A Student’s Viewpoint on #UCUStrikesBack

This in an abridged version of a longer text by Kate Wilson, 2nd Year BA student at Edge Hill University, sent to EHU UCU during Week 2 of the second wave of UCU strikes (February-March 2020). Students feel frustration too. Some students are happy tutors are striking, meaning an extra three weeks off campus. SomeContinue reading “A Student’s Viewpoint on #UCUStrikesBack”

Open Letter by the EHU UCU Branch Committee to Vice-chancellor John Cater

Thursday, 5th December 2019 Ormskirk Dear Dr. Cater, We are writing to you to ask that you reconsider the method and breadth of strike pay deductions, related to the current industrial action mandated by the Universities and Colleges Union, as well as commit to constructive use of the pay saved due to strike for theContinue reading “Open Letter by the EHU UCU Branch Committee to Vice-chancellor John Cater”

Piled precariously high, but feeling dangerously low

Toxic working conditions (constantly changing managers, goalposts that changed daily, bullying, and workload issues) at the University of Russell Group where I was both working as a lecturer in one department and completing my PhD in another led me to start job-hunting. Everybody gushed about staff benefits at the University of Post-1992 when I mentionedContinue reading “Piled precariously high, but feeling dangerously low”

Our Very Own Creative Edge

It’s been quite a week on picket lines (actual and virtual!), with heartwarming solidarity and quite a bit of fun! We loved hearing from members about what they’ve been getting up to during the strike: some slept a lot, others walked for miles, others still used their time to spend it with their families andContinue reading “Our Very Own Creative Edge”

Why strike? A reflection for HE managers.

It has become clear, as national and local disputes have developed, that universities are not happy workplaces. Judging from some communications, this seems to have come as a surprise to university senior management. What would be useful at this point – better late than never – would be for Vice Chancellors to seriously ask themselves:Continue reading “Why strike? A reflection for HE managers.”

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