University of East Anglia UCU

I don’t like going on strike.  I don’t like confrontation, I feel bad at breaking my contract, and I don’t like losing money.

 
But when the Vice-Chancellor is getting 8.6% in his final year at the university before retirement on a final salary pension, but cleaners & maintenance staff are expected to be grateful to have a job, and to take 1% of their already low pay; when lecturers who are dedicated and work incredibly hard are a lower priority than smart new buildings;  and when the employers refuse to talk about workload, casual contracts, gender inequality in pay & disability leave, I want to make a stand.

 
And you meet the nicest people on the picket lines.  And get to eat homemade mushroom pasties courtesy of Ian in IT, talk about films with Jimmy from Unite, & admire Sarah’s gorgeous purple earrings.

 
As @johnnyunger has written in an eloquent blog:  “I’m not striking because I want more money, I’m striking because I am disgusted with the inequality in the sector, with VCs often earning more than 20 times what the lowest paid earn, and because I am deeply concerned by the ongoing marketisation and commercialisation of education”

So that’s why I’m on strike.  How about you?

Rachel UCU@UEA VP

Members at UEA didn’t let the rain dampen spirits and walked out together from across the university at 11.00 on January 23rd.

UEA SU were there to support and welcomed us back to the SU building.  Around 40 members gathered to share  tea, biscuits & chat.

Many other members had emailed to say although off campus they would be observing the strike.