For eight days, between November 25th and December 4th, our studies are facing major disruption. This is as it has been reported by the Guardian that around 40 thousand members of UCU (University and College Union) across more than 60 institutions have announced strike action. The stakes are high for professors and university staff: in the past two years, multiple changes to the pension scheme have negatively impacted their income, with an economic loss estimated on average £200,000 pounds upon retirement according to UCU. Moreover, the strike also concerns issues of pay and working conditions, including job security and workload.
For us, as students, this means missed contact hours, difficulties in getting ahead with coursework, disruption around campus buildings with picket lines and protests, as well as lost money from our tuition fees which will not be reimbursed. Many UCU members argue that strike action is their last resort, and since their demands are not met, they have to compromise, in hopes of making an impact. On the other hand, it’s generally agreed that students are the ones suffering most from this situation, given that they cannot intervene directly to find a solution.
That’s why we asked a member of UCU to explain their reasons for taking part in the strike. I would like to thank Dr Sarah Young, associate professor at SSEES and active supporter of the action, for accepting to answer a few questions. Perhaps her account will clear out the picture.
Why do you believe activism and striking are important?
It’s about rejecting the idea that exploitation and worsening conditions are inevitable – and doing so collectively to show our strength, demonstrating what we have to give, and what is lost without us.
Can you briefly explain your reasons to strike?
While the main issues of the dispute – pensions, pay, job security and workloads – are important, when everything’s brought together, the fundamental question is: what do we want universities to be? Institutions that support learning and recognise the value of education and research as benefitting the whole of society? Or degree factories, in which commercial agendas dominate, the quality of education is irrelevant, and students and staff are viewed as less important than real estate? The direction of travel towards the latter risks destroying everything that is worthwhile about UK higher education, and I’m not going to watch that happen without a fight.
Following up from last year’s action, do you deem the results of that action successful? If so, do you think the outcome will be positive this time too?
There were certainly successes. On the local level, the camaraderie and energy of the picket line, and solidarity between the striking staff and students, were fantastic, and gave us a real sense that another university is possible. On the national level, the rise in a new form of union activism by academics – from maths lecturers who scrutinised the pension proposals and found errors in the methodology, to the USS Briefs team who act as a brilliant public information service – has made a real difference in bringing academics together, and has brought about change in the leadership of UCU.
However, the previous union leadership snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by accepting an offer of a Joint Expert Panel set up to look at the pensions issue, without gaining further concessions, at a point when that would have been possible. Tthis felt like a real waste of effort. The JEP’s report strongly supported UCU’s position and proposed a way forward that would have been acceptable to most members, but the employers have basically rejected it out of hand, which was fairly predictable. This time round part of me is quite optimistic – our leadership is much better, the union is stronger, and in the first days of the strike the solidarity seems stronger.
Is it possible that the strikes will continue in 2020?
I think it’s quite likely that the strikes will continue. The university employers made no effort to negotiate after the results of the strike ballot were announced, and their actions and pronouncements on the eve of the strike (in certain universities students are being threatened to make them cross the picket lines, or encouraged to inform on their tutors, etc) suggest they are not planning to give in. However, there have now been some negotiations, which may be more encouraging.
What can we, as students, do to support you and to make sure fairer conditions are met without losing too much in terms of education?
Writing to the Provost to express your support for your tutors, and urging UCL senior management to support staff. Even just telling your tutors you support us is a big thing – it means a lot. Join us on the picket line (we often have cake, and/or entertainment) and talk to us about the issues! Go to some of the Teach-Outs and broaden your education. In terms of making up for missed classes, get together with your classmates (somewhere that doesn’t involve crossing a picket line!) to discuss the seminar materials yourselves. You are more than capable of doing this, and running your own seminars in this way will give a really useful extra dimension to the topics. Or just focus on private study and reading – you all have assessed essays coming up, after all, and you can use the time to get ahead with those.
You have just read a member of UCU’s explanation for their reasons for taking part in the strike. I hope that Dr Sarah Young’s account has cleared out the picture.