Following the lack of a resolution between the University College Union Edinburgh (UCUE) and University management, the UCUE is planning 25 days of strikes spanning 5 weeks. At the centre of this is a fundamental dispute over the University’s announcement of £140m in cuts. As students, we are collateral damage in this conflict, possibly missing out on a substantial amount of teaching hours. The possible severity of the strike should not be understated, and we should not reign ourselves to standing still while caught in this crossfire. What can we expect with the upcoming industrial action, and how should we respond?
According to the University of Edinburgh’s homepage, the average student can expect 12-15 contact hours each week. I, however, receive seven. We have already experienced a loss of teaching delivery due to strikes, and we have more to expect. When many of us have limited contact hours already, and are faced with the prospect of losing even more, we must ask: What are we paying for?
To understand what we can expect if the University and the UCUE stay locked in a stalemate, we can look to Newcastle University, which experienced a total of 44 days of strike action earlier this year. This ultimately resulted in a resolution, as well as student tuition fee reimbursements totalling £1.7m. The University of Edinburgh, meanwhile, has made no comparable commitment, stating there will be no tuition reimbursements.
To me, this stance is laughable. As an international student, I pay a considerable amount to study here. If my few precious contact hours are further reduced, I am simply not getting what I am paying for. The stance on tuition fee reimbursements must be challenged, and I urge every tuition-paying student to demand refunds if the teaching paid for is not delivered. If University management wants to run the University like a business, students should be regarded as paying customers.
I must make it clear that my criticism of the strikes is not a criticism of the staff undertaking industrial action. My frustration is squarely aimed at the management of the University. Describing the strikes, Principal Peter Mathieson said they “unfairly and deliberately target students.” This wording is an unashamed attempt at pitting students against staff, and, as students, we must be clever enough not to fall for this. I cannot imagine staff rejoicing in missing out on five weeks of wages; rather, I imagine few will be able to afford to strike for this long. So, I urge you to reject Mathieson’s framing and be clever enough to support your staff’s right to strike. Staff action alone is yet to produce a resolution, and staff-student solidarity will put more pressure on management to meaningfully engage with their demands.
It is possible to be frustrated with the consequences of the strikes while still supporting staff’s demands. Demand reimbursements if your expectations for teaching delivery are not met, and support the staff on strike!
Image by Cordelia Murray-Brown for The Student
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Strikes in the Age of Student Customers
Following the lack of a resolution between the University College Union Edinburgh (UCUE) and University management, the UCUE is planning 25 days of strikes spanning 5 weeks. At the centre of this is a fundamental dispute over the University’s announcement of £140m in cuts. As students, we are collateral damage in this conflict, possibly missing out on a substantial amount of teaching hours. The possible severity of the strike should not be understated, and we should not reign ourselves to standing still while caught in this crossfire. What can we expect with the upcoming industrial action, and how should we respond?
According to the University of Edinburgh’s homepage, the average student can expect 12-15 contact hours each week. I, however, receive seven. We have already experienced a loss of teaching delivery due to strikes, and we have more to expect. When many of us have limited contact hours already, and are faced with the prospect of losing even more, we must ask: What are we paying for?
To understand what we can expect if the University and the UCUE stay locked in a stalemate, we can look to Newcastle University, which experienced a total of 44 days of strike action earlier this year. This ultimately resulted in a resolution, as well as student tuition fee reimbursements totalling £1.7m. The University of Edinburgh, meanwhile, has made no comparable commitment, stating there will be no tuition reimbursements.
To me, this stance is laughable. As an international student, I pay a considerable amount to study here. If my few precious contact hours are further reduced, I am simply not getting what I am paying for. The stance on tuition fee reimbursements must be challenged, and I urge every tuition-paying student to demand refunds if the teaching paid for is not delivered. If University management wants to run the University like a business, students should be regarded as paying customers.
I must make it clear that my criticism of the strikes is not a criticism of the staff undertaking industrial action. My frustration is squarely aimed at the management of the University. Describing the strikes, Principal Peter Mathieson said they “unfairly and deliberately target students.” This wording is an unashamed attempt at pitting students against staff, and, as students, we must be clever enough not to fall for this. I cannot imagine staff rejoicing in missing out on five weeks of wages; rather, I imagine few will be able to afford to strike for this long. So, I urge you to reject Mathieson’s framing and be clever enough to support your staff’s right to strike. Staff action alone is yet to produce a resolution, and staff-student solidarity will put more pressure on management to meaningfully engage with their demands.
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It is possible to be frustrated with the consequences of the strikes while still supporting staff’s demands. Demand reimbursements if your expectations for teaching delivery are not met, and support the staff on strike!
Image by Cordelia Murray-Brown for The Student
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