Yesterday witnessed yet another strike by university teaching staff in a long-standing battle for better pay, pensions, and conditions. To disrupt teaching further, a series of 2 hour strikes have been scheduled in the near future also.
When I first discovered I would be missing a lecture and a seminar yesterday, of course I was over the moon, and so were my course-mates; it meant even more time to procrastinate on Facebook, sleep, and everything else that comes with being a student aside from work.
But no matter how much I enjoyed my lazy day, I am annoyed that I am missing out on vital information for upcoming essays and exams. Last term, due to strikes, my English Literature course-mates and I missed a great proportion of learning due to strikes, shortly after, the text we had not been able to study fully was set as the exam text. Is this fair?
I understand that university staff are outraged at the 'miserly' offer of a 1% pay rise, which in real terms represents a 13% pay reduction, since 2008. Teaching staff work tirelessly to give students the best chance of graduating: it must take at least half an hour to produce each powerpoint - and then after all that they have to read it out loud to us too! Complaints are partly due to the fact that staff don't believe their pay packets cover the dedication it takes to be a lecturer, but surely they knew what they were getting in to when they accepted the job?
The University and College Union (UCU) have threatened to boycott exam marking if there is no breakthrough following these latest strikes, which would leave thousands of students in the dark and could possibly threaten many graduations. Students are what should be most important to the staff, not the spare change in their designer pockets. Let's face it, even with a 13% deduction, lecturers are still earning a lot more than the average Joe.
It doesn't seem like these disturbances are going to stop any time soon, but it also doesn't seem like they're gaining much, except possibly some extra ratings for Jeremy Kyle. My advice to university staff? Continue to teach the students who pay £9000 a year for your infinite wisdom, and show why you're worth a pay rise.
I totally agree that these strikes have to stop, and until about 2 days ago I would have said exactly the same to my lecturers. I am fed up of missing out on the few hours a week that I get - 6 contact hours a week for £9000 is a joke anyway (shouldn't they reduce fees based on hours? I'm basically paying to read novels that I've bought with my own money for goodness sake!), let alone when one of those hours is casually dismissed as if it isn't costing us anything. Strikes punish the wrong people (students), without a doubt.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I read an article 2 days ago presenting the view of the lecturer who was striking, and to be honest I found it rather convincing. As you said, a 13% pay deduction is really bad and shows a total lack of appreciation for higher education and those who facilitate it (ironic really, when they're trying soooo hard to boost standards in schools). So the people to direct our anger, annoyance, and irritation at are essentially the people who are stacking up on all this cash. Chancellors and vice-Chancellors of universities earn a flipping fortune, cashing in massive bonuses and huge pay-rises over the last few years. It's this injustice we should focus on I guess; only that way will we sort out the issue of strikes.
That said, as a student, I am so annoyed with these strikes and can't help but agree with you when you say that lecturers/tutors still earn a lot more than most people! (And they did know what they were getting themselves into!)
Yeah I understand that it is the 'powers above' who are really to blame for the unbalanced salaries, yet I think it could be handled in another way that doesn't disrupt the students (especially English students like us who aren't in much anyway!). I'm in 9 hours a week, but this week lost 2 hours, so comparatively it's a lot!
ReplyDeleteI would be interested in reading the article you mentioned, do you have a link? :)