okay maybe that was a bit of a characature...!
still, i think the success of the SEIU justice for janitors campaign and others
like it have shown how distant the unions have become from the lived realities
of the everyday, and how important it is for unions to become 'owned' (for want
of a better word) by the membership and not the union staff. until the praxis
and identity - real or imagined - of unions change in general (as opposed to
one-off occasions like J4J), then there is a real need to create networks and
structures that cut across demographic lines, and that are positioned outside
of traditional union formats that everyone can feed into - although of course
unions will be an important part of that.
ant
Quoting "Featherstone, Dave" <[log in to unmask]>:
> Hi,
>
> I think that clearly unionisation is a key issue here... and the way that
> differences between full time academics and others such as post grads are
> reproduced and hardened in terms of union structures and activities is
> important and important to challenge- In this regard I appreciated Ant's
> recent intervention in Antipode about the strike....
>
> I think while it is important to challenge existing union practices- and
> clearly they are very reformist etc etc- but I don't think it is politically
> helpful or reasonable to portray unions as 'chums of the management'- didn't
> get much sense of that recently!
>
> But I think the issues raised around the way current union structures and
> broader attitudes cut across solidarities between different groups in
> academia is important...
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: A forum for critical and radical geographers on behalf of Ant Ince
> Sent: Sat 28/10/2006 16:21
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Anti War job
>
>
>
> Quoting Nick James <[log in to unmask]>:
>
> > The full time academics must seriously look for ways to support those that
> > aren't. We are very poorly treated and just as badly paid.
> >
>
> you're right, we *should* all support one another. i would suggest unions are
> a
> great way of supporting each other, but for students the word 'union' has
> been
> hijacked into meaning 'cheap beer', and for staff (not just in education
> institutions) it has become another name for 'chums of the management'... i
> would suggest a union that does neither of these things but that would
> probably
> be a bit naughty
>
> ant
>
>
> >
> > In a message dated 27/10/2006 18:56:49 GMT Standard Time,
> > [log in to unmask] writes:
> >
> > It is nice to know that once we have completed our PhDs us postgrads may
> > have to take a pay cut to get a job, despite the PhD.
> >
> > Jon
> >
> >
> > >From: David McKnight <[log in to unmask]>
> > >Reply-To: David McKnight <[log in to unmask]>
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > >Subject: Re: Anti War job
> > >Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 13:43:08 -0000
> > >
> > >why are research assistants paid so atrociously? i mean 14k for someone
> > >with a PhD is just bonkers
> > >
> > >David
> > >
> > > > Please reply to Richard Phillips:
> > > >
> > > > [log in to unmask]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL
> > > >
> > > > DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
> > > >
> > > > RESEARCH ASSISTANT: ANTI-WAR MOVEMENTS
> > > >
> > > > A Research Assistant is required to work on an ESRC-funded research
> > > > project on anti-war movements in the UK. The project involves making
> > > > contact with and conducting interviews with specific groups of
> anti-war
> > > > activists in London, Liverpool and Scotland.
> > > >
> > > > The successful candidate is likely to hold a PhD or be a doctoral
> > >student
> > > > in a relevant field of the social sciences or humanities, based or
> able
> > >to
> > > > work in either London or Liverpool. This post is for a period of up to
> > >six
> > > > months full time, but this post is flexible and it would be possible
> to
> > > > spread the work over a longer period on a part time basis. The start
> > >date
> > > > is also negotiable, but might be around January 1, 2007.
> > > >
> > > > Salary based on annual range of £14,184 to £16,658 (pro rata)
> depending
> > >on
> > > > experience and qualifications.
> > > >
> > > > Please contact Dr Richard Phillips for more information or to apply
> for
> > > > this post, by November 10, at:
> > > > Department of Geography
> > > > University of Liverpool
> > > > Liverpool L69 7ZT
> > > > [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
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