Striking staff and visiting students with Sarah Boyack MSP and Daisy the dog

Another busy picket at HWU this morning. Visits from Daisy the dog and Sarah Boyack MSP. We tried a bit of cooking on the brasier before the amazing students from @hwunion and The Society of Progressive Students came to our rescue again with hot drinks and coffee. After this group photo it was straight over to Glasgow for some of our committee members who were taking part in the joint EIS-ULA / UCU rally in Glasgow.

The next strike day will be Wednesday 30 November and we need every member to take part in order to encourage our employers to settle this dispute and end the disruption. The longer the picket lines, the shorter the dispute.

The average hourly rate of university worker is just over £20 per hour while the average hourly rate of a VC is over £250 per hour. Quite staggering when you consider just how badly some universities are being run. We deserve better. It is time that our employers started to invest in staff instead of expensive IT systems which don’t deliver, shiny new validity projects while the rest of our campuses fall into a state of dilapidation and disrepair, and generous executive salaries and perks.

So far, we have seen the biggest and most widespread picket lines in the history of higher education. If you can’t make the picket, please use this draft letter template to contact your local MP/MSP and ask for their help to end this dispute.

On Wednesday there will also be a national rally in London and UCU Scotland rally in Edinburgh. Speakers at the Scottish rally will include UCU Scotland, STUC general secretary Roz Foyer, NUS Scotland president Ellie Gomersall, and MSPs. Assemble at 12:30 for 13:00 start at the Scottish Parliament concourse.