[Politics] Strike!

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I'm having a 30 minute lunch break to get my head back so I can do more marking this afternoon.

I feel I should add that I have always supported trade unionism, having grown up in an era where 'we knew our place' and as noted by others the laws gave little protection for workers or their rights.

I still do. In principle. I tried to resist the foolishness in my local branch, with their obsession with Israel and their glee about striking, but unfortunately 'Starmerites' like me, and people to the right of me have long since given up with our main union. Another poster pointed me to two other unions but they are too teaching focused for me, really, and have no presence where I work.

The latest email of jubilation I received this morning from the union (they still email me even though I cancelled my subscription at the end of the year) was all gooey about the fact that Jeremy Corbyn has shown his support for the picket line. I'd share a picture, but I don't want to cross the line.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Also, dissing 'everyone' for 'just' having a degree is equally ludicrous. Perhaps moreso.

I'll pick you up on this one if I may ? My problem is the number of people I interview that say "well I've got a degree". I agree with you that is somewhat depends upon the subject and the job being applied for but I've had some bizarre degrees quoted at me - probably the history of pottery being the most bizarre. I'm not 'dissing' degrees but just think candidates shouldn't rely on them.

 

[Lower West Stander]

It is sad that this country has some of the harshest anti-union laws in the world. Even nasty dictatorships like China and Iran have greater union freedoms. It was no coincidence that the height of union activity was at the same time that the gap between rich and poor was at its narrowest in recorded history. And it was no coincidence that Thatcher and those that followed have kept up a relentless attack on the rights of workers to organise. I am proud to be a member of my union the NEU and both me and Mrs Comrade Sam owe our way of life to the direct actions of our union. Whilst most unions have been in decline for some time, the NEU grew massively during the pandemic and it has lifted my spirits as I return to teach at schools that had been union waste lands that now have large, young and active union branches. Everyone in work should have the right to protection from ruthless employers, unsafe working conditions, attacks on pay, conditions and pensions. Joining a union for millions is the only way they can do this and with the slashing of legal aid, it is the only way many have access to legal protection. Whilst national strikes are few and far between thanks to Draconian rules on balloting (that don't apply to the elections that appointed most of our politicians) there are consistently small strikes that succeed. Recent strikes have seen victories against some of Britain's most disreputable employers such as Uber, Starbucks and MacDonalds. As the cost of living crisis grows and many, especially public sector workers, see their pay fall behind inflation for over a decade I hope that people look to collective action through their unions to improve their lives. There was a great car sticker in my neighbourhood a few years ago, it read 'The Labour Movement, the guys that gave you the weekend' and good luck to the University Lecturers strike.

There is so much I could say to this.

But challenge to pensions?

Just don't get me started....

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Did you know university lecturers are on strike?

"What a great few days of strike action, full of committed picketing and wonderful teach outs. You have done our branch proud, and we have sent a strong message to management. Thank you all for your efforts so far! Together we will win these disputes. "

FFS. Probably 10% of staff where I work are on strike. The smell of winning escapes my nostrils.

I read that as so fart together

 

[Lower West Stander]

I'll pick you up on this one if I may ? My problem is the number of people I interview that say "well I've got a degree". I agree with you that is somewhat depends upon the subject and the job being applied for but I've had some bizarre degrees quoted at me - probably the history of pottery being the most bizarre. I'm not 'dissing' degrees but just think candidates shouldn't rely on them.

Yep and there's a massive sense of entitlement with it.

I recently read a diatribe by a grad on LinkedIn who couldn't get a job even though she's got a First Class degree. No comprehension at all that the world of work requires more than just an academic qualification to employ the right person.

 

[Lower West Stander]

It's been moving in the 'other' direction for decades. There are two distinct disputes here. The first is the USS pension one, which affects pre-92 universities. The other involves the 'Four Fights', with the most important fight in my view being the erosion in pay. Up until this year, real terms pay has declined by nearly 20%, and this year's offer will result in a further 4% fall.
It's a sign of where we are that [MENTION=1200]Harry Wilson's tackle[/MENTION] and all the other comrades piling in behind him regard the action to be such a terrible inconvenience. It's also interesting that everyone's piling in on the UCU, despite the fact that it's not the union that has trotted out derisory pay offers for the past decade but, instead, the employers organisation, the UCEA, who so many on here are keen to mobilise behind.
By the time many new staff reach retirement age, if this pay erosion continues at the trajectory over the past decade, they'll be on close to the Living Wage.

Ah yes.

My heart bleeds for the overworked lecturers on taxpayer subsidised final salary schemes which are running at a massive deficit. Discount rates are so wildly out of kilter with reality that it makes this dispute fatuous. And as for "real terms pay", I think you'll find nurses have suffered a bit there too. Difference is, they can't go on strike.

A real first world problem mired in 70s rhetoric

 

[beorhthelm]

It's been moving in the 'other' direction for decades. There are two distinct disputes here. The first is the USS pension one, which affects pre-92 universities. The other involves the 'Four Fights', with the most important fight in my view being the erosion in pay. Up until this year, real terms pay has declined by nearly 20%, and this year's offer will result in a further 4% fall.
It's a sign of where we are that [MENTION=1200]Harry Wilson's tackle[/MENTION] and all the other comrades piling in behind him regard the action to be such a terrible inconvenience. It's also interesting that everyone's piling in on the UCU, despite the fact that it's not the union that has trotted out derisory pay offers for the past decade but, instead, the employers organisation, the UCEA, who so many on here are keen to mobilise behind.
By the time many new staff reach retirement age, if this pay erosion continues at the trajectory over the past decade, they'll be on close to the Living Wage.

maybe a solution would be for the universities to increase their revenue to cover pay rises?

presume the pensions problem the same one as most, they are simply unaffordable as they stand and require either more contibutions or adjust the benefit.

 

[Lower West Stander]

maybe a solution would be for the universities to increase their revenue to cover pay rises?

presume the pensions problem the same one as most, they are simply unaffordable as they stand and require either more contibutions or adjust the benefit.

That's the problem with Final Salary Schemes, you can't adjust the benefit. Its based on actuarial calculations driven by the discount rate and life expectancy. Because rates have been so low for so long all these schemes are running at massive deficits. In the private sector these were closed many years ago and companies have to make additional cash contributions to close the gap on these closed schemes. This never happened in the public sector so the taxpayer has to bear the brunt whilst the lecturers go on strike about having to make additional contributions to help fund what is a guaranteed return not available to the majority of workers in the UK.

The one hope is that rates rise, gilts sell off and the deficits close. But then the unions would be complaining about something else.

 

[Machiavelli]

maybe a solution would be for the universities to increase their revenue to cover pay rises?

presume the pensions problem the same one as most, they are simply unaffordable as they stand and require either more contibutions or adjust the benefit.

I think you'll find most staff, with 'their first world problems' (for reference, I'm not attributing that to you), are actually only interested in not having their pay eroded, rather than as you state are agitating for a pay rise.
My advice to senior management is that they don't need to increase revenue, they got a c50% increase in revenue a decade ago for each student, and student numbers have subsequently grown. If they need to find savings in order to keep paying staff the same 'real' amount each year, they could cut back the ridiculous levels of bureaucracy that they're keen to introduce and extend.

 

[beorhthelm]

I think you'll find most staff, with 'their first world problems' (for reference, I'm not attributing that to you), are actually only interested in not having their pay eroded, rather than as you state are agitating for a pay rise.
My advice to senior management is that they don't need to increase revenue, they got a c50% increase in revenue a decade ago for each student, and student numbers have subsequently grown. If they need to find savings in order to keep paying staff the same 'real' amount each year, they could cut back the ridiculous levels of bureaucracy that they're keen to introduce and extend.

they didnt have an increase in revenue, they had a change of source of revenue. absolutly agree they need to reduce their costs too, but its difficult to provide pay increases when they have relatively static revenue.

 

[Simster]

Would have thought that they have been on strike for the last 25 years. Some of the useless, brain dead shite that has been farted out of universities could not find their arses in the dark using both hands.

That might well be true, but that point of view would certainly carry a lot more weight if it wasn't coming from a thick-as-pig-shìt little-Englander who wouldn't know what education was if it bit him on the àrse - so excuse me if I wait for an intelligent grown-up to confirm what you're saying.

 

[zefarelly]

. Whilst it is infinitely better to be a worker in Britain than China, the actual laws that govern union behaviour are in fact stricter in the UK than in China - that's not to say your more likely to be shot or disappear in China.

Pointless nitpicking

You failed to consider where I work . . . . Lancing.

 

[Baker lite]

That might well be true, but that point of view would certainly carry a lot more weight if it wasn't coming from a thick-as-pig-shìt little-Englander who wouldn't know what education was if it bit him on the àrse - so excuse me if I wait for an intelligent grown-up to confirm what you're saying.

Thanks. You seem very tolerant and progressive [emoji1303]

 

[happypig]

I'll pick you up on this one if I may ? My problem is the number of people I interview that say "well I've got a degree". I agree with you that is somewhat depends upon the subject and the job being applied for but I've had some bizarre degrees quoted at me - probably the history of pottery being the most bizarre. I'm not 'dissing' degrees but just think candidates shouldn't rely on them.

The other side of this coin is people with degrees who think people without degrees are illiterate morons. I once had a magisterial colleague say to me "you're very good at this considering you didn't go to university". I had to bite my lip...
I had a friend of the wife say she was surprised someone could become a senior engineer and retire at 55 without have a degree.
And on the subject of academics, many years ago I was asked by a senior lecturer in art history if I could put a plug on his new kettle for him as he hadn't a clue.

 

[zefarelly]

The other side of this coin is people with degrees who think people without degrees are illiterate morons. I once had a magisterial colleague say to me "you're very good at this considering you didn't go to university". I had to bite my lip...
I had a friend of the wife say she was surprised someone could become a senior engineer and retire at 55 without have a degree.
And on the subject of academics, many years ago I was asked by a senior lecturer in art history if I could put a plug on his new kettle for him as he hadn't a clue.

THis is rife in my world of engineering. most of my seniors as an apprentice served full apprenticeships themselves and those who were directors had largely worked from the shop floor up. None of them had forgotten, none of them went to university. None of them illiterate. I don't recall there being a moron in the entire company.

The world has changed immeasurably in the last 60 years. Unis have been blanket sold to the point we have a largely talentless workforce.

the balance is all wrong.

 

[amexer]

Of course education is very important but have always felt those working in Public Services should give a little more credit to those working in private section where profit is not a dirty word as it pays for all public services and the black and white is ,No profit,No job.. So often at end of year hoping company has done well so you retained job
With my children going through state system saw many very good teachers but there were many who were completely unsuitable to the job and are still there 10 years later. Very frustrating to see these on picket line over the years.

 

[Simster]

Thanks. You seem very tolerant and progressive [emoji1303]

And you're a moron. You got all pissy about students doing their best to get on in life with your retarded remark, so I responded in kind because I'm past caring what thickies like you think.

 

[WATFORD zero]

That might well be true, but that point of view would certainly carry a lot more weight if it wasn't coming from a thick-as-pig-shìt little-Englander who wouldn't know what education was if it bit him on the àrse - so excuse me if I wait for an intelligent grown-up to confirm what you're saying.

Thanks. You seem very tolerant and progressive [emoji1303]

You left out observant and seemingly also a very good judge of character

 

[WATFORD zero]

Worryingly, actually very worryingly, I agree with you. The number of applicants I've interviewed that effectively say "well I've got a degree" when asked why they should get the role is astounding. There certainly seems to be a sense of entitlement without realising that almost everyone now has a degree. I don't go into an interview and say "Well I have 9 O Levels".

Maybe you should have a word with whoever is shortlisting candidates for you to interview. Sounds like they're not doing a very good job

 

[Machiavelli]

they didnt have an increase in revenue, they had a change of source of revenue. absolutly agree they need to reduce their costs too, but its difficult to provide pay increases when they have relatively static revenue.

Differ on both your points:
-- yes, there was a change in source of revenue, but it was accompanied by a 50% increase in tuition fees from £6k to £9k
-- revenues have increased in many (especially pre92) universities as a result of more attending. There has been a demographic dip affecting recruitment over the past five years or so, but that's now over, and universities are looking at record entry levels for the new academic year.