Fighting Community

Here we go again, we are preparing for another round of strikes. The issues we have been fighting over have not changed: our pensions are still threatened and our working conditions have still not improved. The three day strike before Christmas was just a warm up for this round. We …

On University Pay and Inflation

Despite of the relatively high Covid19 incidence numbers, the UK is returning to some form of normality. The year is coming to an end and the Christmas Market is absolutely packed. We are also preparing for another 3 day strike followed by further industrial action on the Four Fights and …

Scexit and Brexit

I have been worried for a while now that many arguments against Brexit and the Brexiteers' reply are very similar to arguments against Scottish Independence. These arguments are mostly economic: erecting borders makes trade more complicated it limits movement of people and the economy will loose out the closest neighbours …

The UK General Election 2019

On Thursday many people in the UK get to vote for our government, for the third time in the last 4 years. Although I have lived here for more than half my life, I don't get to vote. I first came to the UK in the 90ies to study. Initially …

Preparing for another Strike

So we are going on strike again. In addition to the pension dispute which is still not resolved, we are also striking for better pay, working conditions, workload and the gender pay gap. Both issues are hugely important. But at the same time, it is ridiculous that they need to …

Brexit, People's Vote and Indy 2

We are still waiting to find out what Brexit might mean. Although, more and more voices from all directions are warning that it is going to be an absolute disaster that will affect everyone in the UK. I went to the People's Vote rally on Saturday in Edinburgh. It was …

Strike for USS

We are now halfway through the 14 day strike over changes to our pension scheme. A further 14 days of strike are on the table depending on the progress of the negotiations between the union, the employers and the pension fund. At the centre of the dispute are different views …

Life in 2017

Life in 2017 is pretty shit. It's not that I can complain about anything in particular, it's more a general feeling of utter crapness on all sorts of levels - some expected, others totally unnecessary. Level I: Family life is busy and the boys keep us well occupied with their various …

Broken World

A stormy night last night and although the weather somewhat calmed down during the day I still feel very upset. I needed some time to think about Wednesday's shooting in Paris at the Charlie Hebdo magazine and the reactions I observed. The terrorists struck at one of our fundamental principles …

Dashed Hopes

So the predictions turned out to be reasonably accurate, Scotland voted NO and there is a bit of a hang-over mood. The waiting is over, and people voted for known unkowns. A great missed opportuinity and as someone commented - the greatest country of the 19th century remains stuck in the …