Education: War of the Unions
Unions are supposedly vehicles used to protect the interest and welfare of its members, but when the conflict of interest between employers and unions, actions taken by these unions often leave a path of destruction. Its scope of activities includes provision of basic benefits to being a representative for collective bargaining and industrial actions. No doubt it is good to be represented, but its push towards higher wages and incentives often employ detrimental approaches that leave everything in chaos. The strike by the New York Transport workers in December 2005 is one notable example. The entire city is brought to a halt just because a group of people are unhappy with their pay. Is it worthwhile forcing the commuters to bear the freezing winter conditions? The financial rewards definitely pales in comparison to the damages caused.Industrial actions such as strikes never made much impression to me, nonetheless affected me in any severe manner until today. An email was received stating the university preparations for one due in a week. It was rather hard to believe, but it seemed inevitable that lecturers and academic staff across the UK are in for a strike, yet again over payroll. The AUT representing the academic staff had called for an assessment boycott amid claims that its members are working for longer periods while wages were cut over the years. The aim is to get a slice of the increased in tuition fees and education budgets for tertiary institution, about 30% was requested. They insisted that this was the last resort as previous negotiations had failed. This would be followed by short boycotts such as the refusal to mark assessments or replace an absent colleague.
The UCEA, representing the employers, however refuted this by claiming that AUT submitted their claim last minute, and that it was the AUT that falsely claimed that the employers refused to negotiate. The offers for more dialogues failed to prevent the upcoming boycott. The employers maintained that the greater funds available would be used to make improvements in alternative ways like facilities/equipments or to hire more staff rather than pooling it into existing employees.
It does make sense to be using the funds to benefit the student population since they are the ones topping up the increase in fees. The actions of AUT fall short of this consideration, seeking for a pay rise through brute force. It is almost ridiculous that lecturers deemed to be professionals of high caliber and the role models for students would behave in such inconsiderate and selfish conduct. But one may also argue that managements are up for the profits, as it was claimed by AUT that vice chancellors’ payroll is to be increased by 25% over the next three years. It is reasonable therefore for the staff to follow suit demanding for an increase since the managements are unable to lead by example.
A simple situation had been made complex because of the different perspectives held by the various parties involved. This has led to a stalemate in communication, with AUT opting for industrial actions. Dialogues might be time-consuming and slow in progress, but it is the urge to get the little extra that ultimately brought the unions in direct conflict, leaving the students in the deep. These unions, irrespective of employers or employees should remind themselves of one key thing, that is, a majority of the cash that they are fighting over comes from students, many of which took loans or slogged to pay the bills. Thus the spending should be guided towards improving education quality, not merely to increase one’s pay. The possibility of a strike leaves the students with mixed feelings. Some would find it good to have a short break, but for most it is definitely a disruption in their quest for knowledge.
It is for these reasons that I found unions to be impractical in modern day environment when businesses are trying to out compete each other. Small issues could be turned into complex problems in the presence of unions blinded by their own benefits. They failed to identify the long term harm they are causing for themselves. Businesses are crippled while its customers left helpless. In the wars among unions, the destruction and damages inflicted often outweigh the benefits requested. Instead, if peaceful approaches are used, things would get settled easily. It is time for the unions to rethink their use of industrial actions to achieve their often selfish goals. Ironically, the most innocent party in such events is the consumers, who are in fact the ones making the payments.
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posted by pfu @ 3/01/2006 04:59:00 AM
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