Strike!

A very well attended UCU (University & College Union) meeting at work today saw an overwhelming vote to take strike action over a local dispute at UWE for the first time ever (having had a large majority of members voting in a ballot by the end of last week).  This is in response to the University bringing in changes that go against national agreements, and ignoring their own agreed processes, and playing fast and loose with industrial relations generally.  They had refused to meet with the Union since October until the size of the ballot and vote became clear.  


At a meeting on Monday UWE management tried to continue their railroading through of restructuring (which is the reason for me - and lots of other people - having to apply for another job) with some apparent concessions. These were not enough to convince normally non-radical lecturers to withdraw the threat of strike action.  The soonest we can legally strike is Thursday 10th February - so this is when we will be picketing and withdrawing our labour (losing a day's pay in the process).  There is another meeting of UCU & management scheduled for 14th February - if that does not result in more concessions, then we will strike on Friday 18th February.


The vote for this action was 105 in favour, 2 against and 5 abstentions - people are really angry with the University.  Expect to read more about higher education discontent in coming weeks - there is a national ballot being carried out, and there will soon be arguments about pending Government proposals to start mucking about with the occupational pensions scheme.


After this, I went to another meeting, a horrible drive home through rush-hour rain and ended up with a headache.  With all this activity, I did not take any photographs, but found this image on Google images to illustrate the blog.  Solidarity, comrades!