February 20th onwards was another hectic week, on Monday I was in the office then went up to Sheffield for a debate on NUS Affiliation speaking against Andre Walker (only hacks reading this will know who this is – ran against Mandy for President as a CF Candidate) I won the debate!

Tuesday was a trip down to Bristol to meet the yes2nus campaign team and brief them on the arguments and talk about NUS Extra, Wednesday I went up to Liverpool Hope to have a union visit, talk about the NATFE action and I met their new GM. Thursday 23rd I was in the office all day doing the general office catch up things I so desperately needed to do – apologies to anyone who has emailed me and I haven’t responded – my inbox is out of all control at the minute!!

This week the AUT and NATFE confirmed the days of their strike action and the details of the continued action they will be taking over the next few weeks. NUS is supporting our teaching union colleagues in this action for many reasons and I absolutely think this is the right thing to do because….

In 2004 when the Top-up fees debate was taking place ministers and UUK tried to divide us, telling the teaching unions that if top-up fees go through they would get higher pay. The Unions argued that they want better pay but that it shouldn’t come from students and stood by us. Now Top-up fees are coming in this year the university management have backtracked and have walked away from the negotiating table – in fact that’s not strong enough – they lied to the unions. The lecturing profession are scandalously underpaid – it only benefits students for their teaching staff to be well paid, highly valued and motivated. The university management are trying to divide us once again – trying to turn students against the lecturers, we need to say no, we need to say that the money from Top-up fees must be used to enhance students learning experience, to ensure our lecturers are valued and to encourage more people to go into lecturing, we need to direct our anger where it belongs – at the University management. Lets be clear if students are not getting their work marked or exams set – it is down to the University!

I know this is difficult for many of you as officers, to hold this line when you have students concerned about graduating but the more we unite, the quicker this will be over, the quicker it will force university management back to the negotiating table to ensure our lecturers are paid fairly and not lied to again

We have to stand in solidarity with our allies, who have consistently stood by us, whenever we have had education funding battles, they are out on the streets, in the media and at our rallies. We have, aside from all the other reasons, an absolute duty to do the same. I hope you can too.

For more information on NUS’ position click here

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