Public Sector Strike

tuborg

Will this effect us students? I have been given an email from the maths department to say that if it goes ahead that the lab I demonstrate on Tuesdays will be cancelled.

Will lectures be cancelled?


This better not be like 2001 between the teachers strike and foot and mouth I was home more than I was in school.

Effluo

tuborg wrote: »

This better not be like 2001 between the teachers strike and foot and mouth I was home more than I was in school.

Oh what a world! Imagine that

I'm pretty sure it does effect us, No lectures me thinks

Seren_

Yup, all lectures, tutorials, labs etc are cancelled next Tuesday. That's what we were told in sociology earlier anyway A lot of the offices are going to be closed too I think.

Ostrom

Strike my arse. From the same unions that wont recognise or accept membership from pisspoor contract staff carrying department teaching loads on dole wages? Was counting on a four hour nixer next week too....

Effluo

Your Text Here wrote: »

Yup, all lectures, tutorials, labs etc are cancelled next Tuesday.

Am I the only one who's thinking...

YaaaHoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

PrivateEye

I see eflas point, but think its unfair on the union grassroots. I've heard plenty of people say the same about both Siptu and IFUT. 'the union' though, I think, always means two seperate things.

-1: the body that make UP the union.
-2: the executives of the unions, the overpaid types who "....wont recognise or accept membership from pisspoor contract staff" and generally mess it up

In otherwords, David Beggs no mate of mine but I'm right behind the rank and file. I think if you said that to the membership of the unions on campus, they'd probably be very sympathetic. The aim should be to have them push for contract staff to be accepted into the unions. Sh/t unions can only be changed by the membership pushing for change.

---

Anyway thats all a bit off topic: there'll be some students out on the day on the pickets, if you're in Maynooth stall for a little while. A lot of Maynooth lecturers have always been good to student campaigns, return the favour and show some support.

PrivateEye

This better not be like 2001 between the teachers strike and foot and mouth I was home more than I was in school.

Its a one day strike, or 'day of action'

People are talking about a potential second day of action, I highly doubt it. My parents (Siptu Health Worker, Siptu DFB) didn't hear a word of such a day, seems it was something Impact suggested that got blown out of proportion.

irish_goat

All day drinking in the SU?

Blue_Light

It had to be on a Tuesday, the one day I don't have any bloody lectures. Would kill for a day off. Our lecturers were saying that they're hoping that the students would come out and support them and show solidarity with the lecturers, as essentially they're battling to ensure that our education is protected. Not sure I totally agree with that being the reason most of them are going out, but still...

Anybody planning on going?

LeixlipRed

I fully support lecturers taking industrial action once they don't mind being hit in the pocket as high earners when the government unveils its equitable budget in a few weeks. Sure isn't Bertie a socialist?

Blue_Light

Will you be heading out to strike with them though? I'm sure there's a large section of students that would support them, but I just don't know if people will care enough to head into town on their day off to strike with them. The way our lecturer was putting it, he'd be extremely disgusted if we didn't use our day off to go in with them.

LeixlipRed

I'm not sure what angle the lecturer's union are taking on this. If they argue that private sector workers in the same pay grade should be hit as hard as them then yes I'd be willing to support them. However, if they're just crying about being hard hit then I've no sympathy for them. They're extremely well paid.

PrivateEye

I heard there'll be a few hundred leaflets floating around the big lecture halls on Monday calling on students to show support on Tuesday

banquo

Pm me with details. Good craic.

PrivateEye

“...The Students Union support the students right to education and to be educated. The University has said that the college will be staying open and we will be still expecting educators to educate”

Part of a response to a friends email. ****ing hell. Present it as supporting 'the right to education', when cutbacks are destroying education Fair play to the USI on supporting the day of action.

Anyone who knows me knows I think this years S.U are a bazillion miles improved on last years, in fact I've good time for them, but wow on this one. The ballots speak for themselves on campus, supporting the lecturers and staff is very important next week. What if we ever need them?

Ostrom

PrivateEye wrote: »

“...The Students Union support the students right to education and to be educated. The University has said that the college will be staying open and we will be still expecting educators to educate”

Part of a response to a friends email. ****ing hell. Present it as supporting 'the right to education', when cutbacks are destroying education Fair play to the USI on supporting the day of action.

Anyone who knows me knows I think this years S.U are a bazillion miles improved on last years, in fact I've good time for them, but wow on this one. The ballots speak for themselves on campus, supporting the lecturers and staff is very important next week. What if we ever need them?

I fear this round of striking has little to do with quality of service and cutbacks...

I'll be working and teaching next tuesday (not in Maynooth), where a small few had the balls to speak out against protesting the pension levy last year. The level permanant salaries are set at, and the sheer amount of wage money absorbed by useless senior admin positions at NUIM is astounding. The unions have also worked very hard to keep contract staff - who dont see anything approaching a secure job until well into their thirties - from joining.

hypersquirrel

I have to say having experienced life on the lower rungs of NUIM employment that I agree 100% with Efla and couldn't put it better myself

PrivateEye

I'd think that if there are useless senior admin positions (which there no doubt are) and the unions have a shit line on contract staff (which they seem to) those are two seperate issues to supporting the rank and file on the day and agreeing with most of the demands being put forward. The unions are banjaxed at the top and that has a direct effect on their recruitment policies etc., but I think the majority of IFUT and Siptu lecturers on campus dont fall into the useless senior admin positions, or have any influence on the unions policy towards contract staff etc.

If the unions are attemping to keep lower paid contract staff out, thats a bloody disgrace tbh.

small few had the balls to speak out against against protesting the pension levy last year

Without turning a whole thread on its head, what was the logic behind not opposing that levy?

****and sure wasn't it apparently the Union bosses themselves who orginally proposed the idea :rolleyes:***

K4t

It will be interesting to see what stance the Economics Dept take on this issue...
Personally, I support the public sector workers and won't be using any of the college services that are on strike. *I will be attending lectures however as I've missed around half of them altogether so far. Begininng to show too!*

PrivateEye

Just landed in the emails....

All of the trade unions representing staff working on the Maynooth campus are taking part in a one-day strike on Tuesday November 24th. The strike is protesting against the threat of further government-imposed cuts in the pay of university employees. Action is being taken following ballots in which the majority of members of the unions that are taking part voted in favour of coming out on strike.

Pickets will be placed at the entrances to the North and South campuses throughout the day on Tuesday. Students are asked not to pass these pickets and not to enter the campus while the strike is in progress. (A distinction is, of course, recognised here between students residing on campus and those who would normally be coming in to attend lectures etc. There is no intention to interfere with anyone's access to their home. The aim is to bring the ordinary working parts of the university - its lecture theatres, labs, library etc. - to a halt for the period of the strike).
Hopefully you will have been informed of the cancellation of your classes by your lecturers in advance of Tuesday. If you are in any doubt, please contact the lecturer concerned to confirm that cancellation. With official pickets in place, the only people who will be conducting or attending classes will be those who have deliberately chosen to break the strike. Given the wide range of Maynooth employees stopping work on the day, it is quite likely that the campus will close down completely. University management intend to try and keep it open but health and safety considerations may lead them to reconsider this position once the strike is in progress. If you do not wish to actively express support for the strike, your wisest course of action may be to stay away from Maynooth on November 24th. Public transport services are likely to be disrupted on that day because workers right across the public sector are going to be involved in the strike.

It must be emphasised that trade union members on the campus are seeking and will warmly welcome student support for their action. Pay cuts are part of a wider package of measures that will progressively reduce the resourcing and the quality of the education provided to students in our schools and universities. The return to charging students tuition fees forms part of the same political agenda. Students and staff have a common interest in the protection of our education system against the kind of destructive changes with which it is currently threatened.

I hope the USI Unions take note of the USI endorsment and put their Union banners on the pickets. The last thing the government want is to see any sort of solidarity from students (traditionally part time private sector workers) and their sort and public sector workers. Build for Nov.24th.

tuborg

One of my Finance Lecturers said that they will be still giving a lecture on Tuesday morning despite the strike.

Ostrom

PrivateEye wrote: »

I'd think that if there are useless senior admin positions (which there no doubt are) and the unions have a shit line on contract staff (which they seem to) those are two seperate issues to supporting the rank and file on the day and agreeing with most of the demands being put forward.

The unions are banjaxed at the top and that has a direct effect on their recruitment policies etc., but I think the majority of IFUT and Siptu lecturers on campus dont fall into the useless senior admin positions, or have any influence on the unions policy towards contract staff etc.

The rank and file have been vocal about such exclusions, keeping the bargaining process as insular as possible seems to have worked in their favour.

PrivateEye wrote: »

If the unions are attemping to keep lower paid contract staff out, thats a bloody disgrace tbh.

The trend is turning toward adjunct/contingent faculty, and is now well institutionalized in places like Trinity (in some departments). Marc Bousquet is worth a look, the video is familiar to most who have been through the contract mill in Ireland I would imagine

PrivateEye wrote: »

Without turning a whole thread on its head, what was the logic behind not opposing that levy?

****and sure wasn't it apparently the Union bosses themselves who orginally proposed the idea :rolleyes:***

The debate at the time (which didnt involve me as I had no say during my time there) involved accepting the cuts on the basis that those most vocal in their opposition were earning enough. The rank and file as you put it, at university level, are amongst the best paid in the country.

I support 100% any organized opposition to cutbacks in education that directly affect the quality of service provision - not a minor reduction in the disposable income of well compensated senior staff. Asking us to do more with less is long overdue, and although it could end the trend of buying off teaching hours to conduct research (therefore landing me in the shi**er somewhere down the line), I cant see these same people complaining when the departments inevitably 'rationalize' by cutting support teaching, tutorial work and contact hours.

I'm furious at that email, and to be made feel like a traitor for crossing the picket line to go to work is sickening.

banquo

Efla, do that thing!

lsuzanne1987

K4t wrote: »

It will be interesting to see what stance the Economics Dept take on this issue...
Personally, I support the public sector workers and won't be using any of the college services that are on strike. *I will be attending lectures however as I've missed around half of them altogether so far. Begininng to show too!*

My Economics lecturer said she will be giving her lecture on Tuesday afternoon.

Seren_

Just checked the oul emails and seen this. It's on facebook too.

Message from the Students’ Union

Strike Action 24th November
On 24th November, various trade unions representing staff will be partaking in industrial action. Dr David Redmond - the Registrar - has confirmed that the University will not be closed, since this is not a dispute with University Authorities, but a response to a perceived threat to pay and conditions in the upcoming budget. There may, however, be disruption to various services.

The Students' Union believes strongly in education and in preserving quality third level education in Maynooth.

The Students' Union is not taking a stance on Tuesday's dispute between public sector workers and their employers - the Government - and will remain open in order to provide vital services to our members.

Tuesday is not a day off from education and we encourage students to use the day and university facilities to study, as we are fast approaching exams.

Whether individual students, or groups of students, wish to support or oppose the action is their own prerogative

Meh, it just seems like a cop out to me. And technically, aren't the people who work in the SU not public sector workers too? They get paid by the university, who in turn get their money from the government. Or are their wages etc covered by the registration fee/student services charge?

banquo

It's a iftu strike, of which they're not members. Good point though!

So now i've one email saying that services are closed, another saying they're open.

Ostrom

banquo wrote: »

It's a iftu strike, of which they're not members. Good point though!

So now i've one email saying that services are closed, another saying they're open.

You have a cynical bullying email from staff representatives asking for student support when they showed no solidarity throughout the height of this years fees action, and one from your elected representatives encouraging you to make use of the publicly funded facilities you are rightly entitled to.

Our union's stance on the issue is of no specific support to either side. I am getting more sickened by the minute over this s**t. And for the staff to insert the issue of fees into their own self serving labour withdrawl next week is laughable.

banquo

You know what to do efla... It's right there...

Ostrom

banquo wrote: »

You know what to do efla... It's right there...

I'm confused

Kill someone with my pen?

PrivateEye

Good points/arguements efla,cheers for typing them up.

You have a cynical bullying email from staff representatives asking for student support when they showed no solidarity throughout the height of this years fees action

I can only speak for myself, and dont want to get secifiy who/name names (You're talking about a good few individuals across departments), but PLENTY of lecturers were more than generous towards the FEE campaign last year in terms of printing/messages of support/offering practicial help.

Also, there was an IFUT banner on the anti-fees demos, and we were allowed give class addresses/leaflet a lot of very varied lectures.

The Students' Union is not taking a stance on Tuesday's dispute between public sector workers and their employers - the Government

Poor Action Man, how does he manage without a pair of bollocks.

PrivateEye

Some interesting responses, on both sides, to the latest SU facebook status update.



comes to mind.

Any lecturer I said it to today (From a few different departments, was strolling around on odd-jobs..) was not surprised to be honest. I'm more interested in seeing what comes from the USI statement. Will USI ask their affiliated SUs to join pickets on the day/encourage students not to attend the University etc?

Lets wait and see.

Effluo

Personally i don't see why the SU should have to make a clear judgement on what is appropriate pay for the staff in maynooth.

IMO they should be just looking out for the students. In which case they should condemn the strike due to the fact that students miss out on lectures and services.

It is arguable that it will be harder for colleges to attain as high a grade of lecturer due to the lower wages. This could be a basis for the SU being against cutbacks, but they should still not condone the strike!
And the wage argument is not 100%

PrivateEye

Was in touch with IFUT ages ago, got a motion passed on union council expressing support for November Sixth and extending solidarity to both IFUT and Siptu. (No,really)

Anyway, the General Sec. got back to me, here's a bit of it.

If you look at the IFUT website (www.ifut.ie) you will see that USI and IFUT have made common cause regarding the damage that is being caused to university education by the non-replacement of staff. IFUT is urging all of our Branches to discuss closer co-operation on this issue with our local Students' Unions.

So, there is much to discuss between IFUT and the Students' Union in NUIM

there is much to discuss between IFUT and the Students' Union in NUIM :pac:

jrd_old

I'm a contract lecturer and PhD student with NUIM at the minute.. It infuriates me to hear of people earning many multiples of what I earn - with tenure, complaining about pay cuts...

As it is I am not in a member of the union and have very little chance of being kept on once my contract is up next year.

My head of department is pretty involved in the unions. I dont want to draw negative attention to myself in the off chance that I might get a contract extension next year, so I am staying away from maynooth on tuesday.. and will loose a days pay because of it.

Ostrom

jrd wrote: »

I'm a contract lecturer and PhD student with NUIM at the minute.. It infuriates me to hear of people earning many multiples of what I earn - with tenure, complaining about pay cuts...

As it is I am not in a member of the union and have very little chance of being kept on once my contract is up next year.

My head of department is pretty involved in the unions. I dont want to draw negative attention to myself in the off chance that I might get a contract extension next year, so I am staying away from maynooth on tuesday.. and will loose a days pay because of it.

You could reschedule as many contract staff are doing, technically that isn't withdrawing labour...

I was talking with a few others on Friday who fall between the student/staff divide. Since the unions have given us a consistent 'f**k off', we could cross the picket on the grounds that our union reps (the SU) have encouraged us to make use of facilities.

Depends on whether or not you got any threatening notices from on high I suppose.... (I hope you didnt - and yes, it is shameful carry on)

PrivateEye

For what its worth, as somebody completely behind the ICTU day of action, I'm actually quite annoyed reading about the attitude to contract staff on campus from the two unions. I imagine I'm not alone on here in saying I've every intention of some day working in a University, so I find that very worrying to read.

Is there anything contract staff can do about it? Have you approached the unions as a group? I'm sure this violates union policy, when I was working in part-time student-y jobs I was still eligable for union membership. Denying somebody access to a union is a disgrace.

I still think in the grand scheme of things the day of action is correct, be it a primary school, third level insitution, or any other group (firefighters, nurses etc.)

I think this comment on Indymedia summed it up best:

by GodotSat Nov 21, 2009 12:53The embargo on public sector recruitment, coupled with pressure on colleges to reduce their pay budget by 3%, mean that classes, lectures, tutorials, library hours and science labs have been cut - and the SU is neutral on this? Off with their heads.

I am still absolutely raging the SU deleted me on Facebook over this (I presume) . As a class rep, I dont think thats on. I didn't post anything offence, I REPOSTED something a friend made public. Childish at best on their part. If they ever decide to accept my re-adds I'll drop it, but its not on. They're taking a hammering on the latest Status update, will they delete ALL dissenting voices on this issue?

banquo

It's incredibly poor form, them deleting you. Like, seriously.

Beau

Yeh not cool at all.

Ostrom

PrivateEye wrote: »

For what its worth, as somebody completely behind the ICTU day of action, I'm actually quite annoyed reading about the attitude to contract staff on campus from the two unions. I imagine I'm not alone on here in saying I've every intention of some day working in a University, so I find that very worrying to read.

Which makes it all the more important for us (at the risk of sounding as partisan as the striking union lecturers) to bring the issue to the front. Contract/non tenured work is part of a general trend moving steadily from the American model (along with other wasteful practices such as generic structured doctoral education), and unfortunately bridges both university and union policy. The difference in contract-tenured proportions across individual universities and between departments is also significant.

Contract staff have generally been forced into a position in this latest row where without union representation, no security of tenure or basic collective rights, the university authorities have told them to shut up, come to work or be found in breach of contract. Not much you can do with your head on the chopping block year to year. Breaking into union membership would be the easier battle, but unfortunately adjunct faculty as policy seems to be on the horizon, and there isnt much any of us can do about that.

PrivateEye wrote: »

Is there anything contract staff can do about it? Have you approached the unions as a group?

Hopefully, remains to be seen... Were this dispute framed differently and presented without blatant disregard for anything beyond the change in their pockets, I would be out on Tuesday.

PrivateEye wrote: »

I still think in the grand scheme of things the day of action is correct, be it a primary school, third level insitution, or any other group (firefighters, nurses etc.)

A day of action with the university staff striking for sustained contact hours, funding for mid-level teaching, extended contract work, fair terms of union membership, quality of service and equality of access - I would agree. This is about pay, and nothing else

PrivateEye

banquo wrote: »

It's incredibly poor form, them deleting you. Like, seriously.

Cheers Beau and banquo



(and efla thanks for another piece to ponder. I agree with your entire post until tuesday comes into play. I think its woefully bad of unions not to accept contract staff, and not a good indication for future union membership either, to keep the younger faces literally at arms length)

tuborg

Just recieved this from one of my lecturers:

From the Union:

FOR THE INFORMATION OF MAYNOOTH STUDENTS

STRIKE ACTION BY CAMPUS TRADE UNIONISTS, 24 NOVEMBER 2009

All of the trade unions representing staff working on the Maynooth campus are taking part in a one-day strike on Tuesday November 24th. The strike is protesting against the threat of further government-imposed cuts in the pay of university employees. Action is being taken following ballots in which the majority of members of the unions that are taking part voted in favour of coming out on strike.

Pickets will be placed at the entrances to the North and South campuses throughout the day on Tuesday. Students are asked not to pass these pickets and not to enter the campus while the strike is in progress. (A distinction is, of course, recognised here between students residing on campus and those who would normally be coming in to attend lectures etc. There is no intention to interfere with anyone's access to their home. The aim is to bring the ordinary working parts of the university - its lecture theatres, labs, library etc. - to a halt for the period of the strike).

Hopefully you will have been informed of the cancellation of your classes by your lecturers in advance of Tuesday. If you are in any doubt, please contact the lecturer concerned to confirm that cancellation. With official pickets in place, the only people who will be conducting or attending classes will be those who have deliberately chosen to break the strike. Given the wide range of Maynooth employees stopping work on the day, it is quite likely that the campus will close down completely. University management intend to try and keep it open but health and safety considerations may lead them to reconsider this position once the strike is in progress. If you do not wish to actively express support for the strike, your wisest course of action may be to stay away from Maynooth on November 24th. Public transport services are likely to be disrupted on that day because workers right across the public sector are going to be involved in the strike.

It must be emphasised that trade union members on the campus are seeking and will warmly welcome student support for their action. Pay cuts are part of a wider package of measures that will progressively reduce the resourcing and the quality of the education provided to students in our schools and universities. The return to charging students tuition fees forms part of the same political agenda. Students and staff have a common interest in the protection of our education system against the kind of destructive changes with which it is currently threatened.

goonyougoodthin

Dear Student,

The University intends to remain open and conduct business as best it can on Tuesday, 24th November when a number of University staff will be on strike.

With regard to Lectures. Tutorials, Practicals and other departmental activities, we have asked Departments/individual staff to contact their students via Moodle, Email or Departmental Website or other means to let students know if any particular event is cancelled. Otherwise academic events go ahead as scheduled.

Unfortunately the following central services will not be available on that day:

Library
Langauge Centre
Catering (Pugin Hall)
Creche
Medical Centre
Counselling
Student Services Building
Student's Union
Speakeasy
O'Brien's Sandwich Bar (Library)
Londis Shop (Hume Building)


Sports Centre, Swimming Pool , O'Briens Sandwich Bar (John Hume) and Bewleys (Arts Block) will remain open

The University apologises for any inconvenience caused by the strike, which is outside of its control.

They intend to remain open.....cool so if we want a sandwich or a swim we won't be put out.

kaiser soza

Does anyone know for sure which lectures will be going ahead,so far History have said they are on strike,that is all I know at this moment and time.

Rozabeez

Sociology are on strike, fairly sure Anthropology are too.

cian1500ww

My maths lecturer and my comp science lab demonstrators aern't striking

Seren_

English Department are striking too.

lsuzanne1987

Business and Economics classes for 1st year to continue as normal.

irish_goat

lsuzanne1987 wrote: »

Business and Economics classes for 1st year to continue as normal.

Aww don't tell me that.

lsuzanne1987

irish_goat wrote: »

Aww don't tell me that.

Sorry man, check Moodle. If you have an Economic tutorial too its going ahead!

goonyougoodthin

In other words don't take anything for 100% until you check moodle for yourself, seems like there's been a load of different things said to everyone.

hairy cake

Eh, departments aren't 'striking' or not. It depends on a number of factors (whether individual staff are union members, support staff, etc.).