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exeposé
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ISSUE 739 7 DEC 2022 exepose.com @Exepose
THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987
UCU strike over pay, pensions and working conditions
Interview with Emma De Saram, VP Liberation & Equality Page 6
Reclaim the Night march takes place in Exeter Page 3
Image: Kieran Moore
Joshua Hughes and Pollyanna Roberts Editor and Deputy Editor
O Interview with Sam Simmonds Page 30
Images (top to bottom): Exeter Guild, Livvy MasonMyhill, RFU Collection / Getty Images
VER the last two weeks, members of the University and College Union went on strike over pay, working conditions and pension cuts. The strikes led to university staff and students protesting — holding picket lines on campus and around the city. The effects of the strikes led to some disruption for students, with academic staff not being required to notify students of their absence when striking. Exeposé were able to speak to some of the academics striking on Wednesday 30th November. Many of the strikers highlighted pension slashing as a driving force behind them going on strike — with one going as far to declare the move “criminal”. Another member of academic staff at the strike stated that “even the idea of having a pension” was becoming “illusory” due to the relentless cutting each year. Other academics cited staff exhaustion and workload as additional factors which led them to strike. One striker stated that “everyone is really overworked” and,
as a result, “colleagues are out on sick leave because of mental health.” Those who Exeposé spoke to made it evident that, while they were sympathetic to students, they believed they had to cause this disruption to make change. A fellow striker said that “students don’t get the best of us [lecturers/seminar leaders]”, as they are “completely exhausted when they turn up to the classroom.” Another academic staff member highlighted that the aim of the strike was to “build up attention and interest to get employers to recognise some of the concerns we have.” One academic stated that the “you [the students] have a really powerful voice” with others suggesting that students should email the Vice Chancellor and tell her that “you have the right to get the best of us.” Another striker highlighted that “everyone here [at the strike] cares so deeply about how students learn, how students feel and student mental health”, and went on to state that “the conditions we work in become student learning conditions.” Speaking on the strike, the Treasurer of the Socialist Society, stated “don’t blame your lecturers, blame the university.” He continued: “It’s the fault of the university” as their pay cuts “decrease the quality of the education.”
While there was a large turnout at the picket lines, some academic staff striking believed that a three-day strike was simply not enough to enact change. One striker said that “it’s hard to see how it can make that much of a dent in three days.” Another academic stated that “what management seems to take a lot of notice of here, is when students complain, and they raise issues.” Speaking on the strikes, the majority of students who spoke to Exeposé voiced their support towards academic staff. One student stated that they support the strikes “because tired, under-paid and overworked lecturers impacts the education that we are receiving.” Another encouraged students to “have a look at the sobering facts and figures” and highlighted that “uni staff do incredibly valuable work, and deserve better conditions.” Students also called the national situation to attention, stating that there has been “a decline in working conditions and living standards … across society, not just for academia.” Another student underlined the “increased cost of living” and stated “it is no wonder our lecturers are asking for their livelihoods to be protected.” One student suggested that “professors are showing complete transparency and honesty about their working conditions.”
The strikes also led to disruption for some, due to academic staff not being required to notify students of their absence during the strikes. One student suggested the strikes should not “negatively disrupt students” with another stating that “the strikes only affect us [students] and no one else”. One student expressed their frustration with the communication from the University surrounding the strikes. They stated that they were “not told whether seminar leaders would be attending or not, leading me to turn up and have no class.” Another stated that the “lack of information about which specific lecturers were striking was poor.” One student suggested that the “Guild should do more to communicate the reasons for striking.” Speaking on the strike, a spokesperson for the Guild said “We stand in solidarity with UCU and staff striking (including postgraduate students who teach), however we also recognise that the strike action impacts a considerable number of Exeter students. We have been fully committed to representing students concerns and complaints to the University. Continued on page 4