The strike is an opportunity to rescue Wales' great universities from consumerism and profit

If I open an university, with a group of like-minded investors of an educational background and expertise, and individuals place their confidence in our university by choosing to study with us and give us their money, I have done nothing wrong. If the State opens an university, by all means let it be run in that non-private manner if it can be afforded, and let it compete with private universities so that students, and employees, and directors, have choice between universities run by the State and those run privately. Universities' boards of course, should be able to choose which they think to be in the best interest of their institutions, their students and their workers. To be private or not to be private. We should have both, and institutions should be able to move back and forth between them as they work out which is better for them. Who I am to rob an institution of its right to do business in the manner it wishes? Both forms, however, should be available to prospective workers and students. Personally, I would never join a union, as it could be considered hostility towards those who are the directors of my institution, and it would be ungrateful of me to convey such disrespect. Furthermore, the monies I would spend in joining a union, however small, are better used to invest or to secure my position by buying carefully placed gifts. Let us not be coy about human nature; let us instead foster it. Concerning pensions, one should never be forced into a pension; I have fought tooth and nail in the past to not be an union member, to not be part of a pension scheme. Managing one's own money, as one wishes, is a human right, as it is the road out of being working class. My employment is a legal agreement between my employer and I. The university instution in this case offer terms of employment which you are free to accept or reject. You approached this institution asking for employment, and so it is not you who decides the terms. However, if a prior rate of return for your money was agreed upon, the worker deserves this prior rate of investment at the rate specified. Because that was the contract agreed to. But if the worker is content to allow others to make decisions upon his or her investments, such alterations may be expected in exchange for negating one’s own financial responsibilities.

The introduction of fees, the shift in focus from education to employment skills training, the degradation of working conditions, and the downsizing of pensions are all the inevitable side effects of financialisation aka. neoliberalism. The effects of financialisation on our economy has already taken a far worse toll on the lives on working men and women in the now de-industrialised Welsh Valleys. Simply put, we need to de-financialise and re-industrialise the Welsh economy. Not as complicated a task as we are lead to believe. Until then, opportunities will shrink, poverty will increase, and pensions will be gutted. As we can see from this article, not even universities will be spared. Perhaps it is time universities started to examine why we are experiencing poverty among plenty. They could start with my website :)

Ardderchog Huw.

Isn't it a clarion call of the capitalist doctrine to know ' the cost of everything and the value of nothing ' This was a wonderful contribution from Huw. To the insights of one of the most respected of institutions in our land of Wales, with respect of the whole community it serves, to be the subject of the accountants mind set. ' if it can't be measured, it can't be managed'. How do you measure knowledge, culture, insight, awareness and inspiration. Indeed the framing of the conscious. And much else that education plays in the 'rounding' of individuals. Education has and will always be the biggest factor in the humanising of the human, and the asset that lifts your horizons and status, to whatever you wish to become, from whatever position you began with. Alas nothing so valued can withstand the forensic nature and scrutiny of modernity. Described by Simon GF as neoliberalism. The march of progress that places the free market capitalism as its preferred mode of delivering a better life. Whilst forgetting the basic principle that those who live it and prosper are of a special breed, where only the fittest survive. And so to Universities. The last to fall to the on rushing tide where the more prosperous the institution becomes the more prosperous are those who run it. The fight for fairness has blighted the valleys of s Wales of recent times. Why. Because the very people who are appointed to oversee its renewal and prosperity are the very same who pocket from their privileged position. The Universities will or have become 'cash cows' to the priviledged. A meanness that we are only now becoming aware of. The question, is it too late.