On the picket lines

Picketers were out in full force today on Exhibition Road, striking as part of the UCU in protest against a ‘real term's paycut’. Around 10:30am they regrouped and various members took to a megaphone to discuss the state of the strikes.

It was excitedly announced that on Tuesday the Imperial College Student Union had voted to continue supporting the strikes and begin supporting the marking and assessment boycott, and this was met with applause from the circle.

There’s never been a greater case for unity between staff and students than there is now

However, speaking to strikers, I was told that the decision to implement a marking and assessment boycott was not taken likely: striking alone has required large amounts of “soul searching”. Yet, one picketer argues that, faced with an 8% pay cut which effectively equates to losing one month’s worth of salary every year, to him losing 18 days of pay to strikes this year is a no-brainer.

They told me how they have especially “agonised” over the commitment to boycott marking and assessment. However, they feel that this is the best chance they have at putting sufficient pressure on the College to resolve the disputes, arguing that this is better for students and staff in the long-term.

With 16 more days of striking ahead of them, they realise that they need to strategise to ensure there are moments of heightened pressure on the College.

Trade unionist Roger took to the megaphone to reiterate this. He called this set of strikes “unique” due to the length of time they span, and offered support in strategy, logistics, and contacts.

Those present have resolved to be “less passive” on the picket lines and increase attempts to explain their cause to non-striking colleagues and try to win them over: “We cannot afford ourselves to be divided”, one member stressed. “The longer the picket line, the shorter the strike”, is the mantra.

Shortly after the regrouping they headed off to an organiser meeting in the Union. The use of these facilities, as well as the provision of tea and coffee to the picketers, are made possible by the student union’s continued support.

UCU members are grateful for this, but also referenced an incident on Wednesday night when University of Manchester students occupied (and are still occupying, at the time of writing) three campus buildings in support of UCU demands and amidst a rent strike. Picketers are hopeful that momentum will gather behind a student support initiative here at Imperial. They maintain that a better deal for staff will result in a better quality of education for students, telling me as we walked to the Union building:

“There’s never been a greater case for unity between staff and students than there is now”