UNI strikes

[SilverGlitterBaubles]

How much are your DCs being impacted by the current strike situation? DD has nothing this week and has been told they are not providing cover work as this undermines the strikers. It's an absolute farce.

Which uni?

My DD is the same. Uni is UWE. Nothing for them to be getting on with. Hardly any contact time regardless of strikes.

Yep nothing. When you have a tiny number of contact hours anyway, students can end with an empty week. My child’s lectures only started up properly at the end of Jan anyway. If it wasn’t for social stuff they could come home this week. It’s pretty crazy really. They are so lazy though, no complaints from them 🙄

I have 2 DC at university. One is more impacted than the other as more of their lecturers are in the union which is striking. One has a strange situation where different lecturers deliver the lectures and the seminars, but because the lecturer delivering the lectures is on strike they haven't covered the material that they need to before the seminar with the lecturer who isn't.

Most of DDs halls have abandoned and went back home she is going to do the same as does not want to be there in halls alone sitting around waiting for nothing to happen.

Doesn't she have anything at all then? The strikes are on different days each week, so mine always have some days where they still have lectures or seminars. They've got plenty of work still to do.

Surely there is module and course work still to do even if there are no classes

There’s usually a whole recommended reading list that’s additional to the course

i find it hard to believe that there is literally nothing from their course they could crack on with even if there are not classes to attend

Surely some of your anger should be directed at universities who create working conditions which leave their workers with no choice but to strike.

Increasing casualisation of higher education has been a major problem for years, and it's probably leading to a lot of students having a less good university experience.

But as long as it's cheap for the uni to employ staff, right?

They had some online today but mostly they lecturers spoke about why they are striking. There is module work set which she can get on with but this is the first week of a new module so they have not really got going yet.

What is she studying @SilverGlitterBaubles?

Mine are studying Politics and History, I think their reading lists could probably keep them going until Christmas. But I appreciate it may be different with more practical/ less essay based subjects.

Also previous assessments have not been marked - they are not marking due to strike and so no feedback has been given which for first year students is difficult when they need to know how to improve.

@Poblano Similar types of subjects and yes I guess reading lists could keep them going forever. However they seem to have had minimal contact time, just returning from Christmas and now more disruption. It is very frustrating and difficult to keep motivated with the constant stop and start.

@SilverGlitterBaubles yeah, it's tough not having feedback.

I know it seems deeply unfair on them, but on the plus side they are mostly pretty good at independent study after the schools being closed over lockdowns (I'm guessing your DD likely had her GCSEs cancelled by Covid if she's in the first year?).

I'm surprised that everyone has just given up and gone home to be honest. Mine had normal timetable today as it isn't a strike day, I believe strikes are 2-3 days per week, so the other 2-3 days (plus any lectures or seminars delivered by staff in different unions) carry on as normal.

Yes it's hugely disruptive, but that's the point of strikes at the end of the day. And I do support why they're on strike.

Hopefully it will be resolved before too long and teaching will get back to normal. In the meantime I think all the students can do is crack on with the background reading etc that they can do. The library is open as usual as staff aren't on strike.

@Poblano I’m surprised you’re so blaze about students missing almost an entire term, as though it’s no big deal? My dc didn’t cope well at all with lockdown and is not good at self study. Plus doing Maths, it’s not a case of reading and everything will be ok.
I’m extremely worried these strikes will result in them struggling a lot. It’s also costing a lot of money in loans and I’m paying a substantial amount in rent each month, so they can sit in their room alone when they should be being taught, which is the reason that they are there.

I 100% do not support the strikes and believe this level of disruption is extremely selfish 😕

I would ask that people vent their ire towards the VCs who are paid hundreds of thousands pounds a year. Who think of the students as cash cows - tuition fees, accomodation fees, expensive catering outlets etc. I care passionately about my students' learning. But our working conditions are their learning conditions and we all deserve better.

Indeed @Whyohwhyohyyy with train strikes as a season ticket holder I can claim a refund for strike days. What do students get as customers of their university? They are paying for a service that is not being provided.

It’s an absolute disgrace,the poor students have had so much to put up with already

DS hardly affected, 1 lecturer (only 2 hrs) striking rest all working normally.

@Whyohwhyohyyy I'm not blasé. I was as concerned as any other parent when the strikes were announced, but having talked to both my student DC it is clear that they're still doing work, reading around the topics where the lectures have been cancelled. It's far from perfect, but it isn't a disaster.

As it happens my own degree is in Statistics and I'd argue that you can learn a lot of that yourself from the reading list too. It won't be as engaging as being taught it by someone who is passionate about the subject, but it's better than nothing.

By the way, students do have rights around strikes, you might find this useful: www.officeforstudents.org.uk/for-students/student-rights-and-welfare/student-guide-to-industrial-action/what-are-your-rights/

Thanks @Poblano it’s not as easy when you’ve got dc who can’t cope with this sort of disruption. I’m glad your dc are able to work around this and I am sure a lot will, sadly I know my dc won’t. They will attend lectures etc but when they don’t happen they will not engage at all. Unfortunately, I discovered this in lockdown when their school declared no teaching would take place.
You can argue they should and I’d agree but equally, you’d also expect lecturers to do the job they are being paid to do and not disrupt the education that students are getting into a lot debt for.

That's good I think it is worse in some unis than others depending on the unions I guess.

Mine had one lecture yesterday.
Nothing till next Monday.

It depends what days your DC has lectures or seminars.

As the be strikes are 4 days of the week on most weeks hard to avoid.

My DC is in last term of last module and has absolutely nothing to do because the essays will be done over Easter break.

How this works I don't know because there are no fucking lectures.

It's deplorable and my DC has had enough.

So sorry for the students.

Similar to others with nothing this week & a long stretch next week as well running into March.
Only went back at the end of January & a bit too far away to keep coming back.
I've encouraged her to use the time to really catch up on her reading (she definitely hasn't done it all!) & make sure she's as organised as possible.

Luckily there are others still in her flat & other friends so they can keep each other going. It does all seem to have fizzled out a bit since they finished at Christmas & the break was far too long.

She's in a big city with lots to do & is in a good position really. I suggested looking for a job but not sure that'll happen!