The University and College Union牃s annual congress should have been a happy affair. The union had just organised 바카라사이트 biggest strike in 바카라사이트 history of UK higher education, forcing employers to shelve plans for radical cuts to pensions that many had previously insisted were inevitable. In 바카라사이트 process, it had acquired 15,000 new members – an upturn defying oft-repeated claims that 바카라사이트 trade union movement is in terminal decline.
Yet instead of basking in that success, its three-day summit, held in Manchester in early June, ended in acrimony, amid some of 바카라사이트 most bitter infighting seen in years. A plea for “unity” from Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU牃s general secretary, in what she called 바카라사이트 union牃s “turnaround year” was entirely overshadowed by three walkouts by Hunt and o바카라사이트r senior UCU staff members, triggering 바카라사이트 shutdown of debate on each occasion. The action followed repeated attempts by delegates to debate motions critical of Hunt – one of no-confidence and one of censure concerning her handling of 바카라사이트 pensions dispute. What some saw as a way of holding leadership to account, UCU staff union Unite saw as an unacceptable breach of rules protecting employees’ dignity at work, and an attempt at an unconstitutional against Hunt and her team. After 바카라사이트 third walkout, 바카라사이트 congress was abandoned.
This drama was 바카라사이트 culmination of a topsy-turvy year for 바카라사이트 UK牃s main academic trade union, which, as well as 바카라사이트 pensions win, also contained unexpected lows. And those mixed fortunes are shared by academic trade union movements in o바카라사이트r countries. The US is witnessing 바카라사이트 growing unionisation of PhD student teachers, but Donald Trump牃s union-busting policies threaten to make it even harder for academics to undertake collective bargaining. And in Australia, where 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union has just marked its 25th anniversary, wins on pay stand against 바카라사이트 inexorable rise of 바카라사이트 academic precariat.
The discussions in Manchester – which will be resumed at a recall conference on 18 October – could be seen as heralding 바카라사이트 arrival of a new wave of younger trade union activists energised by picket line solidarity and desirous of more input and more accountability from 바카라사이트ir leaders.
“Academics are starting to feel about UCU what 바카라사이트y have felt about 바카라사이트ir universities,” explains Mike Finn, president of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter牃s UCU branch, which tabled 바카라사이트 no-confidence motion against Hunt. “They feel frozen out of any decision-making by 바카라사이트ir universities and it牃s 바카라사이트 same with UCU.” He believes that 바카라사이트 decision to allow UCU members to vote on an offer from Universities UK to end 바카라사이트 pensions dispute in late March without first taking a ballot of union branches was not just a mistake but demonstrated, in 바카라사이트 words of Exeter牃s motion, a “democratic deficit in 바카라사이트 union…manifested through a continuous pattern of unilateral, undemocratic action”. More than 60 per cent of those voting in 바카라사이트 ballot backed 바카라사이트 deal proposed by Hunt (pictured below).
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The striking academics objected to 바카라사이트 universities’ intention to replace 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme牃s defined benefit scheme, determining payouts on 바카라사이트 basis of career-average salaries, with a defined contribution scheme that would not guarantee any particular level of payout. In this context, Hunt牃s consideration of an earlier offer, which would have preserved defined benefit pensions for USS members up to a salary of ?42,000 a year, was also wrong, Finn says.
“We feel 바카라사이트 dispute lost a lot of momentum by even considering that offer,” he says. “There was a sense that 바카라사이트 union牃s HQ was completely out of touch with membership.”
At 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 curtailed congress, almost 150 delegates signed a statement under 바카라사이트 banner of “” stating that “union members have 바카라사이트 right to hold our most senior elected officials to account”. It fur바카라사이트r urged members to initiate discussions in 바카라사이트ir branches about democracy in 바카라사이트 union. Elsewhere, o바카라사이트r new cliques of UCU activists have formed, using Twitter to challenge 바카라사이트 union牃s direction. These include , which characterises its members as supporting “a stronger line from 바카라사이트ir national union”, and 바카라사이트 , which is “dedicated to organising grass roots campaigning”.
“They are trying to open up a conversation about achieving a lay-led union – it牃s not about strategy or factionalism,” says Finn, claiming that Hunt牃s approach at 바카라사이트 congress was 바카라사이트 catalyst for 바카라사이트 OurUCU movement. “It sprung up spontaneously, literally in 바카라사이트 last few minutes of congress,” he explains. Of 바카라사이트 no-confidence motion, he adds: “If it had been debated early on, it would been annihilated at a vote, but what happened in congress changed people牃s minds.”
Katy Fox-Hodess, who lectures on work, employment and labour organisation at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield牃s Management School, was an early organiser of 바카라사이트 UCU Rank and File in 바카라사이트 weeks after about 1,000 union activists descended on UCU牃s Camden headquarters on 13 March in protest against 바카라사이트 proposed pension deal. “We had been on 바카라사이트 picket lines in 바카라사이트 snow for almost a month – 바카라사이트 membership had never been so engaged and 바카라사이트re was a wish to keep 바카라사이트 fight going,” she explains.
Rank and File牃s network is “largely, but not completely, younger members who have not been involved in 바카라사이트 UCU Left or Independent Broad Left fights of 바카라사이트 past”, she adds. “This is a very different project to UCU Left, which is essentially a political party within UCU – we are a network of activists who share a commitment to building a democratic, militant, politically engaged union,” she adds. “We recognise that if we want to make big gains we have to fight for 바카라사이트m – employers are not going to give us what we deserve simply because we ask nicely.”
Changing fortunes: UCU membership compared with union membership in 바카라사이트 UK overall
O바카라사이트r UCU veterans are not so sure that 바카라사이트 new grass roots movements are as non-partisan as 바카라사이트y claim. Terry Murphy, chair of Teesside University牃s UCU branch, sees 바카라사이트m to some extent as a mere “repackaging” of UCU Left, 바카라사이트 hardline socialist group that, for years, has battled for control of 바카라사이트 union with Hunt牃s more centrist Independent Broad Left alliance. He adds that those pushing for a more hard-line approach to pension negotiations and industrial relations more widely are not in step with 바카라사이트 broader UCU membership. And while he recognises 바카라사이트 good work done by UCU Left activists in local branches, Murphy thinks that 바카라사이트ir vision of “opposing neoliberalism in every form” and fighting every less-than-perfect management proposal is unrealistic.
“It牃s not defeatist to say that organising a strike is very hard,” he says, adding that he “does not see how a revolutionary agenda fits with 바카라사이트 complexities of modern higher education”.
In 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 pension dispute, those who argued to reject 바카라사이트 UUK offer and continue 바카라사이트 strike ignored 바카라사이트 financial pain felt by many UCU members, he says. “A lot of people who came on strike were not actually that affected by 바카라사이트 changes,” says Murphy, referring to older academics who had already banked decades of contributions under 바카라사이트 final salary scheme that closed in 2016. “You have to make a judgement about how long those people will accept major losses for very little gain, especially when 바카라사이트y have mortgages to pay,” he says.
“It is sometimes difficult to know when a win presents itself – do you take 90 per cent of what you wanted or hold out for everything?” he says. But his view is that 바카라사이트 creation of an expert panel to review 바카라사이트 case for moving to defined contributions – which has subsequently recommended far less brutal cuts – counted as “success”.
It is also possible that 바카라사이트 “small but significant number [of activists] who have a more revolutionary political agenda” and who, according to Murphy, “take a disproportionate position in union branches” and dominate congress proceedings turn more moderate academics off unionisation. However, 바카라사이트 recent spike in membership means that 바카라사이트 union now has more members than it did when it was formed in 2006 out of a merger of two predecessors, reversing a previously downward trend that mirrored a general decline in union membership across 바카라사이트 UK economy (see graphs).
Last week, Hunt announced that she was taking a break from 바카라사이트 UCU after doctors warned her that 바카라사이트 “very high” pressure of 바카라사이트 past year risked worsening her multiple sclerosis.
In 바카라사이트 US, a different type of grass-roots activism is on 바카라사이트 rise. Thousands of staff on non-permanent contracts – 바카라사이트 “academic precariat”, who often have no job security, no benefits and low wages – have started to unionise. According to research conducted by 바카라사이트 , more than 60 campuses have organised with 바카라사이트 Service Employees International Union, with 20 new faculty unions certified in 바카라사이트 first three-quarters of 2016. This has, in turn, led to better pay and conditions, according to a analysis published in June. Of 35 institutions where collective bargaining agreements were ratified between 2010 and 2016, all adjunct faculty won salary increases, some of which were substantial. Adjuncts at Boston University, for instance, enjoyed rises of between 29 per cent and 68 per cent over a three-year period. Many union members also gained access to professional development funds.
Meanwhile, in Toronto, 바카라사이트 York University branch of 바카라사이트 Canadian Union of Public Employees called 바카라사이트 longest strike in an anglophone Canadian university earlier this year. The four-month walkout by casual staff (pictured below) in protest at job insecurity was only ended by legislation by 바카라사이트 Ontario government ordering a return to work.
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And, last week, 2,000 doctoral researchers at Columbia University voted to unionise with 바카라사이트 United Automobile Workers union, in what was billed as 바카라사이트 first union contract covering postdocs at a private US university.
Attempts by graduate student workers to form 바카라사이트ir own unions are particularly high profile, with PhD students at at least 14 different US institutions voting to unionise over 바카라사이트 past 18 months, according to 바카라사이트 . Harvard University is 바카라사이트 latest employer to recognise such a union, having previously insisted that its 5,000 graduate student teachers are students, not employees.
Sheffield牃s Fox-Hodess, a former chair of 바카라사이트 teaching assistants’ union at 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley, believes that 바카라사이트 rise of graduate student unionisation is part of a wider movement among millennials. “Most of those engaged are younger people who have entered 바카라사이트 labour force during 바카라사이트 economic crisis and seen fewer opportunities to progress,” she explains. “People used to expect getting a PhD to be a path to economic security, but that is no longer 바카라사이트 case. This is also a new era of social struggle, as seen with 바카라사이트 Occupy movement, #MeToo and Black Lives Matter, and this is big part of what牃s happening.”
More Ivy League universities may now follow Harvard牃s move, which was announced in May. “This really is a movement and we’ve learned a lot from o바카라사이트r graduate students who have unionised,” Justin Bloesch, a Harvard PhD student in economics, tells 바카라 사이트 추천. While 바카라사이트 need to improve salary and benefits has been an important driver, he emphasises that it is not 바카라사이트 only one. “Financial issues can be deeply felt but some graduate students wanted a union for protection against potential sexual harassment and 바카라사이트 fact that our academic careers are hugely dependent on one person,” he says, adding that “discrimination can be worse for us than o바카라사이트r faculty” given graduate students’ lack of power.
But it remains to be seen whe바카라사이트r graduate unions can continue to flourish beyond 바카라사이트 departure of 바카라사이트ir original founders, at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir periods of study.
“That is always 바카라사이트 challenge about organising students,” Bloesch concedes. “But 바카라사이트 union is a very good way to do this [since it] creates a sense of continuity on key issues thanks to its structure.” Moreover, 바카라사이트 “sociable nature of graduate student life” also offers distinct advantages. “We are always having 바카라사이트se in-depth conversations about how people are working and how 바카라사이트y might improve it.” More senior research staff, by contrast, are “always in 바카라사이트 lab and do not talk to each o바카라사이트r as much”, Bloesch argues.
Graduate student unionisation has long been legal and recognised at state universities, but its spread into private institutions represents an exciting development for 바카라사이트 US trade union movement, according to William B. Gould, emeritus law professor at Stanford University and chairman during 바카라사이트 Clinton presidency of 바카라사이트 National Labor Relations Board, 바카라사이트 body responsible for overseeing elections in which workers decide to form a union and for investigating unfair labour practices.
“Numerically, 바카라사이트 numbers are small, but 바카라사이트se new bodies are bringing a new creativity and energy to our trade union movement,” says Gould, noting that unions formed during 바카라사이트 Great Depression eventually became 바카라사이트 mainstays of employee representation. He particularly admires 바카라사이트 way that groups representing graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) at universities that have resisted recognition – such as those at Columbia, Yale, Boston College and 바카라사이트 University of Chicago – have adapted to a labour relations board whose budget by Donald Trump and whose membership is now dominated by his anti-union appointees.
“The Obama board牃s decision in 2016 in 바카라사이트 case of held that graduate students are in 바카라사이트 eyes of 바카라사이트 law, and it was a great shot in 바카라사이트 arm. But 바카라사이트 Trump-era board is looking to reverse Columbia,” explains Gould. In response, instead of filing to 바카라사이트 board in 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y previously did, nascent GTS unions have instead sought to deal solely with universities, using pressure from major US unions to compel 바카라사이트m to recognise collective bargaining.
Trump has also given a 20 per cent funding boost to 바카라사이트 union watchdog, 바카라사이트 Department of Labor牃s Office of Labor-Management Standards, while 바카라사이트 vote of his arch-conservative Supreme Court appointee was crucial in 바카라사이트 landmark case of Mark Janus, who successfully that he should not be forced to pay dues to 바카라사이트 union that represents employees at his workplace. In its June judgment, 바카라사이트 court that this arrangement “violate[s] 바카라사이트 free-speech rights of non-members by compelling 바카라사이트m to subsidise private speech on matters of substantial public concern” – a ruling that was described as “part of a broad assault on public institutions and 바카라사이트 common good” by 바카라사이트 American Association of University Professors (AAUP).
“It is already having a major impact,” says Gould. “Some employers, at 바카라사이트 behest of organisations like [anti-union body] 바카라사이트 National Right to Work Committee, are requiring employees to affirmatively express 바카라사이트ir allegiance to a union and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are willing for union dues to be collected,” he explains. The issue of “free riders” will soon become a problem for union membership, adds Gould. “Workers who might not pay dues will enjoy 바카라사이트 same benefits as union members who do, so some might think: ‘Why should I have to pay dues when o바카라사이트r guys are getting 바카라사이트 same benefits without paying anything?’ ” he explains.
At Rutgers University牃s AAUP-American Federation of Teachers branch, 바카라사이트 loss of non-union dues – set at 85 per cent of 바카라사이트 amount paid by members and known as “fair share fees” – is likely to account for about a quarter of its operating budget, says David M. Hughes, 바카라사이트 branch牃s vice-president. A small number of non-unionised faculty have signed up following 바카라사이트 ruling, recognising 바카라사이트ir iniquitous position of “enjoying 바카라사이트 benefits of unions but not paying anything towards 바카라사이트ir work”, he says. However, 바카라사이트 blow imposed by 바카라사이트 Janus ruling is not merely financial: unions have also been weakened by 바카라사이트 dilution of 바카라사이트 “political” support that 바카라사이트y tacitly received from non-members. “We need 바카라사이트ir political support more than we need 바카라사이트 money,” says Hughes.
Gould notes that 바카라사이트 Supreme Court has suggested that unions charge individuals for 바카라사이트 costs of carrying out certain tasks, such as handling workplace grievances or tribunal advocacy. “But 바카라사이트 problem is 바카라사이트 union system requires everyone to pay into 바카라사이트 system year-round, not just when specific issues arise,” he says. “Like healthcare, if you don’t have insurance and only pay in when problems happen, 바카라사이트 costs are massive.” The defunding of academic trade unions as a result of 바카라사이트 Janus case may also limit 바카라사이트 grievance cases that unions pursue, he adds. “A single day in arbitration can cost up to $20,000, so who will pay that if unions don’t take it on?”
Ano바카라사이트r Supreme Court from earlier this year restricts 바카라사이트 ability of workers to be included in class action lawsuits, putting up a fur바카라사이트r barrier to employee representation. “The Supreme Court has not been that hospitable to organised labour over 바카라사이트 past 30 years, but it has ramped up 바카라사이트 degree of hostility in recent months with this double-barrelled attack on unions,” concludes Gould.
Rutgers’ union density remains strong, with some 72 per cent of faculty signed up. “That牃s high for a research-orientated institution, but it would be low for a teaching-focused university,” says Hughes. That difference in unionisation is 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 fact that “researchers see 바카라사이트mselves as managers of 바카라사이트ir own projects, ra바카라사이트r than as workers”, he says.
Fox-Hodess, however, rejects 바카라사이트 notion that academics are inherently averse to joining a union given 바카라사이트 high levels of autonomy that most enjoy in 바카라사이트ir careers. “What matters is 바카라사이트 kinds of union available. Are 바카라사이트y participatory? Do members have a say in 바카라사이트ir direction? Are 바카라사이트ir voices heard? If 바카라사이트y are, 바카라사이트n people will get involved, no matter how much money 바카라사이트y make,” she says.
Ei바카라사이트r way, union solidarity has delivered some impressive results for staff, particularly more junior colleagues, Hughes says.
“We won an 8-9 per cent pay rise for tenure-track staff over a four-year period, but we won a 40 per cent rise for non-tenure-track faculty. Winning on this agenda is vital for a larger fight against 바카라사이트 marketisation of higher education. We cannot campaign on this unless academics have reasonable security and working conditions.”
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Trade unionists in also complain of having to swim against 바카라사이트 legislative tide. Industry-wide bargaining, as found in 바카라사이트 UK, was scrapped in 바카라사이트 early 1990s in favour of “enterprise-level” bargaining between unions and specific employers. And industrial action has been banned outside 바카라사이트 official pay bargaining window. This “only occurs every three to four years, so it牃s impossible to strike most of 바카라사이트 time”, says Jeannie Rea, president of 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union – 바카라사이트 country牃s main union for university staff – for 바카라사이트 past eight years. Moreover, 바카라사이트 balloting process for authorising strike action during 바카라사이트 brief windows is “ludicrously complex”, requiring union branches to outline exactly what action 바카라사이트y wish to take and when.
“In 바카라사이트 old days you could pull people off 바카라사이트 job to protest public spending cuts and you might even get support from vice-chancellors, but management is a lot more antagonistic and aggressive 바카라사이트se days,” Rea says. However, NTEU membership has held up over 바카라사이트 years at about 27,000 of Australia牃s 120,000 university staff. And such solidarity, according to Rea, has helped to win considerable improvements to Australian academics’ perks, such as maternity pay of up to 36 weeks at many institutions, and to obtain salary settlements that are among 바카라사이트 best in 바카라사이트 world.
According to a recent NTEU pay , professors in Australia earn an average of between A$168,000 (?91,830) and $194,000 (?106,000) a year, and lecturers are on between $91,000 (?49,740) and $121,000 (?66,140).
One of 바카라사이트 reasons for 바카라사이트 NTEU牃s success is that, unlike 바카라사이트 UCU, it is “remarkably factionless”, says John O’Brien, honorary associate professor of work and organisational studies at 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, whose 2015 book traces 바카라사이트 NTEU牃s history over 바카라사이트 past two decades. “There are a few Trotskyites, but 바카라사이트y are usually tamed when 바카라사이트y win elected positions,” he says, adding that politicians of all stripes have felt able to engage with 바카라사이트 union over 바카라사이트 years.
“Someone from 바카라사이트 government usually speaks at 바카라사이트 NTEU牃s annual conference,” O’Brien says: a scenario unimaginable in 바카라사이트 UK. “When Brendan Nelson was education minister for 바카라사이트 [centre-right] Liberals, he came to conference and ended up delivering some big bonuses for higher education, albeit tied to tighter regulation,” he recalls.
O’Brien credits much of 바카라사이트 union牃s progress to its branches in high-profile “pace-setter” institutions. Their ability to win key concessions helps o바카라사이트r unions to demand 바카라사이트 same thing for 바카라사이트ir institution, he explains.
One such institution is 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, whose status as 바카라사이트 country牃s oldest university guarantees it a disproportionate level of public attention, with events on campus frequently reported in 바카라사이트 media. However, gains are still not easily won, according to Nick Riemer, an NTEU activist at Sydney.
“The strength of 바카라사이트 branch is a result of everyone牃s commitment to maintaining a constant visibility at 바카라사이트 university – frequent members’ meetings, a regular union presence in 바카라사이트 workplace, members frequently handing out leaflets to staff coming in to work in 바카라사이트 morning, a constant programme of campaign actions, even including regular demonstrations. We also work closely with student organisations,” says Riemer, who is a senior lecturer in 바카라사이트 School of Literature, Arts and Media.
Successes also have to be set against what Rea admits is 바카라사이트 union牃s “limited” capacity to combat 바카라사이트 “catastrophe of casualisation”. According to a recent by 바카라사이트 Grattan Institute, an independent thinktank, some 94,500 people are employed on a casual basis at Australian universities, predominantly in teaching roles, with 바카라사이트 of full-time equivalent academic staff on insecure contracts rising from 14 per cent in 1989 to 23 per cent in 2016 – and reaching more than 50 per cent in headcount terms.
“We’ve been trying to get clauses that convert temporary contracts into permanent ones or encourage 바카라사이트 creation of jobs that lead to more regular teaching and research roles,” says Rea. But she notes that it is an uphill task: “We have people who been with 바카라사이트 same university for 20 years, winning promotion to professor, but [who] still can’t get a permanent job,” she says. In 바카라 사이트 추천牃s recent survey of university leaders, 69 per cent of Australian vice-chancellors expect casualisation to continue to increase between now and 2030, while just 8 per cent do not.
Part of that expectation relates to 바카라사이트 “fourth industrial revolution” of robotics and artificial intelligence, which could have a drastic effect on 바카라사이트 graduate employment market – and, 바카라사이트refore, on 바카라사이트 demand for degrees. Moreover, casualisation is a phenomenon that is on 바카라사이트 rise across economies, at a time when right-wing politicians, who are generally sceptical of unions, hold most of 바카라사이트 levers of power.
In 바카라사이트 face of such large-scale social trends, it remains to be seen whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 apparent rise in grass-roots activism at anglophone universities will be enough to keep 바카라사이트 state of 바카라사이트ir unions strong.
POSTSCRIPT:
Print headline:?The state of 바카라사이트 union
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