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11.29am GMTReaders involved in or affected by the strikes – including lecturers,students and parents – acquire been contacting us to share their views via our form.
Among those getting in touch is Meghan, a third year history student at Royal Holloway:Our students’ union passed a motion in support of the strikes just yesterday, and encouraging us to boycott any contact hours we do acquire and stay at domestic. I was initially very disappointed in my dissertation tutor for striking,but after speaking to her (she’s 32) and understanding more about her specific situation and reasoning I do sympathise. I was broadly in support of but what had bothered me was seeing USS placards saying the campus is closed” and telling students not to cross picket lines, stay at domestic and to boycott any lectures they do acquire. This made me excited – I’m a third year student and in order to get my dissertation done I must use the library, or I don’t see why I should willingly suffer any more than I already will.
The mood on the picket lines is one of mixed emotions: while it is much to feel the togetherness,we are saddened for having had to take this decision.
Im 35, an early career academic, and acquire thus only recently started paying into my pension. The prospect of an insecure future leaves me extremely anxious and does no good to my mental health,damaging the treasure I acquire for British higher education, where I studied and now work. I do think the strike could acquire been avoided, and I also regret having to let my students down — it’s been a painful decision but their support truly means a lot. 11.25am GMTIf you’re not entirely certain why university staff are striking nowadays - here is a useful explainer:Why are university staff striking?Continue reading...
Source: guardian.co.uk