strike latest

[Thalia]

What's so surprising about one exam involving two lecturers? Off the top of my head, I can't think of a single module of mine that hasn't involved each lecturer setting questions for their own part of the course.

[hr]

The shadow proves the sunshine...

[Kizzy]

Good to see that this is really making headlines now - was a big feature on Newsnight Scotland tonight.

[Adam Fellows]

Hi everyone,

Last week David Bleiman was meant to turn up to the Education Subcommittee meeting post demonstration, but he later changed his mind.

He sent us a series of questions and answers and I have decided to share them with you all as a bit of light revision procrastination.

http://www.yourunion.net/autaction

[Dave the Explosive Newt]

Have we, like, responded to that?

[hr]

Mmmmmmm, cake.
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37102114

[Dave the Explosive Newt]

Well - I say we but I mean Ben/You. (with input from David Bean, I'm sure someone was listening to him)

[hr]

Mmmmmmm, cake.
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37102114

[Adam Fellows]

I asked at the meeting and no one was fussed really, including David who was the one with the major comments on it. I think the consensus was that our actions were enough of a statement already, then the discussed shifted.

[Dave the Explosive Newt]

Quoting puzzled from 17:37, 9th May 2006

Quoting Ben Reilly from 15:57, 9th May 2006
Not speaking on behalf of the Association, I would like to just say that I think that those of you who are decrying trades unions really need to take a look at reality. Trades Unions have a hugely important role to play in protecting staff. And as to strikes, the withholding of labour is the only power that workers have and doing it as part of a co-ordinated action is more effective in the raising of salaries.

Oh please, the university staff are hardly oppressed mineworkers whose families will starve to death if they don't get work at the pit. If they're so bright (as most of them are) they should be able to get jobs elsewhere if they don't like the conditions here. No one has a right to a well paid job which they like. They all freely entered into their contracts with the university so they knew that the pay would be what it is.


I think people are not being unreasonable when they start to question the AUT when, having gone on strike asking for more pay, barely half of the local branch of the AUT can be bothered to get off their backsides to vote on a pay offer from their employer and then the National AUT rejecting a 90%+ (of those that could be bothered to vote) result in favour of settlement.

Thatcher was told in the 80s that academics would 'sooner eat the bark off a tree than do anything to harm their students'. Which was taken as carte blanche to treat them like dirt. That it has got to the stage where they have to use their only leverage (i.e. students) is an illustration of how desparate their situation has become.

And just another thing - trade unions aren't just about industrial action, they're an important representational system - and I imagine many of those who are decrying trade unionism would be the first to protest were they denied the representational system that the Students Association affords them.

[hr]

Mmmmmmm, cake.
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37102114

[Guest]

dazed..from what i could work out the 5th paper was a jointly written one by 2 members of the dept of film studies. these members are obviously no longer on strike and film studies exam going ahead.

but one french lecturer still on strike affecting 4 french modules.

check your email if u think u may be affected, emails from the dean of arts have come out.

[Guest]

ben, do you know if the people on those particular 4 modules will have to come back in september if industrial action not over by 26th May? (which isnt looking likely)

or will a module mark be awarded on courswork for example?

i would much prefer just to do the exam in may as planned.

we did receive an email from the Dean of Arts, but it didnt really say much about what may happen, only that we should check our emails regularly.

im just worried, i know summer is of secondary importance, but we all have summer jobs and other commitments for this period when we expect to be free.

[Edward]

I do FR4177 and it is one of the modules which has not been set. ergo, the lecturer in question is [deleted, who teaches] another final year module.

I sympathise with the lecturers' pay demands, but I really cannot see the validity of one member of staff striking on his own. It is a shame, as [deleted] is one of the most likeable and best lecturers in the university.

Oh, well, it would be the French who always 'faire la greve'.

Mod edit: I feel it's inappropriate to name the striking lecturer in this manner. Not that I'm saying it would happen, but I'd like to avoid the lecturer in question being approached about this naming, which I might add is heresay at best.

[Bread Roll]

Mod edit: I feel it's inappropriate to name the striking lecturer in this manner. Not that I'm saying it would happen, but I'd like to avoid the lecturer in question being approached about this naming, which I might add is heresay at best.

Its hardly hearsay if he's been told that his module is one of the ones affected and he obviously knows who his lecturer is. But yes I think you're right, personally I feel it isn't useful to name the lecturer in this case.

One of the modules I'm taking is also affected, which is quite the pain in the arse. We have been told by the Dean of Arts that we'll have an update on Monday about our exam as people who recieved the email of DOOM will know. What is really annoying about it is that we have two lecturers for this course, and just one hasn't set their half of the paper or marked any coursework.


[hr]

And it is, it is a glorious thing to be a pirate king...

[puzzled]

Quoting Adam Fellows from 00:14, 11th May 2006
Hi everyone,

Last week David Bleiman was meant to turn up to the Education Subcommittee meeting post demonstration, but he later changed his mind.

He sent us a series of questions and answers and I have decided to share them with you all as a bit of light revision procrastination.

http://www.yourunion.net/autaction

Just how thick and/or lazy are these people? If they'd bothered to proof read this document, they would have spotted the fact that we do not have a 'Professor Brian Lang'

They seemingly can't read their own rule book on elections and now apparantly can't be bothered to check their own statements...

[Guest]

French module FR3002 is one of the ones affected.

[worried francophile]

There are 4 french modules affected from a mixture of second, third and fourth year courses.

the contingency measures inform us that we should not leave st andrews before 5pm on the Friday 26th.

right handy that for those of us who have already booked flights. It was posted many moons ago on the semester dates page that the candlemas semester exams ended the 24th. and also on the prov. timetable in the spring break ''end of examination period 24th may''

but of course gettin the exams done does come first.

if the national strike does not come to an end before these particular exams are due to take place, (if you consult AUT website, not looking likely, is it?) then what would the plan of action be?

would we be expected to come back in the september resit diet? cutting short the summer of returning students, hitting 2nd years who will be going away on their year abroad, and most importantly graduates who have postgrads, jobs and suchlike planned.

it would be nice to know exactly what the deal is?

will an exam def take place? or will some average be worked out?

id jus like it over and done with.

I do have a lot of respect for the lecturer on strike. I hope the pay dispute is soon resolved and that lecturers salaries reflect what they deserve to be earning.
I would just like to know when im likely to sit my exams. like most students, i will be working all summer, and being a languages student..will be abroad, its not as easy as a train/bus trip to st andrews to sit exams.

dont want to rant...just want to know.

[Steveo]

If you've booked flights and whatnot to get home, pleas ewrite letters to the local and national AUT highlighting your personal plight. Make unreasonable demands, as I always say, exaggerate to make a point.

All after me, chant:

1, 2, 3....

FUCK THE AUT.

[hr]

Set your goals way too high so I can laugh when you fail.

[thebrookster]

People should not leave St Andrews before 5pm 26th May?? Is that not the time in which people are supposed to be out of halls for?

[Ben Reilly]

Following today's AUT meeting, the last member of staff has submitted their exam papers.

[Colin]

Quoting Ben Reilly from 18:52, 12th May 2006
Following today's AUT meeting, the last member of staff has submitted their exam papers.

Having been threatened with a good hard kick up the arse for being so obstinate. Bloody French.

Seriously though, the thing that puzzles me over the whole exam papers not being submitted is that as far as I was aware, the deadline for submission of exam papers was actually before the industrial action started; the point with the strike would be a refusal to mark them. Hence why I am puzzled that there has ever been this problem. Or maybe the deadline for submission of papers varies between departments?

[Ben Reilly]

The deadline varies on a school-by-school basis.

[Guest]

We got emails today to say that all French papers will now go ahead as scheduled!