Dozens of employees of the University of Groningen (RUG) are calling for a strike on Tuesday, March 18, in protest against the looming cuts to higher education. ‘A healthy university is the backbone of a thriving democracy.’
Dear colleagues,
In protest against a government that wants to push through historic budget cuts that are unnecessary, unwise, undesirable and illegitimate, the staff of the University of Groningen will strike on 18 March. This strike is part of a national movement that unites employees and students at institutions of higher education across the Netherlands.
We believe that healthy universities are a backbone of a thriving democracy. They promote critical thinking, independent research and informed debates, which are essential for an engaged society. The planned cuts threaten academic freedom, innovation, and equal access to education. A weakened university system means a weakened democracy.
On 18 March, we are therefore laying down our work and organising alternative actions. While we would rather be teaching, researching, or working on policy and processes for our institutions, the current circumstances demand that we also spend time and energy calling attention to the threats to education and democracy. As educators and researchers, we play a crucial role in preparing future doctors, engineers, teachers, and other essential professionals who drive society forward. Defending education ensures that future generations have the knowledge and skills needed to sustain progress and uphold democratic values.
The proposed budget cuts and policies about limiting access to education, steering admissions, and international participation threaten to harm programmes, entire fields, and universities as independent institutions. They will also have far-reaching consequences for workload, employment, quality of teaching and research.
As professors from several faculties, we call on staff to go on strike and on students to support activities held at your faculty and on the Grote Markt. Regardless of employment, every employee has the right to strike. Being involved in the strike does not affect your work appraisal. This is a legitimate strike, supported by the main staff and student unions and networks: the General Education Union (AOb), the Dutch Student Union, WOinActie, the Federation of Trade Unions (FNV) and Organise the RUG (OtR). Announcements of actions on that day can be found on the unions and OtR websites.
Together, you and your colleagues have the power to stand together and oppose measures from the current government that will have disastrous effects.
So join the strike – stand up for knowledge, for students, and for the future of democracy!
Show your support for the strike by signing this letter.
With collegial regards,
Anne Beaulieu, Viola Angelini, Nasser Kalantar, Bernard Nijstad, Lisa Herzog, Manuela Vecchi, Janet M. Fuller, Jan-Willem Romeijn,Boris Kuiper, Sean Gryb, Isa Kooiman, Marianne Franklin , Marijtje van Duijn, Milena Nikolova, Juliette de Wit, Rishiraj Kashyap , Rudi de Vries, Jutta Bolt, Ina Horlings, Maarten Gijsenberg, Susanne Scheibe, Michael Schwan, Claudine Lamoth, Susan Aasman, Hedderik van Rijn, John Hoeks, Malvina Nissim, Elkan Akyurek, Lucy Avraamidou, Elena Cavagnaro, Jessica de Bloom, Clemens Six, Luis Lobo-Guerrero, Dirk Jan Wolffram (and still counting)