Thread by @_roryturnbull

Many of followers are not UK academics, so here's a quick 🧵 on why higher education staff across the UK are on strike this week (and beyond). There are two big issues at play here: (1) pensions, and (2) the four fights. #UCUstrike #OneOfUsAllOfUs /1

Pensions: there have been some major proposed cuts to our pensions. These are largely based on a valuation of the pension fund carried out in March 2020, the beginning of the pandemic, when markets were volatile. #UCUstrike #OneOfUsAllOfUs /2

In brief, claims that the pension fund is in a terrible deficit have been shown to be false. The pension managers have been either incompetent or untruthful about this and related issues. #UCUstrike #OneOfUsAllOfUs /3

UK academic salaries are relatively low (more on that soon), and often our pension scheme is used as a recruitment tactic to "make up" for the low salary. Not if you cut the pension! #UCUstrike #OneOfUsAllOfUs /4

There are several great threads from @MikeOtsuka with more details on this #USSmess mikeotsuka.medium.com/index-of-my-tw… /5

Next, the Four Fights. This is about fair treatment of staff, and (as the name suggests) has four components. It covers pay, equality, workloads, and casualisation. I'll explain each in turn, although they're fairly self-explanatory. #UCUstrike #OneOfUsAllOfUs /6

Pay: In real terms, UK higher education salaries are falling. Between 2009 and 2019, relative to inflation, salaries have fallen by more than 17%. #UCUstrike #OneOfUsAllOfUs /7

Equality: The pay issues are even worse for women and people from minority backgrounds. We need to close the pay gap. #UCUstrike #OneOfUsAllOfUs /8

Workloads: A survey at Newcastle University found that 78% of staff find that their workload is unmanageable at least half of the time. 85% reported working more than their contracted hours. ncl.web.ucu.org.uk/files/2021/09/… #UCUstrike #OneOfUsAllOfUs /9

Casualisation: Precarious employment is on the rise. We're striking for more job security and open-ended contracts. Postgraduate teaching assistants should be treated like employees and afforded the corresponding benefits. #UCUstrike #OneOfUsAllOfUs /10

Going on strike is a last resort. I don't think I know anyone here who doesn't have a genuine passion for teaching and research. A better world is possible. #UCUstrike #OneOfUsAllOfUs /fin