Following recent announcements that AUT/NATFHE lecturers who refuse to mark exams will be subjected to a pay cut of 25%, around 75 students at University of Bradford occupied the corridor outside the vice-chancellor's office. With lots of Samba and a discussion with the pro-VC, a meeting between AUT, Uni and Students Union reps was agreed.
The protest commenced as part of a Union General Meeting, at around 2pm, and lasted for around 1 1/2 hours. The initial aim was to get the vice chancellor (once again, mysteriously absent) to back down on threats (supported by the University's Council) to cut pay to lecturers who follow through on their "action short of a strike" (i.e. not marking essays/dissertations/exams).
In the end, a compromise of further negotiations was settled upon, and the students left at around 3:30. During that time, many protesters were given impromptu samba lessons, adding to the educational nature of the event.
This action took place against a backdrop of vice-chancellor imposed changes to course structures, term dates and discontent at the amount of money from top up fees which is going to pay lecturers and supply library books.
At the end, one students union official was heard to mutter "apathy, what apathy". This certainly proved that some students are awake and watching, and hopefully will empower them to take further action. For some, today was there first ever protest, and to do it in such a direct way and with a tangible success will hopefully whet the appetite for more.
In the end, a compromise of further negotiations was settled upon, and the students left at around 3:30. During that time, many protesters were given impromptu samba lessons, adding to the educational nature of the event.
This action took place against a backdrop of vice-chancellor imposed changes to course structures, term dates and discontent at the amount of money from top up fees which is going to pay lecturers and supply library books.
At the end, one students union official was heard to mutter "apathy, what apathy". This certainly proved that some students are awake and watching, and hopefully will empower them to take further action. For some, today was there first ever protest, and to do it in such a direct way and with a tangible success will hopefully whet the appetite for more.
Comments
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solidarity
04.05.2006 23:49
At Sussex we're up to our necks trying to get out shithead of a VC to back down on pretty much everything hes ever done. Also, our VC, Alasdair Smith, is one of the few VCs in the small group coordinating the so called 'negotiations' over pay with AUT members.
He's a capitalist scumbag whose proud of the fact that our university is turning more and more into a corporation so i dont have much hope of staff being paid more.
Which means we've all gotta fight!
Your struggle is ours too.
Solidarity,
Sussex Uni student.
sussex uni student
student guilds opposing AUT action
05.05.2006 12:58
Exeter student
'We continue to lobby locally and nationally to bring this dispute to an end. The Exeter Students’ Guild along with the Student Union’s at Southampton and Bristol continue to lead the SU’s opposed to the AUT Action and the list now numbers over 30 Student Unions.
We met with the General Secretary of the AUT last week, Sally Hunt and made sure she understood the problems facing students unable to graduate. She told us that that it was the lecturers and not her that wanted the assessment boycott and told us that if lecturers at institutions like Exeter were to withdraw their support for an assessment boycott then the AUT would have to re think its plans.
mary
e-mail:
holme_i@hotmail.com