Support the strike: why ELL backs university staff in industrial action

Placards at London Metropolitan University Pic: Sara Pigozzo

Placards at London Metropolitan University Pic: Sara Pigozzo

 

Student journalists who produce Eastlondonlines are backing today’s national strike action by university staff in support of an increased pay offer.

We believe that if we do not, universities will become undesirable places to work, some of the country’s most skilled and knowledgeable professionals will pursue careers away from our institutions and standards of higher education will inevitably fall.

All three unions for staff working in universities – the University and College Union, Unite and Unison, representing lecturers, technicians and administration workers – have voted in favour of industrial action, after the Universities and College Employers Association offered a 1% pay rise deal for all university staff. The first one-day strike in October prompted further talks but these have not led to an improvement on the offer.

While Vice-Chancellors have in recent years seen their yearly salaries raise astronomically, the wages of normal university staff have, when compared to the cost of living, been cut by 13%.

Today’s strike action will result in the shut down of many parts of Goldsmiths, including the Eastlondonlines newsroom.

Those students who are working for Eastlondonlines appreciate the hard work all our staff do at our university and as a result have collectively decided to support those striking by not crossing the picket lines today.

We will continue to strive to provide a top quality news service for our readers and report on the strike action as part of our responsibility to cover local issues, but from another location.

 

 

 

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