Anyone else not striking?

[goingpearshaped]

I am not in UCU so not striking. Anyone else? I can sense the divide already between those striking and those not in our dept, I really hate this. Agh, what a mess all round.

[catsfleasandbabies]

You reap what you sow. All the she/they/him/hises turning in mob-like fashion shouting for resignations on a public forum. But 'Oh my gosh don't say anything about the GS's lip stick! So misogynist!'
Ridiculous. Glad I am no longer bankrolling this teenage circus.
Amazed at your foresight above @ghislaine

[KStockHERO]

@ghislaine The thread isn't directed at Jo Grady, no. But the social media omnishambles happened on her watch and I think that's implied in the thread. I think that's especially implied in the comments where someone asks "What happened?". Well, TBH, Jo Grady happened.
She's head of a huge organisation with a huge deal of responsibility and public visibility. And, let's face it, the salary to match. But she seems to have no grasp on UCU whatsoever.

I don't actually think it's that surprising what's happened under her leadership.
While it's good to have a GS actually understands the way academia works, some management and corporate experience is absolutely vital. But Jo Grady doesn't have it. She grifted her way to the position of GS by being shouty, by being right-on, by being a working-class northern lass, by channeling 1980s Scargill crossed with 1960s CND protestors, by saying the right things to dunk on university management, by giving off 'mean girl' vibes which appealed to the academics who were outcasts at school but finally had the chance to be in the cool gang. She didn't get to GS through experience or competence. And it's shown.

[aridapricot]

Also I would add that Grady's success was from the beginning based on her communication style - as pointed out by @KStockHERO - it was certainly not her experience. Grady's communication style was in a way very representativ of the times (sound and image instead of text, short slogans - e.g. "TWAW" rather than nuance; a sense of urgency and impending diaster). This was a complete contrast with Sally Hunt, and I think this absolutely persuaded some of the young(ish) millenial academics to buy into the idea that she was "one of us", and that the UCU was finally becoming a 21st-century union.
I do not think she is responsible for the Twitter account but I believe that her personal brand and communication style have definitely impinged on those of the union (which is on the other hand unsurprising).

[ghislaine]

Fair points, my uncomrades. I think I was reading that thread too literally.

[KStockHERO]

@aridapricot

Also I would add that Grady's success was from the beginning based on her communication style - as pointed out by @KStockHERO - it was certainly not her experience. Grady's communication style was in a way very representativ of the times (sound and image instead of text, short slogans - e.g. "TWAW" rather than nuance; a sense of urgency and impending diaster). This was a complete contrast with Sally Hunt, and I think this absolutely persuaded some of the young(ish) millenial academics to buy into the idea that she was "one of us", and that the UCU was finally becoming a 21st-century union.
I do not think she is responsible for the Twitter account but I believe that her personal brand and communication style have definitely impinged on those of the union (which is on the other hand unsurprising).

Absolutely, spot on about communication style.

For me, this is encapsulated by the "end casualistion" slogan. It sets my teeth on edge.

Its a great soundbite and an idea that, in principle, no-one would disagree with. But there's absolutely no substance, no engagement at all with the complexities of how to actually end casualisation and what the consequences of that would be.

[Chrysanthemum5]

Exactly @KStockHERO also no acceptance that they 4 fights are fighting against each other. They all require money to implement and are of interest to different types of members. So do they accept an offer which is great on pay but not great on casual contracts? Great for people on permanent roles but voted down by others. And you can see that for every one of the 4 fights.

I've seen the negative impact on students for years - they had covid and now strikes. And the outcome from the union discussions appear such marginal improvements over what was offered previously. So was it worth the cost?

[ExUCU]

Agree with KStockHERO.

It was very obvious when Grady was elected that it was all style over substance. The smarter ones among my colleagues could see that but many were taken in by the shiny surface and the fact that she ticked the young, female, working-class boxes. Five years later we’re looking at smoking ruins. What a waste.

[KStockHERO]

😬😱Trigger warning: The he/she/they/thems have gone all musical 😬😱

[KStockHERO]

@KStockHERO

😬😱Trigger warning: The he/she/they/thems have gone all musical 😬😱

Enjoy

[ExUCU]

Cringe. Could not finish.

Let’s face it, the strike isn’t working and this just looks desperate.

On a different note, we’re getting close to 1000 posts on here …

[Shivermetimbers0112]

Over 30 years in this sector and I feel so sorry for the huge majority of colleagues doing wonderful, ground-breaking, valuable work being made to look like the Muppets on a bad day by this lot. There are legitimate bones of contention, but Joe Public will only see some deluded postgrad researching the impact of bubonic plague on non-binary peasants whinging because the horrible bosses won’t give them a job for life. Jeez.

[MotherofPearl]

Good grief, listening to that song just about finished me off. It's awful to be so embarrassed for other people.

[aridapricot]

Interesting blog here: michael4hec.wordpress.com/2023/03/16/too-much-not-enough/

[SchnitzelVonCrummsTum]

Interesting reading (and 'interesting' listening)

I think that we're going to need a follow on thread somehow - this shitshow isn't stopping anytime soon.

[aridapricot]

Is anyone dreading Thursday morning yet and the deluge of e-mails that people will have no doubt spent all week drafting and then carefully saving in their Outbox?

[MotherofPearl]

@aridapricot

Is anyone dreading Thursday morning yet and the deluge of e-mails that people will have no doubt spent all week drafting and then carefully saving in their Outbox?

Does the strike end tomorrow or Thursday? I too am dreading the email deluge.

[ExUCU]

Tomorrow is the last strike day. And yes, dreading it.

[damekindness]

My place is currently circulating two open letters from different factions of UCU with a long discussion about why each is the correct approach. It's all going a bit 'Peoples Front of Judea' and I've lost the plot and any interest in engaging

[ExUCU]

Has anyone seen what’s going on with a ‘student occupation’ at the University of Manchester?

https://mobile.twitter.com/RivkahBrown/status/1638458479672283141

[ExUCU]

Looks grim all around, manhandled students and security called ‘scum’:

https://mobile.twitter.com/rentstrikeUoM/status/1638451005493764097

[moimichme]

That sounds⁴ awful. Hopefully people will start to calm down and be sensible now.

[ghislaine]

I never understand why management doesn’t just let these occupations fizzle out. They always do.

[MotherofPearl]

UofM already had a student occupation earlier this year. The students occupied the main building for a couple of weeks from memory. They left when the WiFi was turned off.

[aridapricot]

Jo Edge phonebanking this afternoon. All I can say, I'm glad I'm not a member anymore or I could be one of the "lucky" recipients: https://twitter.com/hagenilda/status/1638534448202350592

[ExUCU]

And UCU St Andrews have already produced a home-made Pride banner:

https://twitter.com/kirstyegraham/status/1638532313364529154?cxt=HHwWhIC8saWdnr0tAAAA

I thought Pride was in June?

Some of these terminally online academics appear to be full-time activists. This does undermine the argument that we are terribly overworked. I don’t have time to get my sewing machine out or to cold-call academics who don’t want to hear from me, I’ve got a job to do. Hope Hagenilda has improved her bedside manner, didn’t think being nice, charming and persuasive was her skill-set exactly …