Read the Students' Union's position on the Strike Action due to take place on Thursday 31st October.
Following democratic ballots of UCU / UNISON / UNITE members in support of strike action, Swansea University staff (lecturers and support staff) will be on strike this Thursday (31st October.)
What is this about?
The strike is about pay. This is a national strike happening at Universities across the UK. Staff in Universities across the UK have suffered a real terms pay cut of 13% since 2008. The group managing the employment interests of Universities across the UK (Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education) have offered a 1% increase which is less than half the current inflation rate, and comes at a time when pay and pension packages for Vice Chancellors have continued to rise significantly, to an average of almost £250,000 p.a..
The current situation around pay for University staff has been described as “one of the largest sustained wage cuts any profession has suffered since the Second World War”. It is not only lecturers but those staff on lower wages, such as porters, technicians, and secretaries who have lost out, and stand to lose out again. You can read the article here
At the same time the cumulative operating surplus in the higher education sector is over £1 billion, and many higher education institutions have built up cash reserves. Overall staff costs in higher education, as a proportion of income, have fallen from 58% in 2001/02, to 55.5% in 2011/12.
In an email to his members, President of Swansea UCU (lecturers Union), Simon Hoffman, said: “No one wants to lose a day’s pay whilst on strike, but the reality is that unless the employers come back to the table with a reasonable offer, the value of our pay will continue to be whittled away. However, the employers will not return to negotiation unless we show determination to resist the on-going attempt to reduce the value of our pay.
The Committee emphasises that this is not a strike against Swansea University or its management. Indeed we believe that management understand our reasons for taking this action and will not seek to undermine it in any way.”
Click here to read more about the conditions and events that led up to the strike action.
What is the Students' Union's position?
The Students' Union Executive Committee (Full Time Officers & Part Time Officers) met today to discuss the strike action and formulated the Union's position on the strike action:
• We believe that lecturers and other staff in our University should be properly supported and remunerated. We believe that fair pay is an issue of fairness in itself, but also note that there are very clear benefits to students that pay is at a level which attracts excellent staff, and helps to support the maintenance of a happy and motivated workforce.
• We believe that the introduction of a market into the University sector is forcing universities like ours to make rash economic decisions, incentivising large marketing budgets rather than investing in the underpinnings of a quality education.
• The Students’ Union support the rights of all staff to challenge unfair practices, including to challenge pay and conditions which they democratically deem to be unfair.
• The Students’ Union recognises industrial action as an entirely legitimate means of raising such concerns. However, we have concerns where industrial action unnecessarily and seriously impacts on students – including on the marking and assessment of work, and the ability of students to graduate.
• We also note that it is entirely possible to undertake industrial action in a manner which limits negative impacts on students, and which actually encourages active support from students over issues of common cause and concern.
What practical steps will the Union take to support lecturers?
Some of you may remember #StudyAid when we handed out free tea and coffee during the stressful exam period. The Students’ Union will be taking practical action on Thursday 31st October to support University staff that are protesting by offering staff tea and coffee. We'll be calling this #StrikeAid and we'll be using the tag on twitter to articulate how this issue has an impact on students.
Whilst a number of Full Time Officers including the President will be away at the National Union of Students’ Higher Education and the Union Development Zone conferences, Full Time Officer (paid) Rosie Inman and Part Time Officer (unpaid) Chris Whitty will lead the Union’s efforts to support those who are striking on the day. All members of the Full Time and Part Time Officer team will be involved in the preparations leading up to Thursday.
Key contacts:
CONCERNED?
If you’re concerned about a deadline that is on the same day as the strike action, or worried that the content that was due to be delivered on Thursday isn’t being rescheduled appropriately, then please contact Students’ Union President Zahid Raja: president@swansea-union.co.uk
WANT TO HELP?
If you’d like to volunteer your time and help the Students’ Union support striking University staff on Thursday please email Rosie Inman: womensofficer@swansea-union.co.uk / Chris Whitty: ethics@swansea-union.co.uk
Best wishes,
Swansea University Students’ Union Executive Committee
Please direct all enquiries regarding this statement to the chair: Zahid Raja.
Email: president@swansea-union.co.uk
Phone: 01792 295468