‘Recovery Plan’ Set To Destroy the Foundation Of Goldsmiths College
Senior Management’s (SM) plan to reduce ‘financial deficit’ proves not so transparent
‘The promotion of the individual skill, general knowledge, health and wellbeing of young men and women belonging to the industrial, working and poorer classes’- Goldsmiths University
As of the 4th January 2021 Goldsmiths College staff have openly began an industrial action plan in the form of an Action Short of a Strike (ASOS) fighting for the rights of staff members and students of Goldsmiths College the Goldsmiths University and College Union (GUCU). The strike comes as a result of the controversial actions of the senior management team over the past year.
While undoubtably we have all been hit with the hardship of the pandemic, senior management of Goldsmiths College have forced unreasonable consequences on staff and students as a result of an ongoing ‘financial deficit’. Unreasonably entrenching neoliberal logic into the structures of a university once focused on promoting and being rich with ‘fertile interdisciplinary atmosphere’ for students and staff of all international backgrounds.
Rundown:
Senior management set out on a ‘Evolving Goldsmiths’ plan which has been replaced with the ‘recovery plan’, which in result, ended in over 300 staff members losing their jobs, due to Goldsmiths discontinuing the temporary contracts of lecturers in many departments; Possible cancellations of courses and modules with further staff restrictions; and a centralisation of power and decision making away from academic departments.
Not only has this effected staff, but students have faced the consequences of the controversial decisions made by the senior management team. From reduction in resources to planned course closures the Goldsmiths senior management team has turned away from the foundations of the college and turned to a ramped up marketisation version of the college focused on financial benefit.
‘Evolving Goldsmiths is our action plan to secure a bright future for the university, where we continue to provide the best possible teaching and research opportunities and enable a lasting legacy of progressive social change’. — Senior Management
While this seems to be a very individualistic event, many other universities have also come under scrutiny for undergoing similar plans. In an article written by The Guardian, it is clear that the pandemic has bought on unforeseen re-structure plans which have been unfairly hidden under plans to remain financially sustainable and counter effects such as a fall in university admissions, including international admission, during the pandemic.
Staff were hit with an email stating that if they were to be apart of the assessment boycott organised by the union, they were to be denied furlough. Not only have the staff faced an uncertain choice between furlough or standing up for the roots of the college, they have also faced an uncanny increase in work load along with tackling home learning with their children and teaching online with their own students.
Below is a video produced by Joseph Fearfield in 2019 on a Goldsmiths strike:
What has this meant for students?
As first year students have faced the pandemic throughout their whole first year, they have also faced the consequences of the assessment boycott, at the hands of senior management. Asking around, here is what first year students had to say:
“On the one hand i know my lecturers are doing what they can for us, and i am grateful they’re not other hand , this year is hard for everyone i’ve personally been fully online. (…) All of this considered it is unfair we are expected to pay a full fee.”.— Anonymous, Goldsmiths first year student
“I understand why the teaching staff is acting in this way, but it has been very hard to stay empathetic when we are the ones that end up damaged.”.— Anonymous, Goldsmiths first year student
“I feel like if i don’t get my feedback the work i produce for other modules will not be good quality. I want to know how i can improve my work. As a new student i do not know what these strikes mean”. — Anonymous, Goldsmiths first year student
Much like any student paying over 9k to attend university, the future of students and staff at Goldsmiths appears to be cut short from what they were promised and advertised before signing up. Students were promised the best quality of teaching and resources with the chance of setting up a future at Goldsmiths. Students want what they were promised and want senior management to cooperate fully with the union to protect the future at Goldsmiths that any student or staff member deserves.
What are we supporting?
- Fighting for the future of staff and students at Goldsmiths. Including, resources, courses and quality of education.
- no compulsory redundancies for the next 2 years.
- a material demonstration that all measures other than staff cuts have been taken.
- full transparency on the intended restructure plan.
- a reversal of staff cost control measures taken to date.
What can we do?
Add your name to this open letter to Goldsmiths Management- to urge them to stop job cuts.
Join this student assembly on January 28th 2021 from 12–2pm .
Any questions should be asked at: gucustudentliaison@gmail.com
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