[Politics] Strike!

[WATFORD zero]

Is that what you said when you (sorry, your friend)was caught cuffing one out?

Do us all a favour and keep your predilection with self gratification, toiletry affairs and rectums to the Bear Pit please.

Thanks

 

[Baker lite]

Do us all a favour and keep your predilection with self gratification, toiletry affairs and rectums to the Bear Pit please.

Thanks

It wasn’t me that got caught stroking the pony, it was McNob’s “friend "

 

[Randy McNob]

Why?

Or do you think a DB pension is the right of all?

so everyone should have shit pensions?

 

[clapham_gull]

My union is actually very good and NOT affiliated to a political party.

They generally have very good relations with the senior management and are very good at negotiating reasonable pay rises.

They also have a very keen eye on the industry itself and whilst they first and foremost look out for members, they wouldn't do anything that damages a company that would itself lead to job losses.

My major annoyance is the vast majority of people who gain financially and in terms of job security aren't members of the Union at all.

I spend a lot of time explaining to people (who aren't members) how pay rises have been negotiated and what the situation would have been if the Union wasn't there.

They only think about joining when their job is threatened and (especially millennials) "fear" about being seen as "left wing" and a trouble maker if they joined a Union.

Somebody recently asked me "what are the benefits of joining?".

I explained you are already receiving them. Selfish cake and eat it me me me generation. Just like music you are quite happy to consume it, but don't like paying for it.

Rant over.

 

[El Presidente]

My union is actually very good and NOT affiliated to a political party.

They generally have very good relations with the senior management and are very good at negotiating reasonable pay rises.

They also have a very keen eye on the industry itself and whilst they first and foremost look out for members, they wouldn't do anything that damages a company that would itself lead to job losses.

My major annoyance is the vast majority of people who gain financially and in terms of job security aren't members of the Union at all.

I spend a lot of time explaining to people (who aren't members) how pay rises have been negotiated and what the situation would have been if the Union wasn't there.

They only think about joining when their job is threatened and (especially millennials) "fear" about being seen as "left wing" and a trouble maker if they joined a Union.

Somebody recently asked me "what are the benefits of joining?".

I explained you are already receiving them. Selfish cake and eat it me me me generation. Just like music you are quite happy to consume it, but don't like paying for it.

Rant over.

There are many good trade unions, you’re in one, I’m now in three, UCU is not one of them.

 

[Machiavelli]

It isn't just the union. There is a real problem of disengagement from the rest of the workforce. Only 10-15% of academic staff where I work are in the union. I was in it for 36 years and its presence on my campus was pitiful. We still have posters up on the union pinboard calling us to action 5 years ago, and the local rep is an SWP member. If you can't even curate you display board with up to date content, then what?

And there is a sense the UCU is not interested in the membership, just political campaigning.

They have totally destroyed themselves over the 'gender pay gap'. I have pointed out repeatedly that it is illegal to pay men and women the same for the same job, so what's the problem? If you average the pay of women and average the pay of men there is a difference, maybe up to 15%. The reason is there are more professors (on higher pay, which is not part of a pay sacle but is negotiated individually) who are male. This is partly due to a range of factors: (i) the historical drop out of women after having kids (ii) the resultant preponderance* of younger female lecturerers on lower pay by virtue of age and experience only (iii) the alleged more pushy attitude of male professors when negotiating personal salary increases albeit this is entirely speculative and based on a sexist view that women can't stick up for themselves.

The gender pay gap is not an issue employers can resolve - because it is not a real phenomenon. Indeed *all our new staff recruitments over the last 10 years have been women - because it is women, now, predominantly who are applying for lectureships.

However, instead, the UCU gives the impression that the gender pay gap is entirely due to discrimination against women. This is palpable nonsese in our sector - laughable in fact.

It isn't the tomfoolery, celebrating the union banner at the 'stop the war' marches (which I got removed when I got the jubilant email - with an apology - that's before the leader at the time was bounced out for being insufficiently Corbiny or antisemitic), it is the failure to create a calm narrative that sticks with one issue at time, the failure to avoid falling into ludicrous traps, unsustainable positions thay they then can't bring themselves to set down. The union is not working for its members and academic staff have long since voted with their feet.

I agree with much of this, particularly the presence of Trots and their positioning within the UCU (and academia). The gender pay gap is a little more subtle than you suggest in my view but agree about the futility of running too many issues together. Irrespective of all of that, I'm still of the view that unions have a role as @clapham gull articulates extremely well, and that the UCEA will continue to implement real-terms pay reductions unless they're made very aware that their staff deem it unacceptable. In 18 years of working, we've only had one pay rise (which followed on from a number of real-terms pay cuts), and that resulted from concerted action, which wasn't strike activity but, rather, action short of a strike.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I agree with much of this, particularly the presence of Trots and their positioning within the UCU (and academia). The gender pay gap is a little more subtle than you suggest in my view but agree about the futility of running too many issues together. Irrespective of all of that, I'm still of the view that unions have a role as @clapham gull articulates extremely well, and that the UCEA will continue to implement real-terms pay reductions unless they're made very aware that their staff deem it unacceptable. In 18 years of working, we've only had one pay rise (which followed on from a number of real-terms pay cuts), and that resulted from concerted action, which wasn't strike activity but, rather, action short of a strike.

No arguments, no buts. For me, personaly, further engagement with the UCU, however, is futile.