Lecturers' Go On Strike
Lecturers in Northern Ireland are to hold a 24 hour strike due to a continuing pay dispute.
The strike has been organised by both the Association of University Teachers (AUT) and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE). Their action is part of a national campaign and will mean a total cessation of normal work. From Wednesday onwards, students' academic work will not be marked, lectures and tutorials may also be cancelled until the unions are satisfied that their problems are being addressed.
The Students' Unions of both the provinces universities are backing the action. But many students will undoubtedly be dismayed that this action should adversely effect their academic studies. If the action continues graduations may well be delayed.
Staff at Queen's, including those from St Mary's and Stranmillis colleges, will stage pickets at the University gates tomorrow, and a protest will also be held at the Department of Education headquarters in Belfast.
The strike has been organised by both the Association of University Teachers (AUT) and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE). Their action is part of a national campaign and will mean a total cessation of normal work. From Wednesday onwards, students' academic work will not be marked, lectures and tutorials may also be cancelled until the unions are satisfied that their problems are being addressed.
The Students' Unions of both the provinces universities are backing the action. But many students will undoubtedly be dismayed that this action should adversely effect their academic studies. If the action continues graduations may well be delayed.
Staff at Queen's, including those from St Mary's and Stranmillis colleges, will stage pickets at the University gates tomorrow, and a protest will also be held at the Department of Education headquarters in Belfast.
posted by Gown Team at
4:57 pm
41 Comments:
The postmen, now the lecturers!
I can live with the one day strike but not the lasting boycott of refusing to mark etc - disgraceful.
Altogether too many work-dodgers in this country
To be fair to the lecturers they earn decidely less than their collegues in America. The result is that we lose the best and the brightest to the richer American universities. I wouldn't normally support a strike, but the issue in the UK as a whole needs to be dealt with. Are we going to pay the going rate, and if so where is the money going to come from, or are we going to accept having inferior standards within our universities and as a result inferior research.
I have to agree with Mr Cather here having experienced the quality of academia in the U.S. I feel that we are losing a number of good lecturers to better paying jobs in the U.S. This being said however universities in Ireland and the UK are still seen (here at least)as being the pinnacle of third level education.
The following correspondence was received from Peter Quinn, Deputy President:
The Gown's blogspot states that both QUBSU and UUSU are backing the AUT Industrial action. This isn't correct. Our public positions is that we are urging both sides to re-start talks to find a speedy resolution to this dispute.
Peter
Gown Response:
Our comments on the blog regarding Student Union support is not a misunderstanding on our part as it was taken from comments made by Lyn Fawcett, whom, I'm sure you're aware is chair of the University of Ulster branch of the AUT.
If this is indeed wrong, I would encourage you to add your comments to the blog. I hope this clarifies where we obtained our information.
Many thanks again and congratulations on your re-election.
Online Editor
Peter Quinn:
It's irrelevant were 'The Gown' obtained its information, the fact remains that you have misrepresented the Students' Union position. While I do not believe that this was intentional it is however a matter of professionalism journalism that you should have asked the Students' Union for its opinion rathering than relying on a third party.
The Gown (online & print team) should consider itself notified of the offical Students' Union position with regard to AUT industrial action.
Yours faithfully,
Peter Quinn
Deputy President
Many thanks for your clarification Mr Quinn.
Pity to see the Gown involved in this type of regrettable situation again. Surely lessons should have been learnt last year when untruths in a statement from the SDLP Youth's Gary McKeown were printed and later found to false with regards to the controversy over the SDLP participation in the CLubs and Socities quiz.
To be fair the national press said that the strike has the support of the Students Union, so it's not just the Gown who are confused.
Can you elaborate on what these untruths were in Gary McKeown's (no relation)statement
David
Gary McKeown alleged that on the night of the disputed SDLP victory in the clubs and socities quiz, Sinn Féin members of the exectuive were present and put pressure on the quizmaster to rule against the SDLP. This is a blantant lie, as was subsequently confirmed by the General Manager of QUBSU after his investigation into the matter.
PS
There is no need to defend our record on these matters. All newspapers rely on sources for information. If that information later turns out to be false, the paper will, of course, make a correction.
It is up to those who are offended or are claiming the information is wrong to prove otherwise. I mean if the paper was to publish, say for example, a story about an executive member caught up in fisty-cuffs, or banned from a union bar, the individual would have to prove otherwise.
I think we all know fine well who was applying pressure on the quizmaster to rule against the SDLP. And to narrow it down for anyone who doesn't know it wasn't a unionist.
I heard that it was someone closer to the home of clubs and services.
PS I am pretty sure that Gary's statement was that he was told by the quiz master that there were members of the executive who had pressured said quiz master into rulling against SDLP Youth at QUB.
I am not speculating whether or not this pressure took place but Garys statements and I am open to correction with proof on this reflected only what he had been told by the quiz master.
Think what David is saying is correct.
"Gary McKeown alleged that on the night of the disputed SDLP victory in the clubs and socities quiz, Sinn Féin members of the exectuive were present and put pressure on the quizmaster to rule against the SDLP. This is a blantant lie, as was subsequently confirmed by the General Manager of QUBSU after his investigation into the matter."
Therefore it was the SDLP group that made that claim and not the Gown. The gown reported on the incident to the disliking of some exec members who r against free speech.
The reason the SDLP youth group didn't get the prize money, initially was because the quizmaster ruled in line with a decision made by the VP for Clubs and Services. That was that political groups could not claim prize money.
The VP ruling was then however over ruled by the Union GM.
Therefore it was the SDLP group that made that claim and not the Gown.
-----------------------------
That has never been denied, however, like the story above, the Gown should have checked its sources and checked the accuracy of what it was printing before it published the story.
PS
Of course the VP Clubs & Services has no offical connection to Sinn Fein. Though he did run for election this year on a joint ticket with the chairman of Sinn Fein. But I'm sure that any sympathies which he may, or may not have, for Sinn Fein, were in no way influential to his pathetic attempt to stop the SDLP claiming their prize.
Though he did run for election this year on a joint ticket with the chairman of Sinn Fein
-----------------------------
Kevin McGourty ran on a joint ticket with Mary Lou McDonald?! I missed that one myself.
Strange however that since the interpretation of the rule was purely to aid Sinn Féin that earlier in the year, Sinn Féin people looking to enter the quiz were told the same rule would apply to them.
Still, never mind the facts eh if they were to get in the way of a good story.
PS
PS,
Job application to work for the British state going well? I never thought you'd be so keen to work for a better Britain. Thought you were a republican?
PS, the gown reported on a claim made by Gary McKeown.
Gary McKeown alleged that on the night of the disputed SDLP victory in the clubs and socities quiz, Sinn Féin members of the exectuive were present and put pressure on the quizmaster to rule against the SDLP. This is a blantant lie, as was subsequently confirmed by the General Manager of QUBSU after his investigation into the matter.
Gary did not make such claim, not once in the press release did he refer to members of the executive, nor did he state the republicans who he had been informed by the quiz master had been doing the pressuring were members of the executive. But dont let the facts spoil a good story eh PS
Though he did run for election this year on a joint ticket with the chairman of Sinn Fein
No he did not!
How the hell did I end up being mentioned in this thread? I recall said controversy over the quiz last year. As David has mentioned, SDLP Youth never mentioned any names during the scandal. David's recollection over what was said is correct.
SDLP Youth was wronged at that event- I don't know who by. They were reinstated as winners of the quiz, and their protests were therefore justified. No accusations were made about any person and SDLP Youth's position was vindicated.
PS, you said "Gary McKeown alleged that on the night of the disputed SDLP victory in the clubs and socities quiz, Sinn Féin members of the exectuive were present and put pressure on the quizmaster to rule against the SDLP. This is a blantant lie, as was subsequently confirmed by the General Manager of QUBSU after his investigation into the matter."
I'm afraid you are mistaken. I never made such a claim, and I don't believe the General Manager ever made such a ruling. The only ruling I am aware of is the one that SDLP Youth should be given the money and that the quiz decision was wrong. If I were the litigious type, I could take action about your unfounded accusations that I lied, but to be honest I have more important things to worry about.
This should be fairly easily sorted out. I assume the Gown still has the relevant story in its archives.
The press release from SDLP Youth refered to Sinn Féin members of the executive.
PS
PS Both myself and Gary have copies of the press release if you like
Would someone publish a copy of the ruddy press release. :)
Couple of points, PS:
-How come you seem to know so much about this? Have you ever seen the press releases issued? I would assume not, considering the wild and innaccurate claims you are making.
-How do you know what the the outcome of the dispute was? Can you produce any written proof of this decision you speak of involving the General Manager? Were you present on the steps of the SU when SDLP Youth were told they would be reinstated as the winners of the quiz?
How come you seem to know so much about this?
Because I read the Gown story.
Have you ever seen the press releases issued?
I've seen the press releases on the SDLp website. I've also seen the Gown story which i referred to. This items do not contain the same information. The issue of Sinn Féin executive members pressurising the Quizmaster seems only to have appeared in the Gown version of the story.
How do you know what the the outcome of the dispute was?
Its public knowledge that the SDLp got their money.
Can you produce any written proof of this decision you speak of involving the General Manager?
No but when I brought the story to the general Manager's attention he told me that he was satisfied that there were no Sinn Féin members involved in influencing the decision of the quizmaster, contary to what was reported in the Gown.
Were you present on the steps of the SU when SDLP Youth were told they would be reinstated as the winners of the quiz?
No
PS
PS
Was there not members of the executive last year who were members of Sinn Fein?
Yes there were but none of them were present on the night in question and none influenced the quizmaster in any way. its the allegation that they were which I dispute.
PS
There was a Sinn Fein member of the executive present that night and if there wasnt I want the money back for the pint I bought him.
I am not speculating as to whether or not he was responsible for pressurising the quiz master.
David
Who was the Sinn Féin executive member who was present?
Mr Hughes who on a number of occassions has lead me to believe that he was a Sinn Fein party member was present, if he is not I will gladly withdraw my comment about a Sinn Fein member of the executive being present that night as the only other Sinn Fein member of the executive at the time I know off was yourself.
David
Paddy was not there that night! I know that for a fact!
Really because I bought him a drink, he was in fact there that evening, not sure at what time he left though
David
Paddy was not there when the quiz took place, I know that for a fact because we were attending a function that night in the West.
Maybe Paddy has an identical twin brother.
Chris
Paddy was definately present that evening whether or not he was still present during the time of the quiz I can not be certain I was in the speakeasy most of that night as I was attending a number of meetings there prior to the quiz.
I believe that some of the arguments have been based from two different sources, as a result some of the argument has been passed each other and has resulted in personal attacks. My apologies to anyone I may have offended in this regard
The relevant paragraph of the Gown story which we have been arguing about reads as follows -
Gary McKeown, SDLP Youth Officer, claimed that the group were discriminated
against simply because members of the Students' Union Executive - who also
happen to be members of Sinn Féin - deliberately put pressure on the
quizmaster in making his ruling. Their apparent reason was that the SDLP
are a competing political party. In a statement, Mr. McKeown said,
'participating in quizzes and other such events is the only way it (SDLP
Youth) can fund important campaigns to highlight student welfare issues.
PS
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