strike!

Got up early to join the picket line outside the Old College. Yet again, we are striking for the usual reasons: fair pay, equal pay and end of casualisation. I am not unhappy with my pay, however, I don't believe it when the bosses say there is no money and yet they award themselves 6% or so pay rises giving us a meagre 1.1% (after reconsidering their original 1% offer). If we all have to tighten our belts then our bosses should as well. In fact, I think we should pay more taxes and spend the extra revenue on commonly useful things such as school, transport, etc rather than bigger guns and foreign wars. I was aware of the other two issues: equal pay which is apparently a particular problem with universities. The universities spend £1.3 billion on male salaries than female salaries. The other issue of casualisation concerns (mostly) young researchers  who just finished and are looking for a job. They often end up in 1 or 2 year contracts, having to do the same work load as normal staff. Their contracts don't get renewed as there are plenty other  new researchers looking for a job. So we strike. I think the action short of a strike will be more useful: the plan is to work to rule. Which again is quite crazy that you can threaten the employers to only do what you are contractually required to do. 

After two hours on the picket line in the cold (but dry) I went through to Glasgow to join the rally there. Mercifully it was inside. The balloons indicate the pay gap. 

I used the opportunity to wander the streets of Glasgow and ended up in the Lighthouse Gallery which is absolutely fantastic. Very cool architectural exhibition (see extra). I do like Glasgow, especially when it is a nice day like today. So many pictures to choose from for today's blip. More on flickr.