To think that the striking lecturers are hurting the wrong people?

[StrikeStrikeStrike]

So this morning I turned up to an important Lab, a Lab which is integral to an assessment. After a 30 minute wait it was confirmed the Lecturer was on strike and we were asked to leave.

While I understand the reasons for the strike, I can't help but feel angry. I understand they want to cause maximum disruption but a heads up would've been nice (fellow students on other courses have been given advance notice).

I am expected to go into University tomorrow for the second part of this Lab which forms part of our assessment. I'm expected to go in even though the chances of this Lecturer being on strike again are high. However, the department will not confirm the Lab as cancelled until 15 minutes after the start time.

Some of my fellow course members are choosing to stay home as they don't want the hassle of walking through the snow to a (probably non-existent) 9am Lab. Others are planning to attend anyway on principle.

I am unsure. I'm not sure I want to take the risk of not turning up if the Lab goes ahead. It is part of our assessment.

But, for me attending a 9am Lab means getting up at 6:30, getting the kids ready for school, all of us leaving the house by 7:15, catching a train (which cost £10), and finally a 30 minute walk. And tomorrow I could potentially be doing all that in the snow. Would you go?

AIBU to ask for a partial refund of my fees? The University are withholding the pay of staff who strike. Why should they (the University) profit?

UuK are not USS

The money is available. USS has grown 12% in the last 5 years and has enough to pay our pensions for the next 30 years without even touching its assets.

Read beyond the UUK press releases and puff pieces in the media and you’ll have a better idea of what’s going on here. Funnily enough, UUK seem to have forgotten that academics are good at researching, reviewing and analysing complex sets of information - UCU have been very well served by great work by Mike Otsuka, Sam Marsh and others in digging and digging and bringing the shady story of what exactly happened with this valuation to light. Peer review at its best!

But the money is not available so what's the alternative?

As several posters have stated the money IS available. The dispute isn't about the deficit in any case. A reduction to the DC threshold would be the sensible way forward - not removing DB entirely.

Not sure what you mean by UUK isn't USS... UUK are the employers who want the scheme to go entirely DC in order to borrow more cheaply

That's the point if a strike-to cause discomfort/inconvenience to people who have no control over what is going on. It's one thing in a private business where a strike would result in loss of profits etc. putting legitimate pressure on the employer but strikes in public sector dominated or monopolised sectors are just wrong unless they are over legitimate safety concerns,

Funnily enough, UUK seem to have forgotten that academics are good at researching, reviewing and analysing complex sets of information

It always astonished me when people do that - of any collective group of people can prove and argument, dispel a myth, understand very complex issues etc, it's academics!

I'm all for standing up for yourself if it's going to make a difference but in this instance it won't. Would you be happy if the payroll staff went on strike? Not only would you not get paid for strike days you wouldn't get paid at all

The money is absolutely available. It is available to fund millions and millions of pounds worth of new buildings. It's available to give the VC a 35% pay rise. It's available to expand the senior management team at the university by half a dozen people each year, all of £150k upwards. It's available for the VC to have a chauffeur to drive him around campus in a Jag. It is available and generating surpluses in most universities. Meanwhile, the academic wage bill has gone down, as salaried academics are replaced with hourly-paid junior staff who - when you factor in preparation and marking time - are actually paid less than minimum wage.

I’ll repeat, in case you didn’t see my earlier post: the strike has already made a massive difference. The employers were oriingally stating no possible derogation from the decision already taken. Now they have agreed to talks chaired by ACAS to try and find a mutually agreeable solution. This has never happened before - UUK have previously just bulldozed ahead regardless of what the union do. This is a major step forward. Hurrah!!

Not all Universities are the same

The only way I can see the strike making a difference is to the detriment of students & other staff

On the contrary. We are fighting for all staff in the USS pension scheme, not just those in the union. We are fighting against the increased marketisation of universities and the erosion of decent working conditions that will have a major detrimental impact on student education in the future. We are also showing students that collective action, solidarity, and standing up for workers rights in the face of a hostile and unfair attack is possible. All of these are good things.

Not all staff are eligible to join USS

Can only speak from DH's university but there students are supportive of lecturers striking

Yes, that’s why I said ‘all staff in the USS pension scheme’, not ‘all staff’.

Students at my university are incredibly supportive as well. The SU have asked students not to cross picket lines, we have had students bringing us tea and cake each day, we’ve had student groups come round every day with banners and chants to show their support, and there have been rallies of support with different student societies providing drums/music/dancing. It’s been really great!

So you don't give a damn about the effect on staff below Grade 5...

I'm all for standing up for yourself if it's going to make a difference but in this instance it won't

But it has made a difference - two more VCs have broken ranks - is that now a third of universities? Both sides have agreed to mediate through ACAS, UUK have rescinded their previous position of full DC and nothing else and agreed further compromise can be made.

Snort - staff of grade 5 and below are in a much better scheme!

I notice you have conveniently glossed over my question about payroll staff. Presumably you would be happy if they joined the strike?

If they are in USS and members of the union, I’d be delighted if they joined! All support welcome.

Payroll would still get done - by senior managers if no one else. And yes of course I'd support their right to strike.

Hmmmm I'm not sure you'd be 'delighted' if you didn't get paid today

The other thing I would add to tichy's post is that staff on grade 5 are better paid than casualised academics. By far. I have seen colleagues working a 50-hour week, for which they earned less than £8k over the year. It's shameful.

If payroll staff joined the strike, I'd be more than happy for them to do so. No one goes on strike without good reason, people don't actually want to have to resort to using their credit cards to live on.

You know the people on strike aren't getting paid? They aren't doing it for fun, they would far rather be at work. My husband is on strike. We rely on his salary to pay our mortgage, council tax and nursery fees. It is stressful. Also he like many lecturers are used to go way above their statutory hours for students, emails at all hours, class prep etc etc and it is really hard to switch this off. My husband has been not sleeping stressing about this and feeling bad for his students. Why is it okay for university principals to still get huge pay rises and benefits and for his pension to be screwed over? We don't expect no change but it should be negotiated.

Payroll would still get done - by senior managers if no one else

You have no idea