This is the plan for the strike on 8 April

“We need everyone”, says Jasper Schut from student union STUUR about the strike on 8 April. “Unfortunately, the strike will only be successful if turnout is high.” Someone in the audience shouts out a suggestion: “Tell everyone there’s free fries!”

Associate professor Marjan Gorgievski presented the plan for the strike day on Monday. The meeting was attended by representatives from trade unions AOb, FNV and STUUR, as well as interested staff and students. “Everyone who opposes the cuts to higher education is welcome”, says Gorgievski.

The organisers are hoping for as many people as possible from 12.00 pm onwards, emphasised Gijs Kooistra from the FNV on Monday.The aim was to do the protest at Grotekerkplein, but was moved to Willemsplein eventually.

The protest is not just an opportunity to show opposition to the cuts, stressed Ana Uribe Sandoval, lecturer, member of the Erasmus Labour Council and representative of trade union AOb. “It’s our chance to be seen. To tell everyone how important our work is.” At an earlier STUUR meeting on Monday afternoon, Schut had said: “The university doesn’t belong to them (referring to politicians), it belongs to us.” Sandoval now adds: “The university also belongs to the city.”

On 8 April, it will be National Outdoor Lesson Day. Volunteers from both Rotterdam’s universities of applied sciences and Erasmus University are being sought to give ‘lessons’ outdoors.

“If we don’t make our voices heard now, this will just be the first of many more cuts,” says Philipp van Sprang, a student of Economics and Econometrics. “The government will think: we can cut even more.” He stresses that the cuts affect all students and staff.

And not just students and staff, adds professor Gijsbert Oonk: “I’m not striking just for my colleagues and myself, but also for my children, the next generation. This affects everyone. Businesses should be angry too. They want well-educated employees, and we provide them. More graduates go into business than into research.”

Oonk also attended previous meetings. With around fifty people present, this was the most well-attended one so far, he says. Not very crowded, but don’t be mistaken, he warns: “Universities hardly ever strike, and Erasmus University never does. A revolution is happening.”

Monday’s meeting was intended to recruit people to help organise the 8 April event and to brainstorm ideas for the programme. But there was also space for concerns from the audience. On 14 November, an announced protest in Utrecht was cancelled last minute by the organisers on police advice. “How do we know it will really go ahead this time?”, someone asks. “That won’t happen again”, says Kooistra from the FNV. There was a lot of criticism of the cancellation at the time. “Next time, I would tell the mayor: go ahead and ban it. But we won’t make that decision again.”

Another concern raised was about needing permission. “What if you’re the only one in your department who says they’re going? What does that mean for a potential promotion?”, Sandoval voiced a concern that more staff had expressed. And what if your supervisor doesn’t give permission? Permission is not required, the organisers stress. “Otherwise, report it to the FNV, and we will take it up. Striking is a right”, says Kooistra.

University staff are, of course, free to strike on 8 April, reads a statement on MyEUR. There is no need to request leave, and salaries will continue to be paid, though informing a supervisor is ‘appreciated’. However, the university stresses that lecturers should ensure students do not experience study delays if compulsory practicals and exams are cancelled. For students, attendance requirements will be lifted, except for exams, practicals or patient care.