This means Eindhoven would be joining the ongoing relay strike in which students and staff at higher education institutions in various cities take turns to go on strike for a day. Last week, strikes already took place in Leiden, Utrecht, and Nijmegen. And yesterday, those supporting higher education also made their voices heard in Amsterdam.

Eindhoven plans

Until recently, an Eindhoven strike didn’t seem all that likely. To change this, student Lieke van der Zee organized a campaign meeting. A total of fifteen people showed up. “That may not sound like many, but it didn’t feel like a disappointment,” says Van der Zee. “It was a very diverse group of staff and students with different backgrounds and networks. And there was even someone from Fontys present.”

According to the student, the next step is to mobilize a larger group with this active core. “We made a start. Now it’s important for this group to set up a campaign in which – hopefully – thousands of people will participate,” she says. “If everyone mobilizes five people within their own network, and those new people mobilize another five people, et cetera, then we’ll get there in no time.”

Trade union assistance

Two union representatives were also present to lend a hand: Bernard Koekoek from the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV) and Arnoud Lagendijk from the General Education Union (AOb). These two unions initiated the relay strike, together with WOinActie and the Dutch Student Union (LSVb). “They told us how to organize such a strike campaign. They were also involved in the strikes that took place last week, so they know a lot about it,” Van der Zee explains. “It was very nice to get that kind of help.”

The second meeting is planned for April 3. “We will meet in Neuron during the break, to allow as many students and staff as possible to join us,” says Van der Zee. “And at the end of that meeting, we will set a date for the TU/e community to go on strike.” She thinks this will most likely be sometime in late April, after the Q3 exams.

Appreciation

TU/e states that they were aware of the campaign meeting. “We appreciate that Lieke and other TU/e students have taken the initiative to make their voices heard against the government’s disastrous cutbacks in higher education. We ourselves adhere to the policy agreed in the context of umbrella organization Universities of the Netherlands with regard to the relay strikes, and we’re giving students and staff the space to participate, with the previously communicated guideline for participation,” says spokesperson Frans Raaijmakers.