‘Going on strike is about the only thing we can do’

"Don't do it, don't do it, don't do it." This has become the battle cry of students and lecturers opposing the austerity measures the Dutch government wants to impose on higher education and research. This Tuesday morning, the slogan could be heard across Dom Square as university students and staff members from Utrecht-based higher education institutions called on the Senate to reject the proposed budget. 

According to trade unions, some 3,000 people gathered in Utrecht, while the police officers patrolling the area estimated 1,500 participants. People were waving union flags and holding signs made for previous protests in The Hague and Utrecht. Red squares, the symbol of academics' protest against excessive workloads, were everywhere too. 

Making History
Dutch universities are taking turns going on strike. Leiden kicked things off yesterday and Utrecht is the second city to go on strike. Over the next two weeks, students and teachers in several university cities will stage one-day walkouts to express their dissatisfaction with the cabinet's policy for higher education. The cabinet led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof wants to cut over 1.1 billion euros from the higher education budget. The Lower House has already approved the budget, but the Senate has not voted on it yet. 

"We are making History today," Annelien de Dijn, from the protest group WOinActie, says onstage. "This is the first time such a massive walkout has happened at Utrecht University." The crowd then answers with a "Uuuuuu", the battle cry used to cheer for UU at sporting events.

Shortly before that, Luuk Bruijnen, chair of the student union Vidius, emphasised that students in Utrecht support their teachers. Just because the government's proposal to introduce a fine for students who take longer to graduate is now off the table, that does not mean that the students are fine with the rest of the cabinet's plans. After all, students will have fewer courses and programmes to choose from due to the austerity measures, and teachers will not be able to give as much attention to each student. "We will keep on fighting together until these obscene budget cuts are scrapped."

A message to The Hague
Many Psychology lecturers were present today at Dom Square, though they don't know how many exactly. "Twenty-five percent?" suggests DUB. "No, more like half," they answer. 
 
Assistant professor Femke van den Brink admits it took her some time to decide whether or not to go on strike. "You need to be organised and not disadvantage your students and colleagues."

If she had been scheduled to teach a class today, she probably would have gone to work, but this morning, she only had appointments with students and they could all be rescheduled. She believes it is vital to send a message to The Hague. "If you can do something, and this is pretty much the only thing you can do, then you must do it."

As an education coordinator, she has noticed that lecturers have had less and less time for teaching and students. "It's all about cutting here and there, seeing where we can save. It's no longer about quality, which is such a shame."

All members of the board present
DUB also bumped into a group of teachers from PABO, the college for school teachers. The board of Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (HU) has decided that the teachers interested in participating in the protest had to either take a day off or appeal to the strike fund of their trade union. They are the only institution to have done so. All others, including UU, have indicated that they will not impose any restrictions on their teachers or take away their pay. The PABO teachers are convinced that HU's position has only led even more teachers to go on strike. "Although we don't believe the board will do what it says it will do."

The entire Executive Board of Utrecht University was present at Dom Square as well, which came as a surprise to some given that the university said it would not officially join the strike. UU President Anton Pijpers has been criticised for stating that a strike is not the right way to oppose the budget cuts. Some of the speeches onstage subtly referred to that position, but a new message on the Intranet (accessible only to those with a Solis ID, ed.) seems to have diffused the tension. In it, the Executive Board says it supports the relay strike.

Pijpers told DUB: "We applaud staff and students for taking action, loud and clear. As the Executive Board, we came here today to show that we stand behind our staff and students and share their concerns. We will keep pointing out the huge consequences these plans will have in our discussions with government officials and policymakers in The Hague."

The four members of the Executive Board: UU Vice-President Margot van der Starre, Rector Henk Kummeling, President Anton Pijpers and student assessor Niels Vreeswijk.

A message to the government
Marie, a Master's student of Applied Ethics, and Blake, a PhD candidate in Innovation Studies, have also joined the protest. Marie did not have classes today and Blake was supposed to minister a tutorial to Bachelor's students. For Blake, participating in the strike was "self-evident" as she considers it "necessary." As for Marie, she says her friends and acquaintances have been talking about the strike a lot, hence her decision to join it too.

Luisa Meroni, Assistant Professor of Italian Language & Culture, is at the square too. Her programme is going to be discontinued because of the austerity measures. According to her, there are plans to merge three language programmes. "I informed my students that I would be going on strike and I invited them to participate as well. It is important to demonstrate and get our message across to the government.’

In her view, the austerity measures constitute an "attack on a different way of thinking". Meroni: "These budget cuts are symbolic and completely unnecessary. I am not only striking for myself but also for the future of education and of international colleagues and students. They are very important for an open society."

Democracy
Associate Professor Bjorn Wansink's reasons for being at Dom Square today are "broader than standing up for higher education". The social scientist is concerned about democratic values, which are under pressure worldwide.

"My work has to do with conflict and polarisation. In my classes, I try to get students from the teacher training college to think about democracy. Democracies offer us the opportunity to do what I call ‘peaceful protests’. You can peacefully show that you disagree with something. And that is what I am doing here, with conviction."

The board of the teacher training college participated in the strike themselves and urged others to show solidarity with the French and German programmes. "Having good French and German teachers and a broader Humanities perspective is of utmost importance to society."

Politicians
Politicians Jan Paternotte (D66), Sarah Beckerman (SP) and Luc Stultiens (GroenLinks) are onstage too. They vow to do everything in their power to get the budget cuts off the table during the Senate debate on April 1. Paternotte: "It could be the worst April Fool's joke ever, but if we let them know that they shouldn't do it, it could be the best April Fool's joke ever."

The protesters then start to march through the city centre of Utrecht. Stirred up by the trumpets of a brass band and a drum, the crowd heads for Oudkerkhof, finally returning to Dom Square at quarter to twelve. No fries are distributed as they come back, as had been promised. The municipality didn't let the unions do it. But those who stayed could get a sandwich.

In the video below, Annelien de Dijn, from WOinActie; Gerwin van Schie, spokesperson for the UU Local Consultative Body; and Luuk Bruijnen, chair of the student union Vidius share their reasons for going on strike. Click on CC for English subtitles.