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ULU "back" lecturers' strike

Oct 09 2002 11:58

Mustafa Arif

Federal union supports unions in action that is likely to affect students.

Students could lose out as a result of strike action.

This week's ULU Council voted to back a campaign by NATFHE and the other main teaching unions which could lead to industrial action. Lecturers are intending to strike over what they see as inadequate London weighting - an issue ULU has also been campaigning about for students.

Charlotte Dawkins, ULU President, brought up the matter in "Any other business" at the end of Tuesday's 2 hr ULU Council meeting. All the main unions are threatening strike action and so this is expected to affect most UL campuses. She had only received a request for support of their London weighting campaign from the unions at midday and there was some consternation from the President of Kings College Student Union (among others) that they had not yet had time to come up with a policy on the matter. There were also whispers of disquiet from a few delegates grumbling that it may be seen as ULU directly supporting strike action which would disadvantage students, who would be most directly affected by any industrial action.

Nevertheless an "indicative vote" conducted by Council Chair, David Francis, showed a majority of delegates in favour of supporting the unions and ULU is now expected to give their campaign public backing. It is expected that the unions will reciprocate by supporting ULU's own campaign for an increase in London weighting for students in the capital.

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Discussion about “ULU "back" lecturers' strike”

The comments below are unmoderated submissions by Live! readers. The Editor accepts no liability for their content, nor for any offence caused by them. Any complaints should be directed to the Editor.

1. Zebedee

Oct 09 2002 12:57

Maybe they should ask to be paid as much as tube drivers

2. anon

Oct 09 2002 14:30

David is council chair?

I think I'm about to die laughing.

Does he actually manage to shut up and let other people speak now?

3. Rob Park

Oct 10 2002 21:44

Actually David chaired the meeting extremely well, and should be commended for this.

4. Mustafa Arif

Oct 11 2002 01:51

Yes, he kept things flowing nicely and seemed to do a better job than his predecessor.

5. Christine

Oct 11 2002 15:55

Good on ULU.

Shame Imperial can't do the same. I was saddened to read the article on the strike in Felix this week - particularly Imperial's delegation's lack of support for the strike.

If London Universities want to attract good quality staff (both academic and administrative), they need to pay them an adequate weighting to compensate for high cost of living in London.

Let's face it, we'd all agree that London students also need an improvement in allowances. Will Sen sit back apathetically when it comes to campaigning for that too?

Staff and students are all in this together and should support each other. I hope that when the students come to campaign on London allowances, Imperial's staff will be more supportive than Sen is being of the staff in their struggle..

Come to think of it... Who cares? Like Imperial student's are ever going to bother being political and actually fight for what's fair...

6. random student

Oct 11 2002 22:10

Most students at IC don't care. Just like they don't care about being a non member of the NUS..... - Good for them

7. Oliver Pell

Oct 11 2002 22:49

Christine,

Bear in mind that Imperial's academics are already some of the best paid in the country...

8. Mustafa Arif

Oct 13 2002 01:20

Felix were being very economical when reporting that "the Imperial delegation voted against".

Senthooran (Pres) and one other voted against. Andrew (DPE&W) and one other voted in favour. Myself and one other sat on the fence.

(Sorry about the 'one other's but my memory of Ram/Nona/Tom is a little hazy except that they were asynchronous.)

So the IC delegation was as split as it could be.

9. Random Observer

Oct 13 2002 13:30

"Myself and one other sat on the fence."

Are you Nanji in disguise? :)

Seriously, I was very impressed with David, less impressed with Clare Wren, and shocked at the utter silence from the QM delegation... or maybe they feel that being just four of ten QM students on ULU Council now, they should just sit there doing nothing...

10. Rob Park

Oct 13 2002 13:52

Aside from an hour of elections, ULU Council, unsurprisingly for its first meeting of the year, was pretty non-contraversial and bland. No doubt this will change as the months roll on and some meaty stuff gets discussed.

Charlotte, ULU President, had the strike action and deal only communicated with her about 4 hours before the meeting, which required a decision (for or against) for the next morning. It was ULU Council making a gut instinct reaction, which more often than not can reflect the best solution... and sometimes is just too reactionary...

11. Londonstatto

Oct 13 2002 14:03

I'm not sure I'd trust ULU Council to make a gut instinct reaction... but then, I'm not sure I'd trust ULU Council to make a decision when it had been in possession of all the facts for a month...

Incidentally, Rob, now you're back on ULU Council (for the first time since it was called GUC) can you please get them to repeal the Rob Park Memorial Standing Order (which, for those of you joining us late, is the "no alcohol to be drunk in ULU Council meetings"... if you want to know why, I'm sure Rob can explain it for you!)

Closedd This discussion is closed.