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Following yesterday& #39;s ramble about HE strikes, I& #39;ve tried to formulate my thoughts into some advice for academic staff on talking to professional services staff at the picket line. (1/?)
DON& #39;T lead with a low pay angle - based on pure numbers, professional services staff may be making half your salary and it makes you sound like the £80k-isn& #39;t-rich man. DO feel free to talk about escalating workloads and other pressures (2/?)
DON& #39;T assume that everyone is in USS - many non-academic staff don& #39;t make enough to qualify, and the alternatives offered to us have also been brutally cut. (3/?)
DON& #39;T ask for solidarity if you& #39;re not willing to reciprocate. DO ask professional staff about their concerns - few academics seem to take an interest in us (4/?)
DON& #39;T complain about "the administration" when you mean "senior management" - admin staff have even less institutional power than you do (5/?)
If you& #39;re on action short of a strike, make it a manager& #39;s problem rather than an admin assistant& #39;s; escalate it to someone who is actually paid to deal with this stuff (6/?)
Be aware that many professional services staff are used to condescension, indifference or bullying from academic staff, and may be reluctant to accept your good intentions right away (7/?)
