Letters to send about the AUT Action

[Ben Reilly]

The SRC Education Committee has created a number of form letters for people to send about the AUT action.

If you would like to help the action to come to an end as soon as possible, please help by downloading, filling in and sending off as many of these letters as you can.

We would also appreciate it if people could let their friends know, for example by emailing them or messaging them on Facebook.

The letters, and the latest info, are available at http://www.yourunion.net/autaction

[Ben Reilly]

In fact, if people want to help promote it, they can join the Facebook Group "I'm helping solve the AUT Industrial Action" and telling all their friends about it and the letters.

[username]

maybe a banner outside the union would help..

[Ben Reilly]

There'll be an A0 poster going up tomorrow (please Oli...)

[Adam Fellows]

Any other letters that people might appreciate us writing for them, please suggest them.

[exnihilo]

Can people not write letters for themselves any more?

[DrAlex]

Quoting exnihilo from 22:57, 25th Apr 2006
Can people not write letters for themselves any more?

Surely you agree that students are more likely to do it if all they have to do is personalise and sign it. Asking the student body to write their own letters and send them in? Wouldn't even get half the numbers who would go for the former option.

[hr]

"Listen to DrAlex."-Polli
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37100343

[exnihilo]

Of course I do, but it strikes me that anyone who could come up with another letter that they wanted written for them might as well write it for themselves.

That said, half as many personally written letters would probably have more effect than a pile of identical form letters.

[DrAlex]

Indeed.

Edit: Yes, I believe that is my most useless post to date.

[hr]

"Listen to DrAlex."-Polli
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37100343

[Dave the Explosive Newt]

Quoting exnihilo from 23:06, 25th Apr 2006
Of course I do, but it strikes me that anyone who could come up with another letter that they wanted written for them might as well write it for themselves.

That said, half as many personally written letters would probably have more effect than a pile of identical form letters.

The thinking behind putting them on the union website in word files is that people can edit the letter as they choose, adding any specific concerns or comments they might have.

[hr]

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

[Adam Fellows]

Quoting exnihilo from 23:06, 25th Apr 2006
Of course I do, but it strikes me that anyone who could come up with another letter that they wanted written for them might as well write it for themselves.

That said, half as many personally written letters would probably have more effect than a pile of identical form letters.

Sorry, it's been a long few days really, and I could have phrased that a lot better. It's just that if there is a type of letter that hasn't occurred to either Ben or myself, it might be an idea to suggest it to us then we could spread the idea to others who might not have thought of it also.

[Ben Reilly]

Many people sent them yet?

[Dave the Explosive Newt]

Posted in the union today.

[hr]

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

[Ben Reilly]

I sent off the first bunch today.

There were about 35 to each of the people.

Keep it up!

[Midget]

Let them strike for Christ's sake I think it would be fun if I don't get to graduate.

[hr]

IMAGE:img9.imgspot.com/u/04/241/18/160019.jpg "Little!"
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37100090

[garage red]

Why does the union support pay increases for academic staff? I must say that I am definately not on their side here.

Why do they not strike on their research output as well?

[JM]

is emailing the MP stupid since its nothing to do with him/her.

though they are entitled to reply so maybe they could do something

[hr]

"Life can be full of many problems"; this can be translated into "tormenting you is how the big man gets his jollies"

[Ben Reilly]

The person who it would be would be Iain Smith, the local MSP. I am writing to him regarding it.

As to why the Students' Association is supporting the claim for higher salaries for academic staff:

At the SRC Education Committee meeting where it was discussed, it was decided that because the salaries have fallen so much (40% in real terms over the past 20 years) that they need to rise in order to ensure that academia can attract the best and the brightest.

[munchingfoo]

Quoting garage red from 10:44, 27th Apr 2006
Why does the union support pay increases for academic staff? I must say that I am definately not on their side here.

As Ben points out, their salaries have decreased by the equivelent of 40% in real terms over 20 years. Is it not strange that a junior lecturer who has trainned for 7 years to get to his/her position, and acrued student debt in very new cases, should be paid the same salary as a trainee police officer?

Why do they not strike on their research output as well?

The reason for this is quite simple. Striking on research has no short term effects for the univeristy. They already have their funding etc. What this does do is cause major long term effects. If reasearch grants are not continually updated then the uni would collapse. Striking purely on the students' end is a short term gain which can easilly be ended with no major grief (provided it occurs before the exams)


[hr]

Tired Freudian references aside - your mother played my mighty skin flute like a surf crowned sea nymph trying to rouse Poseidon from his watery slumber!

[Gubbins]

To suppliment foo's post:

Quoting garage red from 10:44, 27th Apr 2006
Why does the union support pay increases for academic staff? I must say that I am definately not on their side here.

Two reasons: firstly, because it is arguable that better pay will attract better academics which will improve teaching quality and university standards and, perhaps more importantly, a significant fraction of students aim to stay in academia, so this will directly affect them in anywhere from one to eight years' time.

Why do they not strike on their research output as well?

Because this won't have any short-term effect on the University, but will have a direct impact on the researcher's professional career. Thus, it damages the activist more than the University, which is the aim of industrial action.

[hr]

...but then again, that is only my opinion.