Strike! Lecturers stand firm over pay
Fair pay is great, but what we’re really interested in when lecturers strike is what we miss and what we get to do instead.
Tomorrow, the three unions, UNISON, Unite and UCU, that took strike action on Thursday 31st October will be joined by Scottish education union, the EIS, in another walk out.
UCU News said “Union members are angry at a 1% pay offer, which has seen their pay fall in real-terms by 13%.”
So to pay homage to the strike here are some suggestions of what you could do instead:
Get Smashed
The strike is on Tuesday which means tonight is Monday. Don your social gear and head out, then spend the next day in bed. Maybe start on a 13% bottle of wine; our pay may not be falling but we soon shall be (out of bars that is).
Do a spot of Christmas shopping
Either in Durham or, since you have the whole day, splash out and get the train to Newcastle – it’s a weekday so guaranteed to be less crowded.
Drink tea
Try all the testers in Whittard, before heading over to Thornton’s and browsing for long enough so that you get offered the chocolate buttons.
Be a housewife
Get your washing done – frees up Sunday for yet another well-deserved hangover.
Work…or not
Maybe even start work on some summatives. Use the time you would have been at lectures increasing your degree by 1% (in tribute to your lecturers pay offer, of course).
And if all those things don’t tempt anyone, you could always join the picket line. The lecturer’s pay packet may not be resolved, but we are fully committed to enjoying this strike as much as possible.