The strike day will conclude shortly opposite the city hall at Ko's egg. This concludes, for now, this liveblog about the relay strike. Maybe more later, when there is clarity on the decision in the Senate regarding the proposed budget cuts.
Halfway through the very last debate on the education budget, universities are campaigning outside the Senate door. Don't do it, they shout. Will the Senate provide another political miracle?
UT employees on the Oude Markt are engaging in conversation with passersby. There will also be a table with cupcakes and games for children. ITC researcher Carissa Champlin asks people about topics they think are important and that UT should do more research on. Meanwhile, in the Grote Kerk, the first 'mini-lecture' has begun, in this case on green spaces in cities. A new lecture is scheduled every 15 minutes, including about membranes for clean drinking water and the 'bicycle of the future'.
A bystander watching the activities hopes the strike has an impact. 'I am from The Hague and work in education myself. I did not know about this initiative, so now I come across it in the city. But the strike feels warm and welcoming. So I think this is the right thing to do. I'm interested and will engage in conversation with the people standing here in the square.'
The crowd has been at the Oude Markt for a while now, where a 'science fair' has been set up. Wouter Grouve, associate professor at the ET faculty, is one of the attendees. Where previously there were about four hundred people on the O&O square, the crowd in the city centre seems somewhat thinned out. 'I expected more of a crowd at the Oude Markt. I was at the O&O Square myself this morning. I think today makes little difference, but I am there out of solidarity. Especially for the fired S&T employees, it could have happened to us too.'
Kristy Claassen, one of the organizers, reports hearing many positive sounds about the strike. She does call it disappointing that UT calls this day a protest action and not a strike. 'But it is good that we showed up. I am satisfied with the turnout, despite the fact that there are not many students. They may not fully realize how important this is for education. I would like to see more of that. On a similar note, I'd also like to see more engagement with the municipality.'
The crowd has left campus and is making its way to the Oude Markt via Hengelosestraat. The route leads them via Saxion, where strikers from the university of applied sciences are joining them. Passing drivers honk their horns in sympathy to the UT employees.
'Follow the music, follow the car and follow the noise!' With those words from Kees Wesselink-Schram, one of the initiators behind the strike, the march to the center of Enschede was started. The podium is cleared and the flags are put away. A number of UT employees go back into the buildings, the rest follow the orange vehicle driving ahead of the troops.
Above all, the atmosphere at the O&O square was amiable. People have pinned on the symbolic red squares - the symbol of WOinAction - and are listening to the speakers on stage. Employees of the French fries stall cannot complain about the crowds. The crowd on the square consists of roughly four hundred members of the UT community. Mostly employees, by the way, although that should come as no surprise. After all, only as an employee can you formally go on strike.
'Don't do it!'. If there is one message that is repeated ad nauseam by the long list of speakers - from students to local politicians - it is this one. Only the reasoning behind the words sometimes differs. For example, Enschede alderman Harmjan Vedder made a case for the significance of education for the region, the Netherlands and Europe. 'The UT provides economic growth, jobs and money in the region.'
While people sing, chant and give speeches on the O&O square, 'normal life' also continues. If you peer through the windows into the labs and offices a stone's throw from the square, you will also see that certainly not all UT employees are laying down their work today.
For example, the minor fair is also taking place in the DesignLab. Thomas Groen, associate professor at the ITC faculty, is also present. With a makeshift red square on his chest – cut out of a pack of chocolate sprinkles – as a symbol of the protest. 'I thought it was appropriate. If climate change continues, chocolate will soon be a luxury product. The cutbacks are going to be a big blow, not only for us as universities, but also for society as a whole. I am very concerned about that.'
Groen chose to be at the minor fair, 'because it is an important moment to draw attention to our minors'. But he does join the march to the Oude Markt and the activities in the city center. 'We’re planning to wrap up early here. No, I certainly wouldn't call it a win-win situation. It's more about making the best of a lose-lose situation.'
While the O&O square is filling up more and more, UT professor Arend Rensink performs the self-written protest song. Familiar to many who were also present last November: 'In dit rot-regeerakkoord, wordt de wetenschap vermoord!'
Am I allowed to go on strike? And is this really a strike, or just a protest action - as UT itself announced on its own service portal? We made a summary of six questions and answers about this strike day.
The signs are ready, there is a stage and a first aid stand and French fries stand have also been taken into account. The O&O square is ready to receive a crowd. How high the turnout will be, that remains to be seen.
Organization of the strike is in the hands of trade unions FNV and AOb, together with action group Twente For Protest (WOinActie) and the Enschede Student Movement. This morning they try to mobilize and inform as many people as possible through picket lines and information stands. The plenary programme starts at 11:30 a.m., on the O&O square. At 1 p.m., a march to the city center will follow.
- 11:30 – 13:00 Demonstration on the O&O square (with speeches by politicians, staff and students and musical performances)
- 13:00 – 14:30 March to the city center
- 14:30 – 17:00 Science Fair on the Oude Markt
- 15:30 – 17:00 Mini-lectures in the Grote Kerk
- 17:00 Closing meeting at the Ei van Ko (City Hall)
A first group of strikers reported to the main entrance at 8 a.m. this morning.
After strikes in Leiden, Utrecht, Nijmegen, Amsterdam and Groningen, it is Enschede's turn today. UT employees are laying down work in protest against the government cutbacks in higher education. Kees Wesselink-Schram, one of the initiators, recently looked ahead to this strike day and hopes for the same turnout as in the other cities - several thousand participants: 'It remains impressive and special to see such a large crowd of people walking through the streets. We hope to achieve that in Enschede as well.'
