Not to want to be referred to as ‘Comrade’

[Shellacbabe]

I work for a university and many uni staff are on strike this week. I am not a member of the union so am not on strike, and disagree with a few of the things that the strike is fighting for, but my main gripe with the union is that many members still hail each other as ‘comrade’. Can we agree that communism is dead, and that’s a very good thing, and referring to people as ‘comrades’ has no place in a modern society?

YABU it’s a jokey, friendly greeting. My teacher used to even say it to the class. No one thought she was suggesting we become a communist state

@Jammallama

Wow! The comments here are just downright nasty and reflects the attitude of academics who fail to understand the work that professional services do to keep a university going as part of a TEAM effort. It's elitist snobbery at its worst. As a PS staff in a university I work hideous hours but because we're not academic people here sneer because we're deemed not to understand the complexity of language and how it's evolved. I'm glad the unions exist as most of my colleagues have been bullied by academics at one time or another. The university turns a blind eye because they are REF returnable.

FWIW the term comrade is cringey. I'm a labour voter and think social democracy is a good thing. As an aside I wonder how many people cherish freedom but would lack the desire to pick up a weapon and fight for that right when it is threatened? There will always be people to benefit/suffer from the passions of others.
Scab......what a dreadful term! I think the sneering is being done from those on here using those word
OP has a right to disagree with a term she finds inappropriate - the supposed extrapolation of what that means is fantastical.
There are so many issues with these prolonged strikes including the financial impact for those who can't afford it - these SCABs put their family's food and heating ahead of an issue they can't even think about right now because a pension is unaffordable. The lack of empathy/reasoning amongst 'comrades' for any viewpoint that doesn't fully subscribe to their perspective is shocking - and displayed here in full glory. Shameful....

I'm professional services, and I can hand on heart say that the picture you paint is not one I recognise at all. I work as a team with teams from academic, professional services, library, facilities, and other, areas. I don't find that there's (much) intellectual snobbery, and the bullying I've been aware of (and been a victim of) has not been solely from academic to professional services.

I have worked at three Unis throughout my career, and I would say the above has been the case in all of them. I am a UCU member (as once you're above a certain grade, no other union will support non-academic staff), and the current membership in our branch has a good mix of colleagues from different job areas.

Maybe it's something to do with how your Institution operates - or even about how you communicate, and what your attitudes are to how you work? I have to say the picture you paint is not one I recognise at all.

@Shellacbabe

Universities are 100% educational charities! Check the small print on your website.

And as for the 35% pay rise, if you can demonstrate clearly that the pension cut is a 35% drop in pension income, then show the unis that they are cutting your overall remuneration package by a set percentage and ask for that in pay rise. Most companies each year tot up the value of your pay and bonus and pension and health insurance and life insurance and say ‘look at what your pay is worth’. If I was a union I’d do this before and after the pensions changes to demonstrate a clear cut in the value of the overall package and ask them what they are going to do about it. If you want to get rid of the pension that’s fine, but you’ll have to make up the overall package elsewhere. It’s a stronger argument than trying to cling onto db pension scheme which the unis don’t want to do due to the uncertainly of trying to furnish such a risky liability.

And my privilege is having skills that the uni vitally needs but are also in extremely high demand in the private sector so I could get another job tomorrow if I wanted to. Unis are an interesting place to work but extremely badly organised which is tiresome. It’s that which will see me move back rather than any pensions concerns.

Of course universities have charitable status. But people who work for charities still deserve to earn a reasonable income and to have a dignified retirement. Universities are nothing without the academics who train for years at significant cost often out of their own pockets and that deserves to be reflected in their renumeration package too.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you think there will ever be a 35% pay increase on the table to compensate for this you are in cloud cuckoo land. You'd be incredibly lucky to get 5%. And if you do get that it will be the result of union action and the sacrifices of your colleagues, not entitled idiots like you who sit on the internet moaning about semantics.

Why not go back to your cash cow in the private sector and stop undermining the efforts of you colleagues who depend on their pension for their future security? Morale in academia is low enough at the moment. It must be pretty intolerable working alongside someone with your perspective in the current situation.

@AppleKatie

I would also assume it was a joke and a demonstration of a mild leftist political position not a genuine desire to reincarnate Lenin.

Many years ago we had a good friend whose only real fault that he was a rabid lefty and tended to use comrade, I took great delight in calling his Adolf or even Obergruppenfuehrer, he didn't like it one bit

@Blinky21

You sound super intolerant, get back to your copy of the Daily Mail

As you hide behind the Grauniad, Morning Star or the late unlamented Daily Shirker!

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

I would have laughed in his face. I'm in my 60's and remember the havoc unions wreaked on this country

I’m 58. I wish our unions were stronger and hadn’t been decimated by shit Tory governments. Imagine getting paid a decent wage?!

we have threads here about UC moaning that people who work full time shouldnt need to claim top up benefits to live, its shameful and people should have a decent standard of living for working.

then we have threads on here of people demonising "greedy" tube drivers, fire fighters etc for fighting for better pay and conditions and moaning they are already paid enough and should be banned from striking etc.

you cant have it both ways, so many people here and in the country at large never show any ounce of critical thinking.

Everyone should be paid a decent wage. Not a pretty level wage.

I used to get emails from Jeremy Corbyn addressing me as Comrade 🙄

Why is "leftie" used as an insult? I don't think my views are particularly left-leaning (maybe a little? I do support trade unions, Labour voter who would prefer Green but knows they don't have a chance against the Tories in my constituency...), but I'd much rather be called a leftie than be assumed to be, what, a rightie? I much prefer those on the political left than the more right-leaning parties.

@HollaHolla - I work exceptionally well with my academic colleagues and think they're mostly lovely (although not without moments of frustration) but the snobbery/elitism absolutely exists. I would also add that there really is a problem within my institution which is probably outing . That said - just because you don't recognise it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I've been at various Institutions and obvs have friends and colleagues at others so I'm focusing on a narrow window either.

Glad you don't have that experience though. Great for you!

My comments however were a result of the academic elitism and shocking comments about PS staff on this thread - which I was reflecting on given I observe it in my own organisation.

communism is dead

Communism (real communism) is what will fill the void after the capitalism under which most of us are enslaved has failed and collapsed.

You're too tightly wrapped.

What Union insists that you prove you are a socialist?

Nobody is calling you 'comrade' - because you aren't one. You're standing back amd letting others fight for your terms and conditions.

there are a lot of employees that are desperate to for a union, be grateful you have one at all

anyone from Starbucks or amazon want to weigh in here?

@HoveringDonkeyofKnock

communism is dead

Communism (real communism) is what will fill the void after the capitalism under which most of us are enslaved has failed and collapsed.

my issue with capitalism is that we end up with the very poor and the ultra elite, people struggling for food and people buying super yachts, ive long supported a robin hood law, where the government just takes money from the elite and gives to the poor to even things out a bit

They are idiots playing at being Che Guevara.

I've been in a Union all my employed life - never been asked to prove I am a Socialist (or aligned to any other group). Please identify the Union that is requiring this so we can do a fact check.

Mine just talks of its 'members' and communications are to 'Dear Clarice'.

I was reading a biography which included trade union correspondence from the 60s/70s and the members called each other 'brother' and signed off 'yours fraternally'. I don't know what female members did, if there were any (male-dominated industry at the time).

@BitOutOfPractice

I’m sure, despite your Union bashing, that you are happy to enjoy from the benefits that unions have won for workers. Like weekends off, paid holidays, sick pay etc. Or is that all too commie for you?

Or is this thread just an excuse to rehash your frankly puzzling terror of Corbyn (it only took two posts!) who hasn’t been Labour leader for 2 years and who most certainly isn’t a communist.

This. I was a union member for many years, and never once did the freeloaders who refused to go on strike “because of their consciences”refuse the benefits brought about by striking. Hypocrisy doesn’t even begin to describe it.

@DePfeffoff

As a matter of interest, if the Union action results in benefits for all staff, will you be taking your share?

Just thought I'd repeat this as it doesn't seem to have been answered.

@newnameforthis76

You’re not in the union so it’s got nothing to do with you. They can call each other what they like. You don’t have to approve.

Perfect reply.