Had the Universities UK (UUK) proposal to change the University Superannuation Scheme (USS) gone unchallenged many colleagues in the university would be thinking about changing their job now. One person told us they were prepared to do anything, “a job in Tesco’s” just to get out of the role. The pension proposals were this profound.
So potentially impactful that one must consider how those in UUK, how those senior managers who have supported the stance of UUK – and some continue to do so – could not realise the damage they have been doing and still advocate. In practice UUK are now removed from understanding the day to day operation of their universities. They have lost the knowledge of how employees feel and fail to grasp what is happening.
Today we marched from the university to St George’s Hall to conclude the first phase of our strike action. After fourteen strike days the feelings among the marchers, the pickets, the strikers, the students and supporters remain powerful and determined. The discussions centred on how, rather than feeling broken as an unchallenged acceptance of the pensions proposals would have left us, the “solidarity has been inspiring!” That “the teach outs, the support from students has been incredible” and that “you’ll never strike alone!”
Yet the strike action and solidarity has done more than challenge the preposterous pension plans. It has brought with it something entirely new and something that many colleagues have never before encountered. Colleagues talked today of change of community feeling on campus. We’ve seen staff involved with student union representatives and students involved in (UCU) union branches, bringing with a common purpose that seemed to have been lost in the audit-mania of senior managers, the one that laughingly suggests to the student that they are customers! Many staff were proud of how the students had stood alongside the academics and professional service staff on strike, one saying to us “I’m so proud of the activism shown by students.” We must maintain this sense of community on campus.
At the rally today the speakers and those in attendance shared a universal message, a theme stated time and again. That this dispute has become so much more than simply about the single issue of pensions. Yes the actions of UUK has led those who work in higher education and students to find their voice, to find a platform and to ask out loud what universities are for, what they should be doing and how? As one speaker said “in the course of the strike we have have discovered our strength… we can push back.”
As phase two of our action is planned be under no illusion that the solidarity has indeed been inspiring and that while much is still to do, there is hope not only in our hearts, but in our actions too.
UCU UoL Management School 