Current Affairs Section: UCU Strikes- what’s it all about? by

Current affairs

UCU Strikes- what’s it all about?

With a new wave of UCU strikes beginning midFebruary and continuing into March, it is becoming more and more important that we ask ourselves as students: What’s happening? Since December last year we have been hearing about UCU’s strikes, seeing lecturers miss class, and having timetable disruptions because of it all. But not many of us actually know that much about the strikes. Who’s protesting what, and why? For the past four months, the UCU (University and College Union) has been organising strikes and walkouts, among other protesting actions opposing the new cuts that are proposed to the pensions of academic staff. This is in addition to advocating for improvements in issues in what is known as the ‘four fights’: pay, workload, casualisation and discrimination against staff (based on gender, disability and/or ethnic and racial background) in the sector. According to the union leaders’ decision the two causes, that of pension cuts and the four fights, have been separated, and each institution willing to participate had to take a separate vote on each. So far, 37 institutions around the UK have voted to take action against the cuts proposed to the USS pension scheme. These cuts threaten to reduce the average retired worker’s income by 35%, a statistic that is shocking to most. Hence the turnout of many supporters of the UCU’s cause to protect university staff. Similarly, the four fights have gained great support as shown by 54 institutions’ vote to participate in protests to defend them. Despite the great support and engagement that these strikes have gained over the past months, and the awareness they have raised among other faculty members and university students, action seems to be unorganised and inefficient. Many argue that such diluted means of protest as those currently in place are unlikely to succeed in bringing about change. This dilution of action prevents there being enough disruption to university schedules for bosses to start negotiations that may satisfy higher education workers. This is especially clear when compared to similar strikes that took place in 2018 and 2019/20 when strike action was much heavier and teachers missed multiple days of classes a week for a number of weeks. However, it is important to note that while the current situation may not seem like it is pushing enough for change, it would be very hard for faculty members to even maintain their current participation levels, let alone push for more intense confrontational action due to the pay cuts that they are made to face by their bosses. Some universities have threatened to cut the pay of lecturers participating in walkouts by 50% for any lectures left untaught or materials that are left uncirculated. This has caused many strikers to rethink their participation due to financial strains. Therefore, some UCU members are currently trying to get around these threats through moving classes online, in order to avoid the devastating impact those cuts may have on their wages, and to avoid harming students’ education too much while protesting to protect their own rights. Ultimately, this news is especially shocking in the current climate of things. Because, like all of us, our university lecturers and tutors have spent the past few years in uncertainty, facing challenge after challenge due to the pandemic and the lockdowns. However, through it all they have always tried to keep their students reassured and help us to the best of their ability. Therefore, it is beyond unfair to them that the first steps we start taking out of the pandemic may be in a direction that threatens their livelihood and ignores their need for a healthier professional environment.

Mariam Salem