National Strike Events at Kent
Thursday 24th
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CANTERBURY Pickets 8:30 – 10:00
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Staff – Student Rally 10:30
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UCU Social – Unicorn pub 12:00
Friday 25th
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MEDWAY Picket 8:30 – 11:00
Wednesday 30th
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National London Demo 13:00
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CANTERBURY Picket 14:00 – 16:00 (only Law School confirmed so far)
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See here for the full suggested schedule of strike & picket events
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Action short of a strike begins from Wednesday 23rd November.
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There will be financial support from UCU for pay deductions resulting from industrial action.
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See attached for a presentation that can be shown to students.
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Kent University’s pay deduction policy for industrial action remains the same as previous years and will be updated on their webpages.
Why I’m striking – in your own words
“I’m striking in solidarity with members who are going to be hit the hardest by the cost of living crisis and rise in inflation – which is not being met by an equitable pay rise. We work in a sector where a huge number of workers are on precarious or zero-hours contracts, whilst our senior management earn upwards of £100k.”
“I’m striking because I’m struggling with my workload and it’s taking its toll on my mental and physical health. We all work way over our contracted hours because we’re not given another choice and receive no support. Something needs to change.”
“I’m striking because my students are angry. My students have been angry for the past three years. They’re at a university which doesn’t value them, doesn’t value their degrees, and doesn’t value the people who support and educate them. I’m striking because the university COULD be better.”
“I’m striking because we cannot continue to give our students the best of ourselves when every year for a decade we have had an effective pay cut. We cannot go on living in fear about paying the rent or living our old age in poverty. There is no choice but to strike. We have no power to protect ourselves otherwise. A university run in inequality and by staff in constant fear for their jobs is not a university in which students flourish.”
What you can do
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Attend the strike events, type your name under ‘attending today’ & add your own events
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Donate to Kent UCU’s local strike fund
If you can afford to donate to your striking colleagues in financial need, do so here:
Unity Trust Bank
Account name UCU Kent LA26
Account number 20391184
Sortcode 60-83-01
Click for the latest on Kent job security & possible programme closures