I think pretty much all the staff in my research group (and department) are on strike today. It will be very quiet me thinks.....

How about everyone else?

Yep, I think pretty much everyone here is on strike too. What do you think of this? I don't know why the strike has been called other than 'they want more money', but it doesn't really impress me much. The fact that a group of people can exercise what power they have to get 'justice' obviously isn't a bad thing, but what about oppressed INDIVIDUALS? I've been 'going off on one' about this recently because we've just had a 2 1/2 week postal strike too. What bothers me is the fact that large groups of people with a common aim have a type of power that individuals who can't find anyone to join their cause don't.

I don't really understand it myself. I realise there will be a new pay system with loads of new bands of salary. Not sure if this is correct but what I understand is that for some people, it will mean a loss of earnings and some will remain the same (for a while). Considering how university lecturers and other members of staff don't get much money, obviously they are not happy.

I understand they want to show their annoyance at the system but because I don't have any lectures/courses etc, the strike doesnt affect me at all. If I was on a taught programme, I will probably not be happy due to losing a day of lectures/teaching when I'm paying fees.