Durham’s independent student newspaper
Palatinate
No. 755
Thursday 7th November 2013 | FREE
www.palatinate.org.uk
Cuth’s rugby apologises in face of scandal News: Finalists react to graduation dates
5
News Features:
8 Mature students
call for recognition
SCSRFC play their first match since a game played at a social garnered national attention
National lecturers’ strike hits Durham Ben Williams
10
Business & Economics: UN Development Goals
Following a series of national ballots, staff across the University took part in a day’s strike last Thursday over their rate of pay. Faculty members across the three lecturers unions, Unite, Unison and the University and Colleges Union, abandoned their posts to take part in picket lines on Elvet Riverside and the Science Site.
1%
proposed increase in pay
18
Sport: Rise in football fees causes debate
Photograph: Megan Liardet
The movement came in reaction to an offer of a 1% increase in pay, which in real terms would mean a 13% drop since the start of the academic year in 2008. The University has stated that it will be taking the “recommendation of the University and Colleges Employers Alliance (UCEA) to deduct a day’s pay from those taking part in the strike.”
Professor Chris Higgins, ViceChancellor and Warden of the University, also said that the pay increase “is only part of the overall staff benefit package we offer at Durham University.” This benefit package also “includes excellent conditions of service, defined benefit pensions, provision for incremental pay increases and relative job security.” The strike did not affect the internal running of any domestic college services, but did include administrative staff and technicians in academic faculties. One of the striking bodies, the University and Colleges Union (UCU), told Palatinate that should Thursday’s strike prove unsuccessful, they are be prepared to take further action. “The plan would be to move towards not returning marks (to students). This would lead to a real and damaging confrontation but if it comes to that, then that is what will happen.” UCU later added: “Nobody in the union wants this, but the history of unionism shows that ultimately
when faced with intransigent employers, serious action has to be taken.” The University and Colleges Employers Alliance (UCEA) has also said that they are prepared to withhold all salary for those who continue to take strike action.
“Nobody in the union wants this ... but serious action has to be taken”
University and Colleges Union Many students have reacted negatively to the strike. Ambrose Li, a St Mary’s second year told Palatinate: “Whilst I completely understand that lecturers should have the right to strike over pay just like anyone else, I just don’t understand why it needs to affect students at all.” A finalist from Josephine Butler College commented: “The idea that lecturers want to withhold marks from student in their most important year just to make a statement
seems outrageous.” Professor David Byrne, who heads Durham UCU, has claimed that the dispute over pay “has just as much significance for students, because when students enter the world of work they will suffer the effects of this erosion unless something is done about it now.” Others, however, remained quite indifferent, with one second year from St. Cuthbert’s Society adding: “The strike seemed, for me at least, to have a really limited impact. None of my lecturers took part and I wasn’t aware of the picket lines.” Instead it may be that the true impact of the strike will be felt in the weeks to come, as students and lecturers attempt to reschedule missed classes. The UCU added: “How teaching issues (such as the rescheduling of classes) are handled will vary depending on the actions of individual members. “We are issuing no instructions to them as to how they deal with this.”