Students voice concerns over “frustrating” UCU strike action

STUDENTS have expressed conflicted feelings on the current wave of UCU strike action, expressing support for the UCU’s goals to improve overall staff working conditions, while also expressing concerns about the potential damage to their education as a result of the loss of valuable contact hours.

The majority of respondents to an survey expressed support for the UCU engaging strike action in general, with 79 per cent in favour of action. When specifically asked whether they supported the ongoing 18 days of action, students had a more mixed response, with 49 per cent stating they did not support this extended period of action, and 51 per cent stating that they did. Those students in support of all strike action argued that student support for UCU demands was essential to improving conditions not only for staff but for students too. One respondent told Exeposé “The more students supporting the strikes, the more people using their voice to challenge a twisted and harmful system, [and] the more we can force through real, systematic change.”

One student simply stated that the UCU's previous demands were “not met" and "therefore I appreciate the need to introduce further strikes.” this feeling, another student who was instead in favour of the current action stated: “While I completely agree with lecturers striking on principle, I don’t see how the University as an institution suffers. We’ve all paid fees already, [and] the University has made its money.”

There were many students who likewise expressed support for the strikes, but felt frustration at the lack of response the UCU's measures seemed to be provoking from the University. One student stated: “It is frustrating that the significant amount of money I have given the University over this time, especially this year, is not channelled directly to the literal world-renowned experts that make my degree possible.”

Respondents appeared keen for student concerns to be prioritised alongside staff concerns, with one student saying they still supported the current wave of strikes, but this time they had a “strengthened desire for more attention to be paid to student wellbeing, as the large number of days missed this term will have a big impact on students.” them without the professional support scheduled is daunting.” Some students also felt there were high expectations on them to show their support for the strikes. One told Exeposé : “I support the strikes as a whole, but it feels unfair for lecturers to put the guilt on us as students for being frustrated about a situation that we are also the victims of. Some lecturers have apologised for the actions they need to take, but others have made it clear that they expect solidarity and have instructed us to hold planned student-led seminars off campus as we shouldn't cross the picket line to meet on campus… I feel that I will be actively judged if I'm seen crossing the picket line." They went on to state that "as students, we've been put in an incredibly difficult position, at the end of too many years of education that hasn't lived up to what we were promised.”

Labour Society:

Many respondents who stated they weren’t in support of this second wave of strike action clarified that this did not necessarily mean that they did not support the demands of the UCU, but rather that they were frustrated at losing valuable teaching time. They expressed annoyance at the feeling that students were suffering instead of the University itself, as the body responsible for negotiating staff pay, pensions and working conditions. One respondent stated they felt instead that “the strikes only effect students.” Elaborating on

A Masters student who is in support of strike action expressed to Exeposé particular concern for their academic performance as a result of strike action, stating that “the materials I study now are so challenging that undertaking assessments on

Students speaking to Exeposé also said they felt they deserved to receive financial compensation from the University for their lost teaching time, a measure which Guild President Lily Margaroli has publicly stated the Students’ Guild is lobbying for. “I would like to request the University to compensate/refund for the educational loss due to the strikes,” one student told Exeposé. Another stated they “feel like the university doesn’t seem to care about coming to a solution to end the strikes, which begs the question as to why we are not getting a rebate for our missed education.” One student also stated that: “They should strike, and I should be compensated. If the money isn't going to them, I want it back.”

Political societies voice support for UCU strikes

Liberal Democrat Society:

Be the Change, are in full support of the strikes. Staff need to be fully supported and appreciated within the University. The current working conditions and pay do not reflect the time, effort and energy they give us as students. We need to acknowledge and appreciate them as they are the backbone of the University.

Our own university is sitting on huge reserves of money, whilst overseeing gender and racial pay gaps of almost 20 per cent, cutting workers pay, pensions and keeping staff on insecure contracts. The Vice Chancellor and UCEA have the opportunity to resolve this dispute and prevent our learning from being disrupted for a further seventeen days in February and March. It’s not staff standing up for proper employment rights that impacts our education it’s inaction from management to properly care about adequate learning conditions. We value the expertise and dedication of our teaching staff, but it’s clear this does not extend. to the top. Students and staff deserve better, which is why we support the strikes.

Exeter University Liberal Democrats stand in solidarity with the unions and their members who are striking up and down the country, including UCU members at the University of Exeter. We are pleased to hear positive remarks that negotiations have had some progress, and that a framework has been established to create a long term solution. We call on the University of Exeter’s Vice-Chancellor, Lisa Roberts, to increase the pressure on the UCEA to provide a satisfactory offer. We also call on both sides of the dispute to work together to create a lasting solution to end the cycle of strikes that have been regularly disrupting students’ education. There has been promising progress in agreeing the framework, and we hope both sides will be able to continue to work together to ensure a lasting solution. The crisis that’s facing workers up and down the country is a creation of this Conservative government which has repeatedly failed our country, mismanaged our economy, and undermined our institutions. Their diagnosis is that laws are needed to prevent strikes. This is an assault on workers right, and will not solve the endemic cost of living crisis, which they played a substantial part in causing. The Conservatives cannot be trusted with with our country or our economy, and the Liberal Democrats will hold them to account in Westminster, and in local government across the country. Our by-election wins, including the record breaking Tiverton and Honiton victory show that people up and down the country are seeing the Conservatives failings, and are turning to the Liberal Democrats who understand people’s concerns and challenges and will work tirelessly to address them.