 |
 |
italian-studies: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies To our striking colleagues in Modern Languages (UK), As staff in Modern Languages at the University of Birmingham, we are writing to express our public support for your efforts to stop the downgrading of the USS pension scheme. Our UCU branch failed to reach the 50% threshold required for legal industrial action, and thus we are unable to strike. Some of us are members of the UCU; some are non-members. However, all of us will be affected by the proposed cuts to our pensions. For those of us beginning our careers, the impact will be devastating. Some of us face losing 40% of our income. We agree with you that the imposition of such damaging changes is unnecessary and that the modelling used to justify the cuts is deeply flawed. A growing number of Vice Chancellors across the UK are urging UUK to reconsider its position. We call on our Vice Chancellor to do the same. Like you, we care about our students and we are concerned about the impact of the dispute on their education. Our students, at all levels, will increasingly be affected if industrial action continues, since we rely on colleagues at other places for external examiner roles, guest lectures etc. To prevent disruption, UUK needs to listen to academic and academic-related staff across the country and reverse the proposed downgrading of our pensions. We welcome the rejection of the proposed settlement of 13th March and, via our UCU branch, stand in solidarity with you in demanding an agreement which guarantees a decent retirement income. We thank you for the sacrifice you have made on behalf of our community and we offer you our support. Yours sincerely, Marco Bellardi Clelia Boscolo Paolo de Ventura Ita Mac Carthy Charlotte Ross Aengus Ward Conrad James Mónica Jato Elisenda Marcer Antonio Sánchez Enea Zaramella Emanuelle Santos Frank Lough Alba del Pozo Emma Wagstaff Elliot Evans Nicholas Hunter Kate Ince Val Leick Caroline Ardrey Sarah Fishwick Stephen Forcer Annegret Sturm Hilary Brown Dietmar Wozniak Ruth Whittle John Klapper Sara Jones Natasha Rulyova Dr Charlotte Ross Senior Lecturer in Italian Studies Department of Modern Languages University of Birmingham B15 2TT AHRC Research Network Queer Italia: www.queeritalia.com ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe italian-studies YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe italian-studies to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/italian-studies