10 March: Leiden University to start staggered strike against government cuts
Strike
Staff from Leiden University will start the Dutch universities’ staggered strike against the government cuts on 10 March. University of Applied Sciences Leiden staff and mboRijnland are also joining the action.
Throughout the day there will be teach-outs (teaching sessions at schools and public buildings) and a rally for staff at Leiden’s Garenmarkt (11:00-13:00) with speakers, performances and music. Students can also join in.
The strike is the initiative of WOinActie, student unions and the AOb and FNV unions and is in protest against the over one billion euros in cuts to higher education announced by the government. The strike action is deliberately being taken in the run-up to the Senate vote about the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science education budget.
Harm quality
WOinActie is deeply concerned that the cuts will harm the quality of higher education and us as a climate for international talent. ‘The cuts will limit the options for unfettered research and workload reduction, particularly that of young researchers’, says WOinActie.
The Executive Board and university deans support the strike and (where possible) will attend the teach-outs and the central meeting at Garenmarkt. The speakers include:
- Rob Jetten (D66)
- Frans Timmermans (GroenLinks-PvdA)
- Annetje Ottow and/or Hester Bijl (Executive Board, Leiden University)
- Angelien Sanderman (Executive Board, University of Applied Sciences Leiden)
- WOinActie
- Nicole van Os (AOb) and Sam Verduijn (FNV)
- LAKS and Jong MBO
- Abdelkader Karbache (LSVb) and Ebrar Kaya (LSU)
University to remain open
The university buildings will remain open on 10 March. The Executive Board will make every effort to ensure that essential aspects of the university such as exams, PhD ceremonies and inaugural lectures can go ahead on the day.
Teach-outs
Researchers and teaching staff from the university and university of applied sciences will give public lessons (teach-outs) at primary and secondary schools and in public institutions. The following meetings in Leiden and The Hague (Campus The Hague) are open to the public:
- 10.00-11.00, Otto Spijkers on maritime law at City Hall/Atrium in The Hague
- 10.00-11.00, Wilco van Dijk on financial stress, at Stadskamer, Nieuwstraat 7 in Leiden
- 13.00-16.00, Waalse kerk, Breestraat 62, Leiden
- 13.00 Claudio di Felice, Italian Language and Culture, Leiden University
- 13.45 Benjamin Storme, Franch Language and Culture, Leiden University
- 14.30 Jurgen Zangenberg, Ancient History, Leiden University
- 15.15 Christoph Pieper, Greek and Latin language and culture, Leiden University - 13.00-14.00, Stadsfoyer, Leiden City Hall, Stadhuisplein 1
- 13.00 welcome Wietske Veltman, the Leiden alderman of Economy, Knowledge, Sports en Health
- 13.05 Lecture by Anne-Isabelle Richard (Leiden University) on European cooperation
- 13.25 Lecture by Christine Carabain (Hogeschool Leiden), general welfare, Hogeschool Leiden
- 13.45 Lecture by student Victor Mbekte and teacher Maurice Ravensbergen (mboRijnland) on a project with the Energiefixers
Employees will give lessons at more than twenty primary and secondary schools in Leiden, The Hague, Oegstgeest, Voorburg, Sassenheim, Leiderdorp, Delft, Breda, Oosterhout, Bladel and Gouda.
More info: woinactie.blogspot.com