In the last few months, there has been an increase in staff strikes from different industries across the country, including the educational industry.
In the last few months, there has been an increase in staff strikes from different industries across the country, including the educational industry. The University of Derby academic staff joined other universities across the country in the movement, demanding an increase in their salary.
Your Union of Students Executive Officers ran several surveys through ballots, weekly polls, and interviewing students around the University to gather student voice and learn what the students have to say about the strikes.
During the first few strikes in November, the majority of the students have shown full support to the academic staff, stating that they are striking for a good cause and that they deserve a pay raise for the hard work put into teaching.
However, what was thought to be a few strikes demanding fair pay became something more. In the second half of the academic year, the students are going to be hit by another 18 strikes, which are going to disrupt their studies. Following the increase in strike days, the students started showing concerns towards their studies, stating how their grades might be affected by the lack of teaching that is caused by the strikes. Most of the students who are unhappy about the strikes include students in their final year who have dissertations and important assessments to submit, and commuter students who travel to University only to be sent back home.
Following our last statement from the November strikes, it is safe to say that the student voice has been shifting, with the majority expressing their anger and concern on the matter - and the students are right to feel this way. The concern grows for student that are in their final year and those that have financial dependencies with transport, family, carers etc.
The students understand why the academic staff are striking and they fully support the idea of increasing their salaries, however, they also want to make most out of their studies, especially since they paid a lot of money to study at the University.
We are reaching a time where students need full support from the academic staff, however the staff is not there. The students are fully understandable of the movement the academic staff is part of, however they are unhappy with the quality and quantity of teaching delivered this academic year. The Union of Students understands the reason behind the strikes; however, we are here to support the student and the students are unhappy.
The Union of Students is looking into ways to collaborate with the academic staff in creating an environment where both the students and the academic staff are happy, prioritising the students and their needs.
We recognise that lecturers have the right to strike for what they believe they deserve, but we must also speak up for students and be their voice. We believe it is unfair that academics are striking at a time when most students are stressed due to exam season and dissertation deadlines. Students are understandably unhappy, angry, and concerned about not being able to reach their lecturers at this critical moment.