University students fume as they are 'not getting value for money'
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Dr Hannah Little, of Liverpool University’s Communications and Media faculty, joined thousands of staff walking out before even setting foot in one of the institution’s lecture theatres. The action industrial action is said to target “devastating cuts to pensions and deteriorating pay and working conditions”.
She joined the strike yesterday on what was meant to be her first day in her new role after leaving her previous job at another university three weeks ago.
Following two years of disruption due to the pandemic, university staff have imposed yet more misery on students by refusing to teach in protest at their employers’ terms and conditions.
Monday was the first day in 10 of such action being taken by the University and College Union (UCU).
Dr Little left her job at the University of the West of England in Bristol complaining on social media about the “workload” and “all the pressure to write papers and grants, and do public engagement”.
Despite expressing her joy to be leaving on the day she quit, she added that she intended to strike the moment she arrived at Liverpool University.
“I am striking in UCU’s national four fights dispute over pay, casualisation, equality and workload when I start at Liverpool,” she declared.
Sharing photos from a demonstration yesterday on social media she admitted it was “a bit awkward” to have taken action against her new employer before having completed a single day in the job.
She said: “Today I am meant to be starting my new job at the University of Liverpool, but instead I am on strike. Which feels a bit awkward tbh.”
She added striking was “the right thing to do”.
Urging those who follow her on Twitter to donate to help pay the salaries of those not receiving money while on strike, she shared a link to a funding page saying: “My pay for February will amount to only three days because I stupidly took unpaid leave between jobs before I knew the strike dates.
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“I’ll be alright, but others won’t be. So if you can contribute to the fighting fund.”
Dr Little did not respond to Express.co.uk’s request for comment.
A spokesperson for the University of Liverpool said ahead of the strike that “after almost two years of disruption we understand the concern” the industrial action would bring for students.
They said staff had worked hard “to prepare for the potential disruption of the strike action and will be well equipped to mitigate any impact on students’ learning and to minimise disruption”.
Defending the action, a UCU spokesperson said: “To resolve the pension dispute UCU is demanding employers revoke the cuts to staff pensions and formally accept the union’s compromise proposals.
“To resolve the pay and working conditions dispute UCU is demanding a £2,500 pay increase for all staff, as well as action to tackle unmanageable workloads, pay inequality and the use of insecure and exploitative contracts.”
UCU general secretary Jo Grady claimed students support the action.
She said that the “response from students has been overwhelming and I want to thank every single one of them for standing with us”.
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