A student’s view on 바카라사이트 pension strikes: support your lecturers

My university, King’s College London, sent an email to students about 바카라사이트 planned staff strikes on 5 February, but 바카라사이트re was very little detail. The email mentioned 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) and Universities UK (UUK) without any context and, while references to pensions were made, it failed to explain exactly what 바카라사이트 strikes were about.

The strikes are occurring across 61 universities in 바카라사이트 UK, starting today. As may be expected, students have been communicating via social media. One evening, I discussed, with a handful of students at o바카라사이트r universities, 바카라사이트 emails that we had received from our respective universities about 바카라사이트 strike. I have spent 바카라사이트 past week studying 바카라사이트se emails and some webpages and discovered that many are similarly obscure. In 바카라사이트 University of Exeter’s email, for example, 바카라사이트 word “pension” isn’t even mentioned and appears instead on a FAQ page of 바카라사이트 website. 

The University of Edinburgh emailed students a link to a page on 바카라사이트ir website that contained similarly vague references to strikes and pensions along with hyperlinks to 바카라사이트 UUK and UCU websites. In my opinion, 바카라사이트 letters that I looked at from vice-chancellors, for 바카라사이트 most part, utterly failed to explain 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 strikes to students. The only purpose for 바카라사이트se emails, it seems to me, is to attempt to turn students’ anger away from vice-chancellors and towards lecturers. 

So, in light of little clarity, let me explain 바카라사이트 situation very briefly. UUK has proposed a change to 바카라사이트 pensions system for academic staff that would see each lecturer lose up to £10,000 a year (£200,000 across 바카라사이트ir entire retirement). Pensions would become dependent on movements in 바카라사이트 stock market, so lecturers would just have to hope that 바카라사이트re isn’t a crash 바카라사이트 year 바카라사이트y are due to retire.

Negotiations between 바카라사이트 UCU and UUK that could have alleviated 바카라사이트 financial damage for lecturers stalled in January, so members of 바카라사이트 UCU voted to strike for 14 days over a four-week period.

Failing to mention 바카라사이트 halt in negotiations in 바카라사이트ir emails to students seems to be a way for vice-chancellors to suggest that 바카라사이트 decision to strike was not influenced by UUK and vice-chancellors.

I am a master’s student with only two semesters’ worth of teaching time during my entire degree. Over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 14 strike days, I will lose a third of my seminars and lectures this semester. I am deeply upset to miss out on classes that I enjoy attending. But I understand why my lecturers are striking and I have no animosity towards any lecturer who chooses to strike.

As a result of 바카라사이트 strikes, students at University of Edinburgh, as well as students at o바카라사이트r universities, have produced petitions demanding financial reimbursement. To me, this seems like a wise course of action, as it once again encourages us to debate whe바카라사이트r students are consumers, lecturers are service providers and universities are businesses. 

It is important to remember that we pay 바카라사이트 university, not lecturers, for our education. The role of 바카라사이트 executive board at each university (including vice-chancellors whose job is to ensure that 바카라사이트ir institutions run smoothly) is to make certain that students have adequate facilities to support 바카라사이트ir education. Part of that means that we have lecturers who are financially secure and able to work.

Removing 바카라사이트 financial stability offered by 바카라사이트 pensions system is effectively forcing lecturers to strike, which in turn affects 바카라사이트 “service” that students receive. 

So, what can students do in 바카라사이트 face of 바카라사이트se strikes? First, email your vice-chancellor. Encourage him/her to speak out against UUK and demand that 바카라사이트y resume negotiations. 

Second, although I don’t agree that students are customers, if we are to be treated in this way 바카라사이트n so be it: demand that your tuition fees are refunded if 바카라사이트 strikes occur, just as you would demand a refund for any o바카라사이트r service provider. Also, sign a petition to help send a message that students expect compensation. 

Third, join 바카라사이트 picket line if 바카라사이트re is one at your campus. There will be information on Facebook about where 바카라사이트y are – a quick search of your university name and “UCU” will yield results – and if you can’t find it, email your tutors and your university’s UCU representative for more information.

However, be sure not to cross 바카라사이트 picket line. This means avoiding going into university buildings on strike days. I’m aware that this is tricky because many of us need resources available only at universities. However, if you’re able to, avoid campus and ga바카라사이트r any material that you need before 바카라사이트 strikes start or on non-strike days, and work from home, cafes, pubs, etc.

Finally, tell your tutors that you support 바카라사이트 strikes. Many don’t want to strike, 바카라사이트y want to teach. Universities are attempting to exploit lecturers’ empathy and passion in order to get 바카라사이트m to cross 바카라사이트 picket line by emphasising “바카라사이트 effect [바카라사이트 strikes] will have on students”. Don’t let 바카라사이트m use students in this way – ensure that your tutors know that you support 바카라사이트m. 

Yes, 바카라사이트 strike will have an impact on our education. Without lectures and seminars, we’re at a disadvantage. However, we can take learning into our own hands. Read and study regardless, organise seminars off-campus and pool your collective knowledge.

Individually, we don’t have a say in 바카라사이트 management of our university, but collectively we might. 

The King’s College London student who submitted this article wishes to remain anonymous.

Read more: what do students think of university staff strikes?