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INKYFLASH: Strike Report
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INKYTEXT 297a WEDNESDAY 26 MAY 1999
CIVILISED STRIKE KEEPS CAMPUS QUIET
KOSOVO APPEAL
Finance: budget cap means job losses
Catering restructured: strike fears
Numerous eminent staff departures in flagship departments
Marriage, promotions and prizes
Search committees, Senate, Public Arts
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Editorial Correspondence to InkyText@lancaster.ac.uk
Subscription requests to InkyText-Distribution-Request@lists.lancs.ac.uk
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YESTERDAY'S STRIKE went off satisfactorily in the eyes of all
concerned. All scheduled exams took place without incident. Leslie
Wareing, accompanied by administrators prepared to serve as
invigilators if required, toured all exam rooms shortly after 9.00 a.m.
A visit from the VC is also reported.
Campus was unusually quiet and very many academic staff had clearly
stayed away. Some whole departments were totally silent. Unusually,
even the sciences seemed affected. How many of those marking at home
will declare themselves to have been on strike for salary deduction
purposes remains to be seen.
The first pickets arrived shortly after 7.00 a.m. Picketing was polite
and informative. Numerous reports of sympathy from motorists. The only
reported incident involved an irritated taxi driver with a fare, who
was annoyed at being delayed and brushed past Lonsdale principal Bob
Neal, breaking his wing-mirror in the process. The police were called
and took statements. Mr Neal is reported unhurt.
KOSOVO APPEAL.
A lorry has been donated to a partnership of churches for the purpose
of taking supplies to the refugees from the fighting in Kosovo.
It is hoped to fill the lorry with: Dried foods, flour, sugar, pasta,
dried fruits, salt, honey, washing powder, Baby food, lotion, dummies,
baby clothes Underwear, vests, underpants, knickers Toiletries, soap,
face cloths, talcum powder, toothbrushes, sanitary goods, nail brushes,
hair brushes and combs, slides, ribbons Pens, pencils, colouring books,
puzzle books, writing paper.
The local collection point is St. Paul's Church, Scotforth. If anyone
could donate anything, however small, Iris Dootson would be happy to
receive it in Lab.A, lower ground floor, Environmental Science, and
will take it to St. Paul's. Any donations will need to reach her no
later than Thursday, June 3rd.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE met last Friday and heard of Mr McGregor's
continuing concern about the gap between income and projected
expenditure, despite this year's million pound 'additional places'
windfall. Bilateral discussions have taken place between him and
faculty deans, who have been informed of the proposed capped salary
figures for their faculty. (Grim) A meeting of UMAG and the deans to
finalize next year's budget will be held next week.
RESTRUCTURING OF CATERING: Catering staff were informed by the
Director of Personnel and Mr Mackay of Trading Accounts about the
planned closure of Penn's and Langdales and the consequences for
staffing. A flatter management structure is envisaged. It is claimed no
redundancies are implied by the proposals, but our dwindling catering
staff remain unconvinced of this. A union meeting is being held this
afternoon at which it is understood the possibility of strike action on
key dates may be considered.
[NOTE: The temporary conference post advertised is not to be filled,
according to unconfirmed reports. Friday's Finance Committee approved
the investment of 160K in the refurbishment of the derelict SPAR/
Student Bookshops premises on the south Spine. A business plan is
reported to claim that this will repay itself over 3 or 4 years. It is
not known whether this is to be an in-house venture or to involve the
Morecambe Bay Ice-cream Co. It is widely thought strange that these
moves should predate the appointment of a new Commercial Manager.
(Ed.)]
STAFF DEPARTURES: Numerous eminent staff departures in flagship
departments have been reported and confirmed in the past 10 days. At
least 10 are known to this journal. Eminent replacements will be
required if we are to maintain our standing. This is all a consequence
of the head-hunting being undertaken by all universities in an effort
to improve their 2001 RAE ratings and therefore income. It demonstrates
how profoundly destabilising such unsound competitive processes are.
Sociology and English are so far worst affected.
BELATED CONGRATULATIONS TO VICKY MEARS (NOW SHEPHERD) (of Dept of
Continuing Education) who married Mike Shepherd on Saturday 15th May.
Colleagues and friends would like to wish them both love, happiness and
cakes-a-plenty!
CONGRATULATIONS TO ANDREW MILLER, who has just won the world's richest
literary prize,the IMPAC/Dublin award (100K Irish Punts). Others
shortlisted included several internationally famous novelists: Ian
McEwan, Don DeLillo, Bernhard Schlink, Jim Crace. The winning novel,
INGENIOUS PAIN, which has been published in thirty countries, was
written for the PHD in Creative Writing at Lancaster.
CONGRATULATIONS TO GRAHAM BARTRAM (German) who has been elected new
Associate Dean for Research of the Humanities Faculty.
CONGRATULATIONS TO DR JOHN LAW, on his chair in Sociology (story
there), Dr Jackie Stacey on her Readership in Sociology and Women's
Studies, Dr Mary Smyth on her Chair in Experimental Psychology, Alan
Holland on his chair in Applied Philosophy (like that idea) and Dr Gerd
Nonneman on his Readership in International Relations and Middle East
Politics.
CONGRATULATIONS TO PROF MACDONALD, who becomes Dean of Environmental
and Natural Sciences until 2002, and to Prof Watson who is reappointed
for a further 5 years.
COUNCIL MEMBERS: Nominations are invited for THREE staff members of
the university to be appointed to Council. Prof Deem and Dr Henig are
eligible for reappointment, Prof Bill Davies is not. [Many thanks to
all who have suggested it: the Editor is considering whether to stand.]
SEARCH COMMITTEES have been established to find principals for Bowland
and Lonsdale Colleges. Each is chaired by Pro-VC Whitaker, with Chris
Park as Senate member and Carol Williamson representing Council. The
Vickytext announcement pointedly declared that Bob Neal is eligible for
reappointment in Lonsdale but made no mention of Ian Saunder's
willingness to continue to server in Bowland. Some oddities here: there
is claimed to be a new 'rule' established last year by the principals
and provost acting collectively (not an established constitutional
grouping) reducing terms of office to 3 years and a maximum of two
terms. This is at vcariance with college constitutions which have not
been changed.
SENATE MEETS THIS AFTERNOON. Members received the latest version of
the Corporate Plan on Monday. Some may even have tried to read it. They
are being asked to recommend it to Council. Read sections 13, 14 and 15
very carefully (Estates, Finance and 'Human resources'). They pass off
highly controversial assumptions as though they are ineluctable fact.
At least they appear to be edulcorated versions of foolish earlier
drafts that do not inspire confidence in those who wrote them.
AT THE PUBLIC ARTS POLICY COMMITTEE held on 3 March relevant
departments saw for the first time projected budget figures that had
been approved by F&GP in September. These set sometimes fatuous income
projections unknown to the providers. The chair asked whether it was
appropriate to class the Scott Gallery, Concerts and Nuffield Theatre
as 'trading activities' while the Ruskin Library was not. (See Senate
Papers pp311-317.)
ENDS