WUR toont zich solidair en sluit aan bij de estafettestaking. Beeld FNV WUR is to join the national relay strikes and will protest on Monday 14 April. How precisely is yet to be determined.
Monday afternoon, a group of some 35 people came together to discuss how the protest may take place. By the end of the meeting, a date had been set. WUR will protest on Monday, 14 April.
‘There are many ways to protest. We are looking for something that fits the WUR community’, says Roos Scheermeijer (Physics and Physical Chemistry of Foods), who led the brainstorming session. ‘As long as the message is: show some guts, stop the cuts! If we do nothing, the budget cuts will certainly not be taken off the table, and nobody knows how they will pan out. Imagine, for example, students having to print their diploma, or having to collect their practical materials.’
Solidarity
During the meeting, a short inquiry was done to investigate how the cuts already affect colleagues at WUR. Those present cited numerous examples such as temporary contracts not being extended, colleagues having to teach an equal number of classes in fewer hours, or even PhD students taking over classes due to a lack of funds to hire teaching staff. New student initiatives are cancelled due to lack of money. Nevertheless, those present were astutely aware of the fact that the situation at WUR is less dramatic than at the Open University or University College Roosevelt, where dozens of colleagues were recently laid off due to austerity measures. All those present agreed that Wageningen should support the rest of the Netherlands and large numbers are needed to make a protest successful.
What is the meaning of the red square?
The red felt square is a symbol of resistance among universities, which originates in Quebec, Canada. Students, teachers, and scientists used the red square at the start of this century to express their discontent with budget cuts and, later, tuition fee hikes. Protesters who occupied the Maagdenhuis in 2015 also wore the square. WOinActie, a protest group founded in 2017, which is also involved in this protest, also uses the square as their logo.
How can I contribute to the protests?
The protest committee calls on all colleagues to join. ‘The actions below are ultimately designed to mobilise as many people as possible, increasing the reach of our protest’, says Wouter Hiskemuller (Facilities & Services). ‘We keep everyone appraised of developments through the ‘Stop the cuts @WUR’-app.’
On behalf of the action committee, Hiskemuller shares some low-threshold suggestions for action: ‘Pin a red square to your clothing, for example during lectures and the Dies Natalis on Friday, 7 March. Tell colleagues and (ex) students about the austerity measures and how to protest them. Place protest posters in the windows of your home and office, as well as off-campus, for example in local shops and businesses. Send colleagues a calendar invite for Wageningen’s protest day on 14 April and, while you are at it, invite them to join the next WUR action meeting on 1 April (no joke!). Include the austerity measures in your lectures by linking the course material to current developments. Add the protest banner to your email signature.’
