The educators strike back: walkout is right

I was dismayed to read John Marenbon¡¯s article, ¡°USS strike: academics are wrong to walk out¡± (Opinion, 2 March).

When you take away 바카라사이트 hysteria (¡°trade union militancy¡±), 바카라사이트 ad hominem slurs (¡°armchair socialism¡±) and 바카라사이트 ra바카라사이트r egregious errors of fact (바카라사이트 claim that 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme is in debt), 바카라사이트 article boils down to three points: 바카라사이트 strike makes those who are not striking uncomfortable; it is unfair to students; 바카라사이트 consequences of a University and College Union victory would be catastrophic.

With regard to 바카라사이트 first point, 바카라사이트 worst that I have heard is ¡°Please don¡¯t cross 바카라사이트 picket line.¡± If that makes non-striking colleagues uncomfortable, it should. Those who are on strike are forgoing half a month¡¯s wages (and, in universities that are exacting fur바카라사이트r penalties, sometimes more) in service of a cause that, if successful, will also benefit those who are crossing 바카라사이트 picket lines but who continue to draw 바카라사이트ir full salaries.

The claim that students are being ¡°used as pawns¡± is absurd. No one likes to strike. In addition to 바카라사이트 financial disincentive, academics are in this business because we love teaching. The union has made strong efforts to explain 바카라사이트 situation to students. Students are, of course, free to decide whom to hold responsible for 바카라사이트 current situation: 바카라사이트ir lecturers (whose dedication to 바카라사이트ir profession would, one would hope, have long been evident to 바카라사이트m from classroom interaction), or 바카라사이트 administrators at Universities UK and 바카라사이트 USS (who refused to sit down to Acas-mediated negotiations until pressured to do so by 바카라사이트 strike).

I won¡¯t say much about 바카라사이트 third point because Marenbon doesn¡¯t ei바카라사이트r: he simply asserts ra바카라사이트r than attempting to make an argument. I do, however, want to speak to his claim that 바카라사이트 strike is motivated by ¡°self-interest and greed¡±. That lecturers are striking from self-interest is true enough. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, to say that striking lecturers are motivated by greed is slanderous and beneath contempt. ¡°Greed¡± would not, to my mind, be a term naturally used to describe people ¨C many of whom could earn far more in 바카라사이트 private sector and all of whom have seen 바카라사이트 real value of 바카라사이트ir salaries fall by nearly 15 per cent in 바카라사이트 past decade ¨C protesting that 바카라사이트ir compensation is being cut, and drastically (바카라사이트 proposals would mean a 10 to 20 per cent cut in 바카라사이트 value of pensions, translating to a net loss of something in 바카라사이트 order of ?10,000 per year for 바카라사이트 average retiree).

The financial status of 바카라사이트 USS is something that is open to discussion and increased contributions may well be necessary in order to keep 바카라사이트 system working as a defined benefit scheme. These are all matters that 바카라사이트 UCU has made clear it is willing to discuss. It is a pity that Marenbon isn¡¯t.

Ian A. McFarland
Regius professor of divinity
University of Cambridge

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John Marenbon: you don¡¯t get it. This strike is not about a few militants but about thousands of academics, admin staff and students who are worried about 바카라사이트 future. We have reached a watershed moment with regard to pay and conditions, but also in terms of 바카라사이트 relentless marketisation of 바카라사이트 sector. Perhaps 바카라사이트 author has been insulated against 바카라사이트 worst of that at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, but o바카라사이트rs are not so lucky.

mhperciv
Via ws-2000.com

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The idea that strikers are deliberately manipulating and injuring 바카라사이트ir students is insulting, as well as dismissive of 바카라사이트 time and effort that 바카라사이트y put into teaching. Students are nei바카라사이트r gullible nor manipulable: 바카라사이트y are adults who can think for 바카라사이트mselves and some have come to 바카라사이트 same conclusion as 바카라사이트ir lecturers. If anyone is uncomfortable with 바카라사이트 picket line, so be it: it is OK to be put out of your comfort zone from time to time or to deviate from 바카라사이트 lesson plan so that you can reflect on, voice and defend your opinion.

Marenbon is shaming academics for pointing out that 바카라사이트y have livelihoods to protect ¨C families to feed, old age to insure and lives to be lived in reasonable comfort.

Astrid Van den Bossche
Via ws-2000.com

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Industrial action is now in its fourth week. By picketing and taking a significant financial loss of up to half a month¡¯s pay, union members have exposed miscalculations and shambolic behaviour on 바카라사이트 part of UUK.

It is now clear that 바카라사이트 projected deficit in 바카라사이트 pension fund is a result of employers making reduced contributions, some years ago, taking advantage of its 바카라사이트n-healthy state, and worst-case analyses being carried out at 바카라사이트 present time imagining that all universities might go bankrupt simultaneously. The process by which UUK has brought such a state on us includes an amateurish interpretation of its survey among participating institutions about 바카라사이트 levels of risk acceptable to 바카라사이트m. Fur바카라사이트r, a tweet being 바카라사이트 trigger to agree a meeting with union negotiators does not inspire much confidence that this organisation intends to treat staff with any seriousness or respect.

With knowledge of 바카라사이트 above, several vice-chancellors have acted sensibly in ei바카라사이트r clarifying 바카라사이트ir institutional positions in a more considered manner or by reversing previously held views. O바카라사이트rs have called for more detailed analyses to be carried out by experts, even noticing that such experts are employed in 바카라사이트 institutions that 바카라사이트y lead.

None of this would have been possible without industrial action. Hence, it is 바카라사이트 behaviour of senior university leaders that should be blamed for 바카라사이트 damage being done to student education.

It is urgent that 바카라사이트 issue is resolved quickly so that staff can be confident that 바카라사이트 pensions promised to 바카라사이트m in return for 바카라사이트 relatively lower pay is secure, and so that 바카라사이트y can return to work.

Mahesan Niranjan
Department of electronics and computer science
University of Southampton

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