80 percent vote for strike action at SOAS
Yesterday’s statement from the lecturer’s union, AUT, on the results of the strike ballot at SOAS:
SOAS set for strike action in defence of librarians
AUT members at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action in support of two specialist librarians recently made redundant.
On a 64.5% turn out – high for a union ballot – 80% of AUT members voted in favour of strike action and 87% voted in favour of action short of a strike. As a result, unless the two librarians are reinstated, SOAS looks set to face a FIVE-day strike, starting on Monday 21 November.
The result comes on the same day as AUT representatives attend talks at the conciliation service ACAS at which they are set to reiterate their demand that any settlement of the dispute will not be reached without the reinstatement of the two librarians.
Update: It has now been reported that ACAS concluded there was no scope for agreement during this first meeting. Further discussions are due to be held during the week before the strike is due to begin.
I must say that I’m proud of the staff at SOAS for the stand they have taken. With the attitude of the current management at the school, strike action (at the very least the threat of it) was always going to be the only way to get justice for the two sacked librarians. The solidity of this ballot result is certainly going to be food for thought for management, although I wonder if their arrogance will continue to get the better of them. If it does come to a strike you can be sure that I will report from the picket line.
I wonder if academics have braziers on their picket lines?
Well, it’s getting colder next week. If I can be bothered to get out of bed to join in the protests I want some way of keeping warm!
Comment by Robert Blake — November 12, 2005 @ 4:38 pm
I’m sure the fire station near my house has got a spare one they haven’t used for a few years…
Comment by kotaji — November 13, 2005 @ 11:49 am
I found this blog surfing.
It is a big step, when librarians, enlist on a working class strike action.
Regards.
Comment by Renegade Eye — November 13, 2005 @ 10:36 pm
What tyupe of university will we end up with if the AUT action ends in failure?
Comment by Professor Hardright Bonehead — May 16, 2006 @ 11:14 pm