union

Guild or Union?

NO matter your opinions on the Students’ Guild, it’s an organisation you have to really go out of your way to avoid on campus. That is unless you forego societies, DH1, or (God forbid) the Lemmy and the Ram. It acts as the hub for many essential campus services, and as we have seen in the last academic year, it is also a means through which student activism can happen. It also has a democratic system of representation which any affiliated student can engage with; in short, it’s our student union. So why on earth is it called the Exeter Students’ Guild? Why can’t we be like everyone else?

There are many rumoured reasons why it’s called the Guild, not the Exeter Students’ Union. Some state that it’s because of the political leanings of the University when the organisation was founded, where others (such as one user on popular student website The Student Room) assume it’s just Exeter being ‘extra’.

A popular rumour for the name ‘Guild’ usually goes along the lines of “something something Queen visit, something something royal charter.” The University of Exeter was officially chartered in 1955, or in the words of the royal charter itself: on the “21st day of December in the fourth year of Our Reign”. There is no mention of a Guild of students within this document, or even a reference veiled behind its old-timey language. The much more boring reason for the name is in the founding statutes claiming there will be a “Students’ Guild of the University and there shall be a Guild Executive which shall have a President and other such officers.”

Now we know why it is called the Guild, and that it is not tied to Queen Lizzie’s personal wishes upon her visit to Streatham. We can go through why Exeter Guild should join with most of the rest of the country’s Unis, rebranding as Exeter Students’ Union. While this is hardly the most crucial debate of our time, changing the name may finally put an end to the confusion.

The label of ‘union’ conjures up images of solidarity, causes such as fair pay for workers, and people banding together for a common goal.

Unionism, as an ideology, is inextricably tied to the role of student organisations like the Exeter Students’ Guild. Earlier this year, the Guild acted as a student union when it backed the University College Union strikers in their fight against changes to pension schemes. A union is an overtly and inherently activist organisation. Regardless of a student’s left/right-wing political alignment the ideas of unionism, protest, and campaigns are a significant portion of student life when it comes to the organisations of a student union.

Contrastingly, the label of ‘guild’ has its roots in craft groups who would join together for the purposes of protection from government regulation. This label also connotes profit and industry, which is a far cry from the purpose of the organisation as a support structure for students and their campaigns — be it standing in solidarity with the UCU, standing against anti-Semitism and racism on campus, or any other cause. Arguably, the name of ‘guild’ is not quite accurate for the purpose of the modern student union, given that these organisations are more about campaigning than escape from legislation.

Exeter already has a reputation for being posh; changing the name to ‘union’ may be a step towards alleviating this. Aside from being a pointlessly pretentious distinguishing factor against other university student organisations, here is the way the Students’ Guild introduces itself on Facebook and even its own website: “The Students’ Guild is the students’ union for students at the University of Exeter’s Streatham and St. Luke’s campuses.” The mere fact the Guild feels the need to begin by clarifying that it is, in fact, a students’ union suggests they are no different to any other organisation, but just have a special name… because it’s Exeter.

New Zealand’s Healthcare System: Too Much, Too Soon?

According to the Global Prosperity Index survey conducted by the Legatum Institute, New Zealand is the second-best governed country in the world, just behind Finland. Alongside reports that New Zealanders are among the happiest people in the world, it seems like a pretty good place to live, and their incredible healthcare system only adds to this idea, providing free or heavily subsidised medical care to the entire country. Though the intricacies are somewhat complex, the fundamentals of the system are simple: the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) covers the cost of all accidents in New Zealand, regardless of age, nationality or circumstance. Eligibility is irrelevant for the ACC, and they cover everything from car accidents to PTSD and therapy after traumatic events, including sexual abuse. The government funds the ACC through increased petrol and vehicle registration tax, alongside money from the general tax pool. The ACC is unique and invaluable to New Zealand, and it provides residents and tourists alike with a priceless service.

Huge changes in New Zealand’s healthcare system resulting in a semi-public, semi-private system.

There have been huge changes in New Zealand’s healthcare system over the past few decades, resulting in a semi-public, semi-private system. This means that GPs set their own fees (although the government can subsidise or even eliminate them altogether) but all hospital care is completely free as long as the patient has been referred by a GP. The eligibility checklist is immensely long and an enormous percentage of people are eligible for reduced healthcare fees. High Use Health Cards (HUHCs) are available to those who have to visit the doctor more often, as are Community Services Cards (CSCs) for those who earn less than a certain amount. These reduce the costs even further, cutting ‘after hours’ prices and prescriptions fees. Emergency services are also fully funded by the St John New Zealand charity, supported by private donations and public subsidy.

Last month, 30 000 nurses went on strike protesting low pay and understaffing

In theory, the healthcare system is excellent, however, it has been the focus of many headlines in recent weeks in New Zealand as the nurses have been on strike for the first time in 30 years. Last month, 30 000 nurses went on strike protesting low pay and understaffing, as well as the unsafe working conditions that this inevitably causes. Nurses make up around 60-70% of all frontline hospital staff and 90% of New Zealand nurses belong to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO). The huge impact that this had meant that all non-essential hospital care was stopped and countless surgeries and appointments were postponed. These strikes were extraordinarily disruptive and are set to continue throughout August, which will undoubtedly cause even more disturbance to the health service.

Others have sympathised with Ardern, explaining that her administration has had to pick up the pieces left behind by 9 years of a centre-right government

Jacinda Ardern’s fledgeling centre-left government has done all it can to minimise the disruption, however, it has been unsurprisingly difficult. Michael Woodhouse, a member of the National party oppositional to Ardern, has echoed the sentiment of many other politicians and union members in stating that Ardern’s administration had promised too much too soon for government workers in the run-up to the election. Nurses are not the only government workers who are set to strike, with elementary school teachers planning to walk out later this year over low pay. Teachers are asking for a 16% pay rise over 2 years to help recruit and maintain staff, however, the government has offered them pay increases of between 2.2% and 2.6% – hence the intended strike action. Others have sympathised with Ardern, explaining that her administration has had to pick up the pieces left behind by 9 years of a centre-right government, who allegedly neglected the government workers of New Zealand.

Ardern is currently out of office on parental leave, making her the second elected head of government to give birth in office following Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1990. She did not give up office until she gave birth on 21^stJune and is in the middle of the 6 weeks leave she will be taking, although she is in frequent contact with her cabinet and acting Prime Minister Winston Peters. Both Ardern and her government are progressive and liberal, being described by Vanity Fair as “the latest hip, cool world leader that America wishes it had.” Despite Ardern’s absence the government has continued to process effectively, with Winston Peters assuring nurses that the government is not ‘unsympathetic’, it just needs more time to find the money to increase wages.

The $550 million deal offered pay rises between 12.5% and 15%, however, some nurses are campaigning for pay rises as high as 20%.

The government offered the nurses a deal before the strikes. However, despite encouragement from the union, members voted against this deal. The $550 million deal offered pay rises between 12.5% and 15% along with 500 additional nurses to be introduced over 25 months, however, some nurses are campaigning for pay rises as high as 20%. This is the fourth offer to be rejected and some nurses have even made the decision to move to Australia in search of better pay, safer working conditions and more opportunities for professional development. Winston explained that there are other priorities for government spending such as the police force, infrastructure, transport and conservation. Controversially, Winston authorised recent military spending on four patrol planes that many of the striking nurses deemed unnecessary.

New Zealand’s healthcare system is at a breaking point. The idealistic, liberal system has worked up until now, but it seems that Ardern’s promises of “too much too soon” has left government workers too expectant and, as a result, bitterly disappointed and resentful.

Europe Strikes Back – An Analysis of Europe’s Strike Culture

Just why is Europe always brought to a halt by weekly strikes?

If you have spent time in mainland Europe in recent years, and particularly if you have been a Year Abroad student, you will have noticed that there is one event that causes the greatest inconvenience, often on a weekly basis. Strikes. In Britain, this issue of impromptu strikes was ended by Thatcher who reined in the power of the unions after millions of days of work were being lost a year due to their strikes. However, Europe seems to be falling behind this type of organisation.

Belgium is very much one of these countries that are affected on a weekly basis, particularly by workers in the local transportation industry. Originally, one might not consider the gravity of the situation, particularly if you own your own car, which is the case for many people in the UK. However, in Belgium, there are millions of people travelling daily on public transportation and travelling across the small country just to go to work. This therefore means that the strikes cause inconvenience across the nation, with many schools not even bothering to open due to the lack of attendance of students as they were not able to reach the main city to go to classes. With this often occurring weekly, and sometimes more than once a week, it is fair to assume that the effects on education are not insignificant. Bethany Carter-Bown, an English language assistant, has often had her lessons cancelled, mentioning that since September she has not yet worked a full scheduled week due to these strikes and describing them as ‘exasperating! The near constant striking makes it almost impossible for classes to go ahead as usual, since many teachers and students can’t make their way to school without using public transport. I am concerned that I may not be able to make the most of my experience here has a Language Assistant, due to the reduced hours in school and with students because of them.’ To make matters significantly worse in Europe, the levels of bureaucracy are astounding. With the lack of control of trade unions it means that strikes can occur whenever and can have significant effects on the various levels of governance, which can lead to disorganisation and conflict.

Current teacher strikes in throughout UK universities (Source: Flickr)

Nonetheless, despite personal experience, this issue is not restricted to just Belgium. After discussion with various Year Abroad students, it is evident that these disruptions are occurring all over mainland Europe. In Spain, there were notable cases in 2013, where secondary school students across Spain refused to go to school. These strikes were done to fight against cuts to the education sector and a government reform which was seen to throwback to the country’s right-wing dictatorship. In the UK it is unheard of of secondary students refusing to go to school to strike against changes to the education system, and this shows just how uncontrolled these strikes are. There are many people who may put this down to stereotypical ‘European laziness’, but it must not be forgotten that just 50 years ago Britain was going through worse levels of strikes which even resulted in the build-up of corpses on streets due to gravediggers striking. So why is this happening occurring across Europe so seriously now?

There are many people who may put this down to stereotypical ‘European laziness’, but it must not be forgotten that just 50 years ago Britain was going through worse levels of strikes which even resulted in the build-up of corpses on streets due to gravediggers striking.

Despite the instability these strikes cause on a daily basis, which is viewed as alien to the younger generations of the British population, there are many Europeans who deem them as necessary. These strikes are seen as the only opportunity people have to speak their minds, express their sentiments and fight for their beliefs. When asking strikers across Europe why strikes were so prevalent in European countries, one synonymous answer was heard, ‘it’s our right’. When asking why they felt there were more strikes in mainland European countries than in the UK, most said it was due to British personality – according to many Europeans British people are just too accepting, get on with things even when they do not agree with it, and do not fight enough for what they want.

Be it British stereotype shaping Europe’s opinion of the island, or be it based on fact, one thing is undeniable – the level of striking across the continent at present is abysmal. If this pattern continues many countries will see an uncontrollable halt to production and development on a weekly basis, ultimately resulting in stagnation and eventually decline on a social, political and economic level.