{"id":177211,"date":"2025-03-26T16:24:29","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T15:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=177211"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:45","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:45","slug":"striking-or-staying-home-its-about-time-we-fight-for-our-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2025\/03\/26\/striking-or-staying-home-its-about-time-we-fight-for-our-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Striking or staying home? ‘It\u2019s about time we fight for our future’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you going on strike or do you strike through the protest in your agenda? That\u2019s the question EM asked last week regarding the upcoming strike against the education budget cuts of over 1.1 billion euros. Responses \u2212 especially from students \u2212 vary widely, from ‘onto the barricades’ to ‘why take part? I\u2019m paying to be here’.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tElmer Smaling<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cAs a lecturer, I agree that the cuts are problematic\u201d, one lecturer writes. \u201cOn the other hand\u201d, he adds, \u201cthe money wasted on inefficient bureaucracy almost makes me believe that these cuts are necessary to stop the waste of funds.\u201d<\/p>\n

What this staff member will do on strike day, 8 April, remains unclear. Strike, stay home, or just carry on working? The right to strike applies that day, meaning employees can stop work without needing their supervisor\u2019s permission. The university\u2019s Executive Board has already emphasised that striking is \u2018of course\u2019 a right. Requesting leave is therefore unnecessary. Students are not required to attend classes, although exams and patient care will continue as scheduled.<\/p>\n

\u2018Better now than never\u2019<\/h2>

\u201cThey should have gone on strike a long time ago\u201d, one student writes. \u201cBut better now than never.\u201d A slim majority of Instagram respondents (53 percent of poll votes) say they are aware of the planned strike. Meanwhile, 43 percent have no idea what it\u2019s about.<\/p>\n

Has your lecturer informed you whether the strike will affect your classes that day, EM asked Instagram followers. A surprising 87 percent responded negatively: \u201cI haven\u2019t heard anything yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about time we fight for our future, our right to education, and for future generations\u201d, says a student who clearly supports the strike. Another student, however, is unimpressed: \u201cI couldn\u2019t care less. And why should I join in? I\u2019m paying to be here, aren\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n

How do you as a lecturer convince students to take part? Simple, one student suggests: \u201cMake it clear that this is about our future too. The university should also promote the strike more.\u201d How? \u201cTurn it into more of a festival\u201d, another student proposes.<\/p>\n

The programme for the strike day has now been announced:<\/h2>\t
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Morning of 8 April<\/strong>
9.00 \u2013 11.30: Preparations with workshops for making banners and protest signs<\/p>\n

Afternoon programme<\/strong>
12.00: Gathering (with free fries, provided by labour union FNV)
12.30: Programme on stage begins
13.30: Protest march through Rotterdam city centre
14.30: Teach-outs\/outdoor education<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t

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