice chancellor is paid £250,000 a year. The university sector has a 1 billion pound surplus and cash reserves - it can afford to pay its staff fairly.

 

The government -- when the government tripled tuition fees in 2010 that didn’t mean universities themselves got more money. Under the banner of austerity the government are cutting back on education and encouraging universities to cut back too. This has led to where we are now, an assault on regular staff, who aren’t to blame for the financial crisis, and a pay squeeze which has gotten us to where we are today. 

 

What can I do to support my lecturers?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I support the strike but I have important work to be getting on with

 

If you can’t support the picket lines on the day we’d encourage you to either work from home or, if you need to access printing facilities on the day come to the student union where we’ll allow you to print out anything which is urgent.