Anyone in the UCU?

[Closetlibrarian]

And striking at end of Feb?

I joined UCU after the last strike, so this will be my first. Even though I voted in favour it, I'm now in an utter quandary. I have an absolute monster of a semester coming up and I'm fretting about all the lectures, tutorials, etc, I'll have to cancel as part of the strike.

If you've gone on strike before how did you present it to your students so that they didn't just get really pissed off with you for cancelling lectures (that we're then, according to UCU, not supposed to reschedule)?

Also, how did you mange with the loss of income? I'm the 'breadwinner', so 14 days of strike action is going to massively impact us (i.e. I'm not sure we'll be able to pay our bills).

I haven't decided how to vote yet.

I hate everyone (ie USS and UUK) for putting me in a position where I have to spend my time thinking about this rather than actually work.

Has anyone read the stuff on ussbriefs.com/?

I have read some of it - some makes more sense than others.

It still doesn't answer my question though!

I read the one that says vote yes and the one that says vote no. I'm more inclined to say no, mostly because the "deal" does not seem to be promising anything at all and seems to say that they will think about it and then still do whatever they want...

How soon do you think we will hear the result after the ballot closes?

Had been quite optimistic when I read this offer first, but am swinging back towards no now. Fuck. I can ill afford this after an expensive relocation and DH still out of work. But I can't afford to lose my pension more.

eggs usually quite quickly I think.
Well I've voted no.

PS has anyone got any links to what happens to the OLD pension payments once the scheme changes? (under the various possible outcomes)

Previously accrued rights don't change. Is this what you are asking?

Has anyone read the stuff on ussbriefs.com?

I know that this was put together very quickly, by a small team of people, but I am quite disappointed by what is on there.

A glaring omission is the lack of discussion of importance of commitments to long term high percentage contributions by universities. This is arguably at least as important or more important than retaining DB and does not seem to be appreciated by many UCU members. UCU seems to emphasise keeping a watered down version of DB at all costs - but the likely DB offer would in the long run give people less than a version of DC (or even better, if one could find a way to do it, a version of collective DC), with universities retaining ~18% contributions.

Cheers @worst

user kind of but DH says that TPR can agree that they must, plus there's the state pension age issue (I was hoping to retire before state pension age so I've been paying added years).

TPR can agree that they must.

That's not considered a likely scenario. It's a pretty strong thing to do and very unlikely unless absolutely necessary to ensure long term ability to pay out. Has anyone hear serious discussion of this? I haven't, from any direction.

On the other hand, it does seem ridiculous that people currently turning 65, could be retiring on over half of their final salary..... when 30 year olds are looking at a completely different kind of lifestyle in retirement.

Well- today is the day!!

Cripes. It's all over. I really REALLY hope Sally H knows what she's doing.

Gosh I actually thought the vote would go the other way

Social media gave me the impression it would be no but real life gave me the impression it would be yes. I figured that the social media bubble was dominated by those who felt strongly against the deal (those who had been harder line throughout) and the (often quiet) yeses would dominate.

So upset, so pissed off. What a waste of time, money, energy. We are shafted. Considering leaving the union if they can throw away such militancy and vision. Don't think ballot was fairly managed.

Sigh. Also p'd off.

Please don't leave TheWizard we need you

I'm sure strike fatigue is part of it!
Feels like a massive wasted opportunity but Hopefully all not lost ?!?

I think we all feel a bit wrung out by this - and a bit, what now?

There needs to be a culture change regarding our working lives too: we need to work to contracted hours. No more giving up our entire existence for work or not taking AL, weekends, etc. Open days attended as part of contracted hours not as additional. Etc.

There needs to be a culture change regarding our working lives too: we need to work to contracted hours. No more giving up our entire existence for work or not taking AL, weekends, etc. Open days attended as part of contracted hours not as additional. Etc.

This is being said on social media but I don't believe that it will happen. The 70 hours working culture is too deeply embedded (globally) in many subject areas and academics are inherently driven and competitive.

Don't think ballot was fairly managed.

I think, again, that social media and the picket lines were giving a false impression about the feeling through the union. Many of those voting yes did not strike for the full period and were not being vocal on social media.

Indeed. The problem is it's impossible to have a research career without doing this (well I suppose that depends where you work. That's been my experience). And of course depending on your role- I'm talking lecturers / SLs

I have decided life is too short. And I take my hat off to people who continue to be able to essentially sacrifice their lives for a profession which is becoming increasingly devalued.

I’ll put my all into research but just doing the minimum for all the other stuff. No more steping forwards, I am a prof but get tons less than male colleagues. Just fucked off with it all and not even a decent pension to look forward to. Spoke to a younger colleague today though who thinks the economic circusmstances will be so bad 30years from now, no pensions will exist!