Contrary to earlier reports, the protests will take place in Amsterdam and not in The Hague. This is due to the announcement of a train strike in South Holland.
‘At 12:00 we will be on Dam Square,’ says Julia Hermann, organizer of Twente for Protest. 'There are speakers – including politicians – twelve stands and a central stage. At the stalls, FNV, AOb, LSVN and WOinActie give workshops and information. There are also guest lectures on the right to protest and academic freedom,' says Hermann. 'Finally, this time we are broadening the strike. We are not only making it clear that we are against the cuts in higher education, but also against the cuts in primary and primary education.'
Enthusiasm
AOb representative Robin van Emmerloot will be there next week. Does he expect a large UT turnout to go to the capital? 'Last time, of course, the strike was on campus and in the city centre of Enschede. It will now be more difficult to mobilize people,' says Van Emmerloot. 'I do see that it is the same group that is fighting against the cuts in education.'
Hermann sees that too. 'People may be tired towards the end of the academic year and for most of them it is a busy period right now. Perhaps there is also less motivation; The previous strike and protests yielded little. The cabinet continued the cutbacks. As a result, some may wonder: is it still useful?'
But the news that the cabinet has fallen can fuel something, according to Hermann. 'There is now an opportunity to change something, that feeling can bring more people to the streets. I therefore encourage everyone to travel to the capital together.'
Van Emmerloot also encourages as many UT people as possible to strike. 'Next week we will be handing out flyers and talking to people on campus to get them excited about it. Unions offer train tickets, which also happened during the strike in November. We will undoubtedly be back on Dam Square with red signs, but a march will not take place', Van Emmerloot expects.
On the service portal you can read more information about the strike day on 10 June for UT employees and students.
September
Hermann's diary not only shows June 10 circled in red, but also September 16, Budget Day. 'There is an even bigger event coming up nationally. Whether this is in the form of a strike or protest, I don't know yet. But at least it gives us a longer lead time to get more arranged," says Hermann.
Guidelines for UT students and staff
The UT is drawing up guidelines for UT students and staff who are planning to strike. These guidelines are similar to the guidelines that applied to previous protests.
Guidelines for employees
- If you want to participate in the promotion, you don't have to take a day off;
- Coordinate your participation with your manager. Your manager can help you with any solutions regarding planned work. There may also be weighty arguments that make your presence at the university necessary;
- We trust that teachers ensure that students can complete their course properly within the duration of the course;
- Scheduled tests and exams will continue and we trust that a suitable solution will be found in consultation.
For students
- Scheduled tests and exams will continue;
- There is no attendance requirement for students on 10 June (except for patient care and compulsory practicals that cannot be rescheduled);
- Catching up on missed material is the student's responsibility.
