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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Lecturers' Strike threatening to derail graduations this summer

88 replies

MillyMollyMama · 25/03/2014 13:26

DD has just phoned home to say one of her lecturers told the class she could be on strike when marking of the finals papers takes place. DD contacted a couple of friends at other universities and found some knew about the strike because the university had officially told them, but others had no idea at all about it. Does anyone know more about this any why it is not universally known about? Thanks.

OP posts:

creamteas · 29/03/2014 12:57

I do think it's not at all illogical people would think these things were lucrative, is it?

No, because I can't think of any other profession that does so much work not just for free but to actually make others rich.

We must all be mad when you think about it.

systemsaddict · 31/03/2014 10:23

Complete sidetracking of post here but because of royalties topic and because I know there are some academics following this: make sure you join www.alcs.co.uk/ - then you get a slice of royalties for photocopying books and journal articles, which normally you get absolutely nothing for. Well worth doing. Every little helps ...

Returning you to your previous conversation ...

Lomaamina · 31/03/2014 21:26

Gosh, thanks systems. I wasn't aware of this.

BTW, I'm waging my own small campaign to change the status quo. Whenever an industry oriented conference asks me to speak, I ask about fees. It rarely works, but at least it makes them stop and think (as they count the profit made off my hard work). At the least, I ask for free tickets for a proportionate number of my students, which I do always get after a startled silence .

Don't get me started on research reviews though, I'm frequently asked to review research applications (typically 3-4 hours work). I can just about stomach doing it for free for a charity, but last week a very rich foundation did so. They were astonished when I enquired about fees and the only reason I didn't refuse when they blooming cheekily said they follow the US model (oh, really?) is that they need a senior female academic to do the reviews and mine's a tiny specialism. But I'm still aggrieved.

Moan over (for now).

Libra · 01/04/2014 13:02

Yes, yes to joining ALCS. Received my cheque for 100 pounds this week!! Which makes up for the fact that I won't be paid royalties for my book this year because they are not over the 25 threshold. Sigh.

Our university is threatening to not pay us at all if we do not hand in the marking, which makes it very difficult. I like to eat! And our union is not recompensing us at all, not even the 50.

namechangeforissue · 07/04/2014 11:31

Oh lordy.

Got an email through last week from our employer - they are one of the institutions planning to dock 100% pay if we don't do marking.

The UCU says that they will authorise full strike action if we

To be honest I'd happily go on full strike for a short period as I am very fed up of work at the moment! I also have some issues with my boss not telling me who I am handing over a couple of jobs to as he's disorganised/in denial about the fact he has to find someone to turn them over to (I'm not leaving, just changing responsibilities, but he seems to think I can do them all for the moment, despite having told me he's definitely finding someone else to do them). So hopefully this will spur him into action to tell me who's doing these jobs, so I can brief them, as he'll want the job done if I'm on strike but they aren't.

namechangeforissue · 07/04/2014 11:32

Oops.

The UCU says that they will authorise full strike action if we have all our pay docked.

creamteas · 16/04/2014 20:12

Updated news today.

The start of the marking boycott has been delayed until the 6th May, as there is a new pay offer on the table and there will be a ballot of members.

MariaJenny · 16/04/2014 22:14

(Do join ALCS. It's worth registering books and articles you have written.)

namechangeforissue · 17/04/2014 17:36

I've voted accept, because I reckon it's not bad compared to other public sector workers. I'd feel embarrassed to tell my nurse/teacher/police officer friends I'd voted no.

If the overwhelming view is no (I doubt it actually) I'm still happy to strike/ASOS.

I said, didn't I, the cabinet ministers' children would help??!

creamteas · 17/04/2014 17:57

I think at my uni more will be in favour of accepting than fighting.

People are really unhappy with the offer, but they don't feel that it is going to get any better even with a marking ban :(

SlowlorisIncognito · 28/04/2014 18:17

I recieved an email today from my university suggesting the strike is still going ahead from the 6th may. Does this mean the pay offer has been rejected? Overall my university has been fairly uncomunicative about the strike, but the email seemed to suggest some members of staff will definately be striking.

Can anyone confirm that this is the case?

My exams start tomorrow and I sort of wish they hadn't emailed.

creamteas · 29/04/2014 08:42

Can anyone confirm that this is the case?

There is a consultative ballot taking place, and voting ends on the 1st May. So I would think we will know the result on Friday.

If members accept the offer, no marking boycott, and if they reject, the marking boycott will start on the 6th May.

I'm guessing your uni is putting contingency plans in place just in case.

creamteas · 01/05/2014 16:09

Just had an email from my branch. The dispute is over, so no marking boycott.

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