AUT Strike

nicola1982_2

Has anyone been affected by the AUT strike? I had my exam cancelled today! Luckily I'm in the position where it won't have a detrimental affect upon me, but I know others are going to really struggle.

pavlovs_dog

we've had an email to confirm that all our exams will be continuing as scheduled.

ive only got 3 written papers, and im not graduating this year, so fortunately it wont affect me that much

hanspam

We've got to take our exams as normal, but have just been informed we'll only graduate if 75% of our marks have already been handed in.

Only 4 of my final year essays have been marked, so I'm still waiting for about 35% of my marks - which means I won't graduate. And my postgraduate course is at a different institution, who are likely to make me defer my entry

Makes me wonder why I'm bothering to revise really!

aurora_borealis_2

I'm wondering if my PhD marking is affected. I submitted two months ago but nothing yet

executiverocker

i think all this is totally disgusting, i believe there is a protest going on outside liverpool uni tonight? i feel sorry for all you students having to go through all this uncertainty

rubber_soul_2

aurora_borealis wrote:

I'm wondering if my PhD marking is affected. I submitted two months ago but nothing yet

One or both of your examiners could be members of the AUT or NATFHE, and may therefore be unwilling to 'mark' (i.e. read) your thesis and viva you whilst the strike is ongoing. They'd be quite within their rights to do this, but I have heard of several students who have had their vivas during this period, as their examiners have tactfully chosen to ignore this part of the strike.

However, I would suspect in your case that the examiners are reading your thesis, and are hoping that the strike will soon be over. 3-5 months is a normal waiting time from submission to viva, so you are not 'behind' as yet. You could ask your supervisor to make informal enquiries on your behalf, just to find out exactly what's going on.

Sillychuckie

Yes, we have been severely affected.
Due to certain teachers being on strike and not invigilating an exam, there were no invigilators present that actually taught the subject we were being tested on. Usually, not a problem... BUT!!!
In order to answer 2 questions in the exam (there are 5 questions total), we needed a sheet listing equations, and diagrams (referred to in the questions) etc.
They did not supply this appendix sheet, and no one was able to answer 2 out of the 5 questions. When we all raised the issue with the invigilators (during the 5 min reading time before exam started), they were unable to confirm if we were speaking the truth, since they didnt understand the subject.

The teachers on strike could not be contacted either.

In effect, the result of all this is that our exams are marked using 3 questions, instead of 5. But that is entirely ridiculous. You can't test a students ability on 3 questions. Also, for those that heavily revised the 2 dropped questions subject area, they would have been mightily annoyed.

Sillychuckie

It all seems irrelvant anyway. We are getting predicted degrees based on our first 2 years until the mess is all cleared up.
I am on track for a 1st in my final year, but my first 2 years average a 2:2.
It is gonna hurt my job hunting opportunities, unless I am able to get one before predictions come out.
My whole uni experience has been a shambles. Throughout the years, we have repeatedly had:
- Lost examination papers
- Poorly marked examination papers
- Poorly written exam papers with nonsensicle questions
- No proof reading of exam questions. Stupid mistakes in them, such as '9' instead of '(' where they have forgotten to hold the SHIFT key down.
- Poor assignments with mark schemes that do not truly reflect the questions difficulty.
- Poor teaching staff, one of which can not speak english well enough to teach us.

I'd complain or sue them, but at the moment, they have us all by the balls. I'll wait till results come out first.
Although, if I sue them before hand, they might be more inclined to give me a 1st. Afterall, what better defence would they have to my allegations that they can not teach other than "but you got a 1st class degree.".
Clever, eh?

tweek_2

Such are my feelings about the AUT strike, that I've decided to make my first post. (Hello by the way!)

Fortunately my department set the date deadline setting papers before the strikes began. I sat my first exam today and although it had a major error (due to it not being moderated/checked), it was acceptable given the situation. However, many people I know are not in this situation.

I support the Universities in this dispute. The pay demands by the lecturers are bordering on ridiculous. I have worked for the University as a research assistant and this experience lead me to believe that being a lecturer can be a very cushy job. Some lecturers are excellent and are worth every penny (+ more) but ironically, it often seems to be the ones that are not who are the most 'militant'. And by the way, I attend a so-called "Top" University.

If my exams and my dissertation are not marked I will be livid. I have worked extremely hard this year to bring my mark up and it will be all for nothing if the strikes are not resolved. I am not alone. I'd love to be able to protest but I need to revise, just in case these exams do get marked!

Is legal action an option? I don't see how suing the university will solve anything in the big picture, but who else could be accountable? The AUT? Individual lecturers?

hanspam

Our Employment Law lecturer emailed us an article from the Guardian, which said firms of solicitors were visiting some universities involved in the dispute to encourage the students to sue for breach of contract.

I can't remember who it said they would sue - presumably either the actual university, and claim that the VCs caused the industrial action by refusing to negotiate earlier; or individual departments or lecturers for each failing to teach students or set their exams.

A trade union will have immunity from being sued, if they can prove their action was in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute, and the substance of the action is inextricably linked to the terms and conditions of its members. That would be a piece of cake for the AUT to prove, so it's unlikely they'll get sued.

At a meeting the university held, a student asked if taking legal action was possible, and the university secretary said, "Technically yes, but we'd make it as hard for you as possible".

I just really want this all to be over - legal action has crossed my mind but not seriously. Unless a class action is brought, where every student affected is represented, I can't see that many students being able to afford legal action, no matter who its against.

jr666

Personally before the lecturers get handed out more money (25% over 3 years!?!) i'd like to know what they do all day and during the summer holidays.

I've walked past open office doors of my lecturers to see them playing solitaire on the computer, looking out the windows, on the phone to god knows who and i've even seen one guy just sitting listening to music!!

This is in a maths dept (not music etc!)

What about the summer break? Its 13 weeks long and i cant believe they're "researching" all the time, as i've said above they seem to have more intresting persuits.

Before we start awarding lecturers 25% extra shouldnt we be reviewing their roles as educators, identifying those that deserve a pay rise over those that don't? If they are found to be expendible, then sack them. I bring your attention to the firefighters in NY a few years ago who wanted more money. The city just said no, sacked the lot and brought in thousands of keen new employees who were willing to work for the current pay structure.

If there are any lecturers out their perhaps you could share your solitaire stratedy with us all.