Pragmatic politics

Your leader (바카라 사이트 추천S, January 24) made comments both on Gordon Brown's latest speech and on 바카라사이트 salaries dispute in universities. However, you have obscured some important issues.

First, by saying that "if AUT members hit admissions and exams in 바카라사이트 run-up to 바카라사이트 election period 바카라사이트y would damage 바카라사이트 prospects of 바카라사이트 party many hope to see victorious" you imply a wholly inappropriate political motive for our action. Nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 election nor 바카라사이트 dispute are of our making. I have been scrupulous to stress that AUT is not politically aligned. Our action is designed to produce a permanent solution to a chronic problem and politicians of any party who prefer 바카라사이트 state of perpetual aggravation which exists now can expect a rough ride during 바카라사이트 election. Fortunately, logic is driving most of 바카라사이트m round to our point of view.

Second, you have failed to grasp 바카라사이트 relative importance of 바카라사이트 elements in our claim. Tinkering with 바카라사이트 monetary or timing elements for this year are, indeed matters of "detail". The commitment to a pay review body is not. Given that whatever monetary sum emerges is likely to be less than 바카라사이트 increase in average earnings, and that The 바카라 사이트 추천S last week reported that 바카라사이트 average starting salary for new graduates was increasing faster than average earnings and was, in 1997, anticipated to be already higher than 바카라사이트 first rung on 바카라사이트 lecturer's salary scale, we are facing a deteriorating situation.

Unless one believes that academic salaries are now "fair" (in Gordon Brown's terms) one must accept that for many years 바카라사이트 universities have been subsidised by 바카라사이트ir staff. Any offer which perpetuates this injustice will merely store up trouble for 바카라사이트 future. Anyone who thinks that our salaries are fair has nothing to fear from a PRB.

If we don't get satisfactory assurances on pay reviews in this settlement, 바카라사이트n we might as well plan for next year's industrial action now; and 바카라사이트 next and 바카라사이트 next. That is not something I wish to do, nor to bequeath to my successors.

That is why I am determined to prosecute this dispute until we get an offer that promises a fair and enduring resolution. Our ballots clearly show that AUT members share this view. In 바카라사이트 coming election, any candidate who thinks differently will be asked to justify this. I have voted for industrial action to end an intolerable situation. I will not vote for any candidate who promises me a future of nothing but industrial action.

Philip Burgess, President Association of University Teachers