Backlash as Leeds University Union goes against the UCU strikes
LUU have released a statement on their official website
Leeds University Union (LUU) have announced that they will not be supporting the UCU strikes that are taking place at the start of December.
The decision has come under criticism on social media, but the Students' Union claims to be looking out for their members by putting "students’ interests first".
It's after the University and College Union (UCU) announced that 58 universities across the UK will be hit by the strikes before the Christmas break.
There are warnings that more could take place in the spring, if the row with employers remains unresolved.
"can’t support a national campaign at the expense of our members"
In a statement released on the LUU website and on Twitter, Leeds University Union said:
"We don’t believe this current strike action is in the best interest of students, and our focus has to be what’s in the best interest of our members".
The statement went on to say:
"In light of the past two years of COVID disruption, previous strike action and ongoing variations to teaching because of COVID concern, strikes right now will inevitably lead to added stress, lost learning and delayed teaching."
“Those most affected by the strikes will be our marginalised students, specifically our disabled, international and working-class students.”
"We have to focus on our student experience and can’t support a national campaign at the expense of our members."
"The right to strike is a universal democratic right"
Despite the LUU's decision to not support the UCU strikes, the Union said they back the basic need for strikes, which they called a "universal democratic right".
They also said: “We support, without question, the right to fair pay, decent working conditions, a secure retirement and contract terms and conditions that reflect the work of teaching staff.”
Earlier this month, UCU members backed strike action in two separate disputes, one on pensions and one on pay and working conditions.
Overall, 76% of UCU members who voted backed strike action over changes to pensions.
In the ballot on pay and conditions, 70% votes to take action.
National Union of Students President Larissa Kennedy explained the importance of both students and teaching staff in strikes:
"Staff teaching conditions are student learning conditions, and we mustn't forget many postgraduate students on casualised teaching contracts will be striking.
"The onus for minimising disruption for students lies with university bosses: they must come back to the table to address the clear issues in how higher education is currently run."