The University of Canterbury Students Association stand alongside all tertiary staff striking across the country, including here at the University of Canterbury. The TEU are striking in response to inadequate pay rise offers from tertiary institutions across the country. The collective action encompasses general staff, academic staff, researchers, and tutors. We encourage all students who can to stand in solidarity both today and over the next few weeks.

Without effective staff, the University would be unable to provide a quality education to us as students. They got us through the pandemic, and now as we all face a mounting cost-of-living crisis it is time for us to recognise their service. That is why we support the Kaupapa of the TEU in calling for better pay and better conditions across the board.

The strike may impact some lectures when actions are underway. However, when our staff are undervalued, it impacts us all. We should all stand together and call on the University, and the Government who have consistently underfunded the tertiary sector, to come to the table and do better.

The first strike action is on today from 1pm–3pm where staff on strike will be running a soup kitchen for students from the postgraduate space by the bookshop before a demonstration on the library steps. We also encourage all students to wear black next Monday to show solidarity with staff.