www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 4 November 2013 Issue 1278 Free
The Independent Voice of Newcastle Students
WARDROBE WARS Three couples vent their rage at each other’s sartorial choices p.16
WIN FREE FOOD FOR A YEAR p.14
Est 1948
DEFYING GRAVITY p.25
MONUMENTAL MOMENT Supporters gathered in the centre of town to show solidarity with the striking higher education staff Image: James Simpson
Lecturers strike over pay row By James Simpson News Editor Last Thursday saw widespread strike action across Newcastle in a dispute over unfair higher education pay. The strikes were orchestrated by three Unions: Ucu (Universities and Colleges Union), Unison, and Unite. Members of these unions were encouraged to strike for the day leaving lecture theatres across the country empty. Members of the academic and support staff at this university joined with over 140 other universities in the strike action. A demonstration was held outside King’s Gate in the morning with a number of staff and students protesting. Protestors joined together to protest primarily over pay. Lecturers allege that over the last 5 years there has been around 13% real-terms pay cut. The
Union’s subsequently rejected a pay offer of 1%. The reason for the strike action according to a newsletter from Unison is because “offering fair pay, a decent pension scheme, adequate sick pay and holiday entitlement are necessary to reward the hard work and loyalty of the high quality staff that run our universities.” The document also said “Total expenditure on staff has declined over the last 3 years, because salaries have fallen by over 15% over the last 5 years. Yet Universities are predicted to see their income rise over the next 5 years.” It is also alleged by UNISON that “half of Vice-Chancellors now earn more than £242,000” per year. Senior history lecturer Dr. Martin Farr who was on the picket line outside King’s Gate said that the reason for the strike was “really about making a stand
and making our position very clear.” He went on to say that it’s a “last resort to do what we are doing” and that “if we only worked our contracted hours as a matter of course the University simply would not function”. This comes after disputes over the amount of work University staff are being asked to do without any pay increase. “Half of ViceWhen asked how this would Chancellors ect student now earn more aff contact hours he than £242,000 responded: “It wouldn’t affect per year” contact hours in terms of scheduled classes but doing work in evenings and weekends.” “It’s more about generally being around and being citizens in the community of scholars and students,” he added.
A Unison newsletter stated: “We regret the potential disruption to students, but are in close contact with the NUS and many students will be supportive of the action as they face similar challenges of surviving on a low income.” A Newcastle University spokesman said: “Very little disruption has been reported due to strike action by some staff today. A few lectures have been cancelled, but students were informed in advance, and efforts are being made to reschedule.” Luke Neal, a third year History and Politics student who was at the picket at King’s Gate said he was in support of the “strike with lecturers, admin staff, and cleaners because all the things they’re striking for directly affect the education we receive. It’s all about fighting the privatisation of higher education as it reorientates the education away from learning and towards production of
profit and we don’t agree with that.” Another student on the picket line, third year Sociology student Stefan Smith, said he believed that there was “disparity between the increase in surplus money that is at the top of the University isn’t been spread out evenly between the people who do the majority of the work.” He said that one of the reasons he was in support was “not just a strike about pay, just generally problems across all levels of education throughout the country.” The picket line then moved down through Newcastle to Monument where they were met by a larger group of supporters of the union’s actions. As the group were walking down Northumberland Street they were chanting “They say cut back, we say fight back” and “Low pay, no way”. Continued on page 4