Parents urge end to Goldsmiths dispute as strikes enter 10th week

A group of parents have called on Goldsmiths, University of London to resolve a dispute with its staff and allow their children to finish their studies as strike action stretches into its 10th week.

The University and College Union (UCU) is taking indefinite industrial action at the under-pressure institution, which is looking to cut £22 million from its budget in its third major restructure since 2019.

Staff have been on strike since the beginning of June and are participating in a marking and assessment boycott that has caused delays to end-of-year assessments.

With some students facing the prospect of being unable to graduate in September, parents of those affected have written to Goldsmiths’ executive board and the chair of its council asking for an urgent meeting to discuss their concerns.

Calling themselves Parents United for Goldsmiths, they have warned that if a settlement can’t be reached, not only is the future of their children at stake “but the future of Goldsmiths itself”.

Michele, the parent of a student in the School of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies, said the “dire situation” at the university meant she felt “compelled” to get involved. 

“My son is thriving at this beloved institution, and this is all due to the passion and commitment of the amazing professors. It’s heartbreaking for all concerned to now learn of these proposed staffing cuts. 

“How can the powers that be at Goldsmiths justify students going into debt with student loans when they are not getting the full educational experience they signed up for? It’s the professors that make Goldsmiths. I have interacted with many of them at community talks and it’s clear how much they love this university.”

She added that she has friends in New York asking about whether Goldsmiths would be a good institution for their own children but said she “finds it hard to recommend it as a choice given the route it’s taking”. 

“I and others in the campaign fully intend to fight for the lecturers and will demand answers from the senior management,” she added. 

Another parent said: “We feel like Goldsmiths is happy to take the income from tuition fees but not so happy to pay their staff properly and protect their jobs.”

The university has rebranded this year’s graduation ceremony as a “summer celebration”, in light of the delays.

It is allowing all eligible students to attend, irrespective of whether their final results have been formally confirmed. The university has insisted nearly all students have received results for the year but the group of parents claimed that “thousands of scripts remain unmarked”.

Catherine Rottenberg, a Goldsmiths UCU member, told Times Higher Education that the move from parents was “unprecedented” and it was “amazing that these parents are now reaching out to staff and showing support”.

“I think that it sends a message of real frustration and anger on the part of parents who sent their children to Goldsmiths which has this international reputation of being creative and progressive, and seeing again and again how the restructures are affecting staff and therefore their students. 

“Parents appear to be fed up. The parents who I’ve been speaking to care very deeply about Goldsmiths, our community and the staff. They admire the creative education that their kids have received, and they care about the future of this institution. 

She said she hopes “senior management is listening” and will return to negotiations immediately “to find a fair solution to the stalemate, to show some true leadership, and to create some stability”.

A spokesperson from Goldsmiths said: “We understand fully the concerns of parents and supporters and have worked very hard to support students through the industrial action. Our latest data shows that nearly all of our students have received their results for the year with the majority of these full and final marks. Where students are without marks we are doing everything we can to help them progress. 

“We remain committed to discussions with the union to find a shared and sustainable way forward as we address and overcome the challenges which are affecting all universities in the UK. This includes ongoing talks at ACAS, with a session planned for this week being rescheduled at the request of the union.”

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com