 |
 |
I agree with those who think that this is an important discussion topic for a list-serve, but I doubt that many of us postgrads or freshly-minted PhDs/DPhils will contribute for fear of repercussions on our own (future) employment. Also, I think there can be other forms of constructive input than comment on, or objection to, pay alone. Anyone who follows Rebecca Schumann, who understands herself as a whistle-blower on the academy, will know that the US higher ed system has adjuncts who struggle to survive. And Karin has pointed to the situation in the German-speaking world, too. So perhaps we could use this list also for constructive, general discussions about embarking on starter jobs? Justifications for pay or pay disputes aside, pragmatic tips are surely useful - no one has to heed or read them, but they can do so if they want. For example, regarding how a post-holder on a fixed, hours-based contract anywhere can meet the demands of a job well enough to get a good reference and do students' needs justice, while not allowing such a position to become all-encompassing such that no time is left for research or supplementation of income outside of the role (as the individual prefers). Or tips on managing expectations of university employers while still being willing to be engaged in the institution. And so on. I don't mean to suggest that German Studies should be there for life advice, but some forum for early career academics from or in the UK negotiating the job market - or links to such a forum - would seem relevant to me. Seán On 24 March 2014 13:21, Klaus-Dieter.Rossade < [log in to unmask]> wrote: > Discussion in this forum will not lead to anything but puts colleagues > on the spot who have very little, if any influence over the decisions. The > right place is UCU and German Studies Group should come together and > support this issue just like we support colleagues whose departments are > threatened by redundancies or closure. > > > > Congratulations, Nils, on fatherhood! > > > > Best > > Klaus-Dieter > > > > Dr. Klaus-Dieter Rossade > > Director, Language Studies Programme > > Department of Languages, FELS > > 01908 659100 > > [log in to unmask] > > *From:* Nils Langer [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > *Sent:* 24 March 2014 13:10 > > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: ridiculous payment - but hey, it's Oxford! > > > > mein Senf to the insinuation that I don't care about the akademischer > Nachwuchs (a poignant point, having just become a father a week ago!), but > then I will shut up: > > > > IF the Germanistik colleagues at Oxford had decided on pay and condition > of the job, my meta-objection to the discussion would have been > ill-founded. But I trust that pay and conditions are set elsewhere and > hence the right place for our concerns would be UCU and employers. > > > > nils > > > > On 24 March 2014 12:30, Hodgin, Nick <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Esrt kommt das Fressen - und dann? Perhaps the meals offered amount to > nothing more than peanuts (to which a few if us have an allergy). > > > > On the subject of appropriate discussion: where else should such a subject > be discussed? A subdivision of the list for the transient, for those less > well fed, on temporary contracts? > > > > Best wishes, > > Nick > > > Dr Nick Hodgin > > Lecturer in German Studies > > Department of European Languages and Cultures > > Lancaster, UK > > LA1 4YN > > Tel: 44 (0) 1524 594068 > > > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* JISCmail German Studies List [[log in to unmask]] on > behalf of [log in to unmask] [[log in to unmask]] > *Sent:* 24 March 2014 12:26 > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: ridiculous payment - but hey, it's Oxford! > > Absolutely right Martha. I am of course intensely interested in views and > information about research matters, having myself published in the > relatively recondite area of German literature and the visual arts in the > Goethezeit; but I also think that we have a duty to care about the working > conditions of the Nachwuchs. > > I suppose that a cynic might say that those on a professorial salary can > afford to say that decent payment for younger colleagues is not > worth discussion??? > > (Emeritus Professor) Richard Littlejohns > ------------------------------ > > *From*: "Martha Worsching" <[log in to unmask]> > *Sent*: 24 March 2014 12:10 > *To*: [log in to unmask] > *Subject*: Re: ridiculous payment - but hey, it's Oxford! > > Should we in the list not worry how German Studies is recruiting young > people? Should those who get a job be able to raise a family on their > income - what place do college meals have there? And are jobs now only for > those who have private means? We oldies will be OK, but is there a future > for our subject in an increasingly uneven society? > > > > > > Martha Wörsching > > Lecturer in German Studies > > ERASMUS Coordinator & English Language Assistantship Tutor > Department of Politics, History & International Relations > Loughborough University, > LOUGHBOROUGH > LE11 3TU/UK > Tel +00 44 (0)1509 222998 > [log in to unmask] > http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/eu/ > > Office Hours: > Tuesday from 10-12 am > > > Co-editor & Reviews Editor of the JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN STUDIES > For further information on this journal, please visit the following > website: > http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/ > > > > *From:* JISCmail German Studies List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > *On Behalf Of *S STOLFA > *Sent:* 24 March 2014 12:04 > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: riduculous payment - but hey, it's Oxford! > > > > Hello, > > > > Inclined to agree with Bill, also! I think it is best not to restrict too > much what can/should or should not be said on this list, as this may well > discourage contributions and induce deep slumber. One can also not very > well stipulate what is going to be useful and what isn't! Keep the criteria > open and flexible, would be my take. Whatever supports! > > > > atb > > Sabrina > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* "Niven, William" <[log in to unmask]> > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Sent:* Monday, 24 March 2014, 11:48 > *Subject:* Re: riduculous payment - but hey, it's Oxford! > > > Hi Nils, > > I would be curious to know what are the appropriate topics for this list. > It spends much of its time in deep slumber, and when it sparks into life, > the topics are deemed inappropriate. Not sure that's good for the list, > really... > > Bill > ________________________________ > From: JISCmail German Studies List [[log in to unmask]] on > behalf of Nils Langer [[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 24 March 2014 11:38 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: riduculous payment - but hey, it's Oxford! > > Can I be the spoil-sport and express what most people on this list will > have been thinking for a while: > This is not a topic for our list, both as a general issue (pay conditions) > and as regards discussing the practice of a(ny) particular university. > > yours, > > nils > > > -- > Prof. Nils Langer > Subject Lead (German Dept.) > Professor of Germanic Linguistics > School of Modern Languages > 21 Woodland Road > University of Bristol > BS8 1TE > Stor Britannien > > 0117 928 9841 > > www.bris.ac.uk/german<http://www.bris.ac.uk/german> > www.fgls.ac.uk<http://www.fgls.ac.uk> > www.hison.ac.uk<http://www.hison.ac.uk> > www.onion.com<http://www.onion.com> > DISCLAIMER: This email is intended solely for the addressee. It may > contain private and confidential information. If you are not the intended > addressee, please take no action based on it nor show a copy to anyone. In > this case, please reply to this email to highlight the error. Opinions and > information in this email that do not relate to the official business of > Nottingham Trent University shall be understood as neither given nor > endorsed by the University. Nottingham Trent University has taken steps to > ensure that this email and any attachments are virus-free, but we do advise > that the recipient should check that the email and its attachments are > actually virus free. This is in keeping with good computing practice. > > > > > > > > -- > > Prof. Nils Langer > > Subject Lead (German Dept.) > > Professor of Germanic Linguistics > > School of Modern Languages > > 21 Woodland Road > > University of Bristol > > BS8 1TE > > Stor Britannien > > 0117 928 9841 > > www.bris.ac.uk/german > > www.fgls.ac.uk > > www.hison.ac.uk > > www.onion.com > -- The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), > an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland > (SC 038302). >