Workers Inquiry and Militant Investigation in the University
Channel: Staff-Student Solidarity Network Edinburgh
Date: 2020-08-03

What do we want to know about our University? University Management constantly provides us with illusions about a democratic, fair and open university, but does this image reflect the experiences of University workers themselves?

Introduction 0:00
Clark McAllister with a brief history of Workers' Inquiry 3:56
Jamie Woodcock's reflections on organising Inquiries 19:50
Robert Ovetz commentary on an Inquiry into Strike threats 33:42
Sophia Lycouris with a feminist and women's strike perpsective on Inquiry 55:39(*)
Dante Philp and a consideration of Student's Inquiry 1:00:56
Open Discussion 1:04:38

(*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCEsKJrKH9c - the video mentioned regarding Precarias a la Deriva)

In this teachout, we discussed how the practice of Workers' Inquiry might offer a form of political investigation into university workplaces. These inquiries have a radical and dynamic history, and in this context would aim to reveal truths about labour at the university which would otherwise be ignored or obscured, by offering an understanding of the University from the workers’ own perspective. This can help build solidarity between students and workers, and establish concrete strategies for struggling toward a better university. 

How might an inquiry reveal new forms of resistance and organising at the university? How might it show how different workforces can support one another? What does the University really rely on for its reproduction?
 
Approaching these questions from within a variety of experiences of university workers, the event included an introduction to the history of workers’ inquiry by Clark McAllister, contributions by Jamie Woodcock and Robert Ovetz, who discussed their own experiences of organising inquiries and a fascinating exchange of imaginative ideas among presenters and members of the SSSN. We hope to organise our own Workers Inquiry at the University of Edinburgh following on from possibilities explored in this discussion. 

Follow our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/edistaffstudentsolidarity/) and Twitter account (@sssn_edi) to find out how we will be getting on with this long-term project.

In the meantime, don't miss our growing list of resources which currently includes some introductory information on Workers’ Inquiries and a range of example Inquiries. https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1kTG9pyxiKUq6ooYZf119Y90oBuOv56p7 
 
We hope you find this material helpful and informative.