--taken from press release--

Union officers strike over pay

Part time union officers in one of the largest student unions in Europe began strike action on Friday 2nd July, after a yearlong dispute with the Thames Valley University over pay.

Despite the fact that it clearly states, in the Students’ Union constitution, which has been approved by the Board of Governors, that those part time officers should be paid. Thames Valley University are still refusing to give extra funding to the Students Union to pay its Part time elected officers.

“The University obviously sees the part-time officers as non-essential members of the executive committee, but we really do a lot of work with the students, in developing the students’ union and student experience at the university. All we are asking for is a £7.40 per hour wage, so we can free up some of our time to devote to our union work, which at the moment is suffering from the pressures of having to study fulltime, work part-time, and our personal lives.” Says Philip Wilson, one of the officers on strike.

The dispute, which began a year ago, has now boiled over into strike action because of deadlock between the Students’ Union and the University. The indefinite strike will continue until the university fulfils their part of the deal.

“We hear a lot of the time from the university ‘That we should follow the students’ union constitution to the letter’ it’s about time the university took some of their own advice” Philip Wilson went on to say.

Time is short as an amendment is at the moment being pushed through to stop the strike action.

We are asking supporters to phone the university secretary Ann Marie Dalton on 0800 036 8888 (you will need to be put through) to voice your support for the strike.

With our greatest thanks

Part-time officers of TVUSU