"Academics" cause fuss over pay

[Socialsmo o Muerte]

I'm sure many in this community who are from Britain are students at the moment. Therefore, you will have all heard about the academics plans to boycott marking of exams and walkout from their posts in industrial action.

Though I would not necessarily disagree with academics (or teachers, for that matter) demanding higher wages, I must say I have been absolutely disgusted with the recent events.

I believe the lecturers are asking for 12.6% of the extra income which will be raised from the new-to-be-introduced topup fees. These, many of the same lecturers and academics who joined the students on the streets in the protest against the topup fees which they now want a slice of the pie of.

I heard an AUT representative on the radio stating how academics' average wage is somewhere between £40k and £42k p/a. Her justification for the industrial action was that they, "supply the educated workers to sustain the economy". A very fair point indeed. I would not disagree with a pay rise. I would add that teachers probably average about £10k less than that per annum. Justice? But that's besides the point I guess.

It is the way in which the academics have gone about their actions which has also riled me. Apart from their apparent changing of position on the topup fee issue, they have timed their actions appalingly. It is like nurses going on strike during a meningitis epidemic. I will always support justified industrial action, but some professions demand a certain degree of consideration for who they will effect. Certain industries who strike will serve to disrupt the economy which is exactly the way it should be as the protest is against the government. This lecturers strike will not dirupt the economy in anyway. It will only serve to disrupt the lives of students. I am a second year student. Somewhat luckily, I repeated my first year so I will not be as effected by these events as my Third Year collegues. Some people may have their final exams given a predicted mark meaning those who graduate in 2006 will always be less valued than those of other years. For me, it just means a little more anxiety as my papers' marking are only going to be delayed. For Third Year students in various places throughout the country, job placements and future careers could be effected. It could also mean a lot of hard work in the Third Year, including the painstaking task of revising for final exams, being meaningless.

The academics could have waited untill after the exam process to protest or lobby government. They could have even waited untill the start of the next academic year. They would have certainly had the support of many students if they had used either of these options.

As far as I'm concerned, I will never support this for the hypocrisy involved. In my own University (Cardiff), I saw many lecturers out on the streets during the massive topup fee protests. And I understand that this was mirrored up and down the country. The fact that they now want some of the money from it makes me sick to the stomach. And I am very very far from being a supporter of this government.

[9riffin]

plans to boycott marking of exams

The action short of a strike to which you are referring differs depending on which union is involved. The AUT are boycotting setting exams, whereas NATFHE are boycotting releasing the results of exams. They are still marking them, but are withholding the results of this marking until this dispute is resolved. Further more, the extent of the action differs from school to school, with some schools seeing no academics involved and in others ubiquitous action.


The fact that they now want some of the money from it makes me sick to the stomach.

They opposed the introduction of fees in spite of the fact that they had been promised that their introduction would mean a pay rise. Instead of taking the avaricious route and supporting tuition fees, they supported students. Now they are only fighting for what they have been promised, and so as not to let the government ministers who attempted to bribe them off the hook.


The academics could have waited until after the exam process to protest or lobby government. They could have even waited until the start of the next academic year. They would have certainly had the support of many students if they had used either of these options.

Unfortunately the only time that academics have any leverage for bargaining is this time of year. They cannot really withdraw their labour and not teach during the year, especially at the beginning, as this would be, arguably, more harmful for students. In addition, the academic year runs from September to September, it is now that contracts for the next year are being negotiated and, as such, it is now that they have to fight.

[Socialsmo o Muerte]

They cannot really withdraw their labour and not teach during the year, especially at the beginning, as this would be, arguably, more harmful for students.

I don't agree. Are you a student yourself? If so, you should have first hand experience of the anxiety this is causing amongst final year students. Where I am, and amongst friends who are in various parts of the country, the buzz of a panic is setting in. At the start of the year, classes would be missed. These classes could be made up further along the line. Also, as all students are given handbooks about their courses and what to read etc., they could still be doing work for their course. Speaking as a History student, such action at the start of the year would not be a problem for me as I only have three hours of lectures a week anyway. They would be easy to make up later on in the year.

Partly to blame for the panic is that students are being told nothing about the situation. I have heard everything I know about the actual proceedings from radio and internet reports.


Now they are only fighting for what they have been promised, and so as not to let the government ministers who attempted to bribe them off the hook
That really is sugar-coating their actions. Why have they stopped with the pressure on government? Ok, the fees are coming in now, but does this mean we stop venting our anger at them? If a protest was to be arranged against the new fees, would the academics join?



They are still marking them, but are withholding the results of this marking until this dispute is resolved
If you are correct about this then so be it. However what I heard from an AUT representative on the radio is that the examinations will not be marked. I assume this is what caused some universities to cancel their exams.

Even so, if you are right, I don't think it matters as this will not be resolved in the way they want it to be resolved. They will not get 12.6% of the additional money raised. The top up fees weren't designed to fund tutors, they were designed to sustain the policy of getting 50% of school pupils into university by next year. I'm no economist, so correct me if I am wrong, but I also believe that the money paid to academics comes from a different "pot" to the one into which the fees go. I'm not justifying the government at all by the way. I'm just saying, this is just he way it is.

[Hit The North]

The bosses are offering a wage increase of 12.6% over three years. The unions are demanding 22% over three years - a figure more appropriate to what was promised by the University Chancellors.

The situation for lecturers in the Universities is one of having to cope with an expanding higher education sector, meaning larger workloads, larger class sizes and an increasing pressure to 'bring in business'. Despite this, earnings have declined in relation to other professions between 15-25%.

The position of Natfhe is that we are not marking work at present until the dispute is resolved. The reality is that lecturers are quietly marking right now (we each have hundreds of pieces of work to assess) but will not release the marks until after the dispute.

I recognise that some people on this forum are students and understandably find the lecturers actions to be a giant pain in the arse. However, I'm surprised to find so-called leftists supporting the bosses over those who do the work.

[Roses in the Hospital]

In our Union paper there was a colum of comments from various students. One lad said he'd just done his dissertation on why strikes should be made illegal and now it's not going to be marked...I think the whole things been worthwhile just to sicken him off. :lol:

[Socialsmo o Muerte]

However, I'm surprised to find so-called leftists supporting the bosses over those who do the work.

Did an "academic" misread my post? I've specifically said that I do not support the government in any way and, thus, don't support the bosses.

I am on nobody's "side" on this though I would be fully on the side of the academics if they had gone about things in a better way and if they hadn't engaged in what I see as blatant hypocrisy.

[Morpheus]

This lecturers strike will not dirupt the economy in anyway. It will only serve to disrupt the lives of students.

The same arguement could be used against any sort of labor action. An auto strike means some people won't get their cars in time, a restraunt strike will disrupt customers, etc. If these actions weren't taken, then we'd all be living in shacks still like we were in early capitalism.

[Socialsmo o Muerte]

People not getting served in a restaurant is not quite as disrputive as some students not getting a final mark for their degree and having to take a predicted grade.

Someone not getting their car on time is not quite as distuptive as putting a black mark on a person's whole career because they have got a predicted score for their degree.

There are alternatives for your pathetic comparisons. People can get a train, plane, bus or taxi if their car didn't get to them on time. People could go to a different restaurant or, believe it or not, make their own food if there was a "restaurant strike".

There is no alternative for a student who has to be given a predicted mark for three years of expensive studying.

An additional point: It seems you have accepted the capitalist view that students are "customers" to the system. Member of the Commie Club? How interesting.

[h&s]

While I completely understand your anxieties over your course, the fact is that the Lecturers are working people who deserve the pay rise they are demanding.
I can not remeber the details of the issue, but I think the lecturers are to be supported in their demands, as they are just the same as any other workers in any other jobs who we'd all jump up to support in a strike.
Now it is very unfortunate that they have felt they have to take action at this time, but is there any other time they could go on strike to get their demands met that wouldn't be unfair on the students? Its not as if the bosses are going to give them what they want is it?
There is no real solution to this, IMO as opposing the strike is scabbing, which goes against all of my instincts.
I suppose the Students Unions should be doing their jobs and hassling the University bosses in solidarity with the Lecturers' Union.
Obviously this highlights just one example of why socialism is needed, as pay disputes would not exist - this is an unfortunate result of capitalism that can't be resolved within its confines.

[Socialsmo o Muerte]

While I completely understand your anxieties over your course
As I've stated, I have no grudge about this because of anything personal. All it means for me is slightly longer waiting time on my Year Two results. Not important at all.


I can not remeber the details of the issue, but I think the lecturers are to be supported in their demands

Comments like that make me understand why people say left-wingers are mindless romantic idealists.


Now it is very unfortunate that they have felt they have to take action at this time, but is there any other time they could go on strike to get their demands met that wouldn't be unfair on the students?

Of course. An inconvenience will be caused whenever they did it. But a meaningful inconvenience which would not disrupt students lives and futures in such a majorly detrimental way would be preferred. They would get more student support as well.


There is no real solution to this, IMO as opposing the strike is scabbing, which goes against all of my instincts.

Oh what a hero of the people you are.


I suppose the Students Unions should be doing their jobs and hassling the University bosses in solidarity with the Lecturers' Union.

Agree very much. But we should know by now how the Students Union very rarely acts like a Union. All the rich annoying kids get their discount at Topshop, but there's no pressure on private landlords, who get every last penny from the students who rent their property without giving so much as a sofa back.


Obviously this highlights just one example of why socialism is needed, as pay disputes would not exist - this is an unfortunate result of capitalism that can't be resolved within its confines.

Again, agreed. Shock horror; socialists who can't agree on methodology.