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?

"OyO", I am sorry this is happening to you, but I'm afraid this is one of those situations where avoiding disruption is just not possible. The whole point of the strike would be lost if the lecturers organised alternative ways to support students during the strike. A strike is about withdrawing labour and not performing it in advance or deferring it to a future date.

I don't know what the changes of the students are to claim a refund on the fees. I would guess that this depends on how successfully the Students' Union manages this case.

And while not everyone would agree with this position, I find this read quite thought-provoking: proflrobinson.com/2018/02/23/why-consumer-rights-dont-feel-like-solidarity/.

I think most universities have some get-out clause about industrial action in their small print OyO. The OFS may change that scenario, though.

Thank you for the responses. I totally agree that the point of the strike is disruption and we (certainly I) hold no animosity towards the lecturers. The idea the the university will step in and help us (or the lecturers for that matter) just seems very unrealistic though.

We would be picketing with the lecturers to show our support but the fact is, we're nearing the end of a degree that is being greatly impacted by this and any time spent complaining/joining the picket line is time taken away from the teaching we're having to give ourselves because our lecturers aren't there.

When making future applications to employers, listing 'strikes' as a reason why our degree classification is below what we expected probably won't cut it.

I really hope it doesn't sound like I'm annoyed with the lecturers, it's purely aimed at the universities. I think a lot to us students have come to the realisation that there's bugger all we can do, both to help lecturers and ourselves.

P.s I realise that I'm complaining about not having the time to complain whilst taking the time to complain on MN

Good luck to you all anyway, I hope you all get what you're owed - which is far less than what you deserve!

Thank you!

Yes, OyO, this is a very unfortunate state of affairs - the universities' management is showing themselves for what they are - not giving a hoot about students or staff. The management has long stopped seeing what they manage as a scholarly community. Students are 'customers' and as such are treated only as a source of money with no rights of their own to dictate how a university is to be run. Staff are 'human resources' and are thus treated as factors of production as opposed to creators and owners of the universities.