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THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
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ISSUE 145 | WEDNESDAY 27TH MAY 2019 | FREE
Unite representatives snubbed by VC during COVID-19 shutdown
Image: Dan West
Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief
Students slam lack of library closure support Niall O’Callaghan News Editor
The University is “considering a range of options” to reopen libraries and learning spaces for Masters students as they write their dissertations over the summer. All library sites have been closed since 9.00am on Wednesday 18 March, leaving some Masters students without access to libraries or learning spaces for over half of their course. A spokesperson for the
University of Sheffield told Forge Press: “We understand that the coronavirus pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to the lives of our students and we want to thank you all for the patience and co-operation you have shown whilst we moved our teaching online and continue to respond to a rapidly changing situation. “As we expect social distancing measures to be in place for several months, we are considering a range of options for our libraries and learning spaces as part of the wider
recovery planning work. Our priority is to ensure that the campus is safe for students and staff and we are continuing to monitor government guidelines and adapt as a University. “While our library buildings are closed, our digital library is open for business as usual. The service has close to a million ebooks and over 60,000 journal titles along with a virtual library team and specialist librarians ready to support you. “If any student has difficulty in finding a book they need then we urge them to... (cont. on p5)
Unite the Union on campus have expressed their disappointment with the Vice-Chancellor, after he confirmed he wouldn’t meet workers’ representatives - and accused him of “turning his back” on his staff. They asked the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Koen Lamberts, to meet representatives of the trade union, as well as to intervene to support furloughed workers who are currently earning less than the minimum wage. More than 1,000 staff and supporters recently signed an open letter to the Vice-Chancellor, asking him to use university cash to furlough workers at 100 per cent of pay, to ensure they didn’t take home less than the minimum wage. Workers’ representatives say there are currently 500 employees of the Students’ Union, and another 200 of Unicus - a standalone company owned by the University are currently earning £6.16 an hour. According to a survey by Unite at the SU, more than two-thirds of those asked said they would struggle to pay for housing costs (73 per cent) and food and basic amenities (67 per cent). Less than a fifth said they had family who could support them financially. The union asked the ViceChancellor to intervene to ensure these workers are furloughed on full pay, as has been the policy with University of Sheffield’s own
employees. However, in a letter from the University, they were told that he wouldn’t meet with them to discuss this, nor would all employees on campus be paid full furlough pay. “Koen Lamberts has turned his back on the community that makes up the University of Sheffield,” said Harriet Eisner, the Unite regional officer. “This is an ill-judged decision which is going to affect the reputation of the university. We urge him to think again and engage with the union which has the workers’ best interests at heart during the current health crisis. “The Vice Chancellor is in charge of the University, employees of Unicus and the Students’ Union are part of his university community. They are employed on the lowest possible pay rates and are currently furloughed on 80 per cent of that. “I find it incredible that the Vice Chancellor appears to be washing his hands of these young people who have paid fees to study at his university and work at his university in order to pay for their food and accommodation.” Unite have been representing workers on campus throughout the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen the University and Students’ Union operating online-only since mid-March, with many of the campus’ casual staff, who work in the cafes, shops and outlets around campus, furloughed as a result. In response to Unite, a spokesperson for the University of Sheffield... (cont on p3)