NUIM Student's Union fails to support strike

by StudentGrant Thu Nov 19, 2009 22:19

as long as we have free fees, we don't care about anything else. After all, we are being "educated" to become part of the establishment, or go abroad to get a good job after we get educated for free, compliments of the irish taxpayer....

It's naive to expect students to get behind a workers strike.

by JJ Fri Nov 20, 2009 00:05

..be on Uni picket lines?

Curious about what they mean by 'support'

by Aidan Rowe Fri Nov 20, 2009 14:44

In the interest of fairness, here's the official SU statement on the strike:

Strike Action 24th November

On 24th November, various trade unions representing staff will be partaking in industrial action. Dr David Redmond - the Registrar - has confirmed that the University will not be closed, since this is not a dispute with University Authorities, but a response to a perceived threat to pay and conditions in the upcoming budget. There may, however, be disruption to various services. The Students' Union believes strongly in education and in preserving quality third level education in Maynooth. The Students' Union is not taking a stance on Tuesday's dispute between public sector workers and their employers - the Government - and will remain open in order to provide vital services to our members. Tuesday is not a day off from education and we encourage students to use the day and university facilities to study, as we are fast approaching exams. Whether individual students, or groups of students, wish to support or oppose the action is their own prerogative

by Gar Fitzpatrick - Class Rep Fri Nov 20, 2009 15:09

Liz says:
"The Students' Union will be remaining neutral on the strike, but as Student reps who want what is best for the students we are standing strong for education, and believe you all should be able to come into college and be educated."

- In other words, we're neutral, but really, we're against the strike.

Although the official statement is closer to neutrality in fairness to them.

by Aidan Rowe Fri Nov 20, 2009 16:21

Gar: Well they're asking students to pass the picket and go to class if the classes are on, which means they are de-facto against the strike.

by The Sultan of Shame Fri Nov 20, 2009 17:21

Despicable behaviour. If it hadn't been for actions such as this, there would be no university, no access to third level education, no student unions. No doubt a cabal of Blueshirts and Efff Effers has been instrumental in this.

by Rob Munnelly - NUIM Fri Nov 20, 2009 17:25

Ask ten different lecturers - like I have - why they're striking and you'll get ten different answers. Ask ten people as much as a week ago and you'll get another ten different answers and the united view that you are a cad.

I'm down with any action in the name of the intelligent handling of resources. But as it stands yet one lecturer has yet to give me that answer. So far we've banned photocopying but a professor emeretis (read: does mostly nothing) is still on 140k+ salary before pension.

Show me a genuine manifesto for change and I'll be right there with them. Until then, I'm putting my registration fee to good use and cracking open some books in the library - this seems to me to be the SUs position. On one hand, it's a bowl of neutral mush. On the other, it's ''so there's a strike, join if you want but we recommend learning something''. So it's not useless by any means.

by Aidan Rowe Fri Nov 20, 2009 22:13

Rob, its not just about workers on campus, we should be supporting low-payed workers across the public sector in their strike action against cuts to workers wages and to education, health, welfare etc. If you cross the picket, you're saying don't care about those workers or the struggles they face.

by Batt-man Sat Nov 21, 2009 05:11

The Maynooth SU is essentially after republishing the offical University statement. John Hughes could call on this crowd to clean his car.

Students shouldn't pay any notice to this, and instead should either

1) Not attend University on the 24th
2) Join the Pickets.

The SU remains pathetically weak. Its tragic SUs in Ireland became over-run with Fine Gael- Fianna Fail types, as this kind of nonsense is the norm. Still, in this case- it seems even USI are in favour of the ICTU action. Like O' Keefe last year, NUIM SU are out on their own.

After backing a call to support IFUT/Siptu at Union Council not too long ago (For Nov6th!), to turn around and issue this piece of Mé Féin-ism shows their true colours. Well done on posting it.

by Godot Sat Nov 21, 2009 12:53

The embargo on public sector recruitment, coupled with pressure on colleges to reduce their pay budget by 3%, mean that classes, lectures, tutorials, library hours and science labs have been cut - and the SU is neutral on this? Off with their heads.