rhifyn 1146 issue 1146
gair rhydd
2 rhagfyr 2019 2 december 2019
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Cardiff University’s student paper | Established 1972
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UCU strikes hit Cardiff University
Hallum Cowell Politics Editor
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or the last seven days, staff at Cardiff University have been taking industrial action as part of the University and College Union (UCU) Strike action occuring in 60 universities across the country. Lectures are striking over pay and pensions, working hours, inequality, and job insecurity, while also taking part in Action Short of Strike (ASOS) which sees staff working strictly to contract, refusing to reschedule lectures lost to strike action, and no longer covering for absent colleagues. This ASOS could be ongoing until April 2020 and comes following a UCU ballot in October which saw 77% of members backing strike action in light of ongoing disputes. This is the second time Cardiff University staff have taken part in industrial action in the last two years. This year’s strike action began on November 25 and is lasting eight days. It has seen some Cardiff University lecturers holding rallies in Alexandra Gardens, forming picket lines outside university buildings, and holding ‘teach-out sessions’ which UCU describes as “free workshops and discussions that take place in the community and are open to staff, students and the public.” The UCU Strike action began with a well-attended rally on Cathays Park campus where multiple speakers expressed their thoughts on the action whilst offering messages of support and solidarity to UCU members. Speakers included Jo Stevens, Labour candidate for Cardiff Central; Catherine Walsh, Cardiff University lecturer; Dave Reid, a member of Cardiff Trades Council; and various other speakers including other higher education staff members and union representatives. Over the course of the speeches it became clear that amongst staff, students and various unions, there seems to be a big support network for the lecturers who have chosen to go on strike. Speaking at the initial rally, Jo Stevens expressed: “Our universities are world-leading; therefore, they should be world-leading in how they treat and reward those who work there”, calling on the crowd to “[end] the marketisation of education”. A following speaker, Shavanah Taj, Vice President of the Wales Trade Union Congress (TUC), asked the crowd
“How much recognition do you get from your work?” to which there were many shouts of “not enough”, but dispersed grumblings of “I feel quite satisfied actually” emerged from the crowd too. Dave Reid from the Cardiff Trades Council, also commented on university investments, pointing to the new Centre for Student Life (CSL) being constructed outside of the Students’ Union, saying that the University should not “spend £100 million on vanity projects”, insinuating that money should be directed towards staff members and their wellbeing, instead. Cardiff University rejects claims that the CSL is a “vanity project”. A spokesperson for the University said: “The [CSL] will allow the University to provide far more joined up pastoral services to students - a unique and important element of Cardiff University’s offer. The [CSL] is being delivered in partnership with the Students’ Union. It is the fruition of a successful and dynamic partnership that the University is proud to enjoy with its student body.” Gair Rhydd contacted Cardiff University’s Students’ Union for a response but they declined to comment, noting that they have provided a number of statements previously about the CSL. The strike action has received a mixed response from Cardiff University students. At the opening rally, a group of postgraduate students stood in front of the crowd to express their support for those striking. They emphasised that this strike action should not “create an us and a them” between staff and students but rather they should “stand together in solidarity” because they believe the issues over which lecturers are striking are issues which affect all students, too. However, not all students are in support of the UCU strike action. One student told Gair Rhydd: “The lecturers already have their degrees whilst as students, we do not. We are already paying the extortionate amount of £9,000 a year and if I’m paying that money, I’m expecting to be taught. “If staff are having issues and want changes, there must be other ways to approach the situation instead of striking because all they’re doing is putting us students in an unfortunate position; we’re going to end up worse off because of it.” Story continues on page 3.
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Pleidlais i barhau yn ôl yr arfer: Gwnaeth myfyrwyr yn y CCB bleidleisio o blaid cadw’r system bresennol o swyddogion sabothol. Tarddiad: Tim Marsh
CCB yn pleidleisio o blaid cadw swyddogion yr Undeb yr un fath
Deio Jones Golygydd Taf-od
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ng nghyfarfod blynyddol CCB Undeb Myfyrwyr Caerdydd, plei-
dleisiodd myfyrwyr i barhau â’r system swyddogion sabothol presennol yn hytrach nag ail-strwythuro i gynnwys Swyddog y Gymrae llawn-amser. Er nid yw’r Undeb am gyflwyno’r swydd, dywedodd Llywydd yr Undeb
ei bod yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd y Gymraeg. Taf-od sy’n adrodd ar y newyddion yn sgîl y cyfarfod CCB. Ewch i dudalen 6 i ddarllen rhagor am y sefyllfa.
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Caerdydd and Hong Kong citi- Men’s volleyball Me: The story of zens take protest reach national Cardiff’s homeless to the polls finals Tirion Davies @Caerdydd Editor
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his week, our @Caerdydd desk spoke to Rowan*, a homeless man living on the streets of Cardiff. Rowan is experiencing homelessness for the second time and has opened up about life on the streets, the stigma of being homeless, and the struggles of living on the streets during the cold winter months. *Name changed to protect his identity. To find out more about Jordan’s 22 story, turn to page 24.
Alex Payne Contributor
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eople in Hong Kong have taken to the polling stations to voice their anger in the recent local elections. With record turnout of over 70% many are hailing this as a huge victory for democrat candidates while pro-China candiadtes lose safe seats. This election has also been seen as a referendum on Carrie Lam’s handling of the extradition protests, a referendum she seems to have lost. Read more about the Hong Kong council elections on page 12. 12
Alessio Grain & Costanza Tinari
Contributors ins against Sussex University, Surrey University and City, University of London saw the Cardiff University Men’s Volleyball team qualify for the national finals of the 2019/20 Indoor Student Cup. The games saw Jon Kuan, John Morgan and Alex Chavasse excel for Cardiff as the team showed determination, grit and togetherness to come away victorious. They’ll now face one of the UK’s 16 best university volleyball clubs in February. Turn to page 29 to read more. 29
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