THE strike action by the Association of University Lecturers at York University is a last resort. The pay offer made to lecturers at York will see them lose thousands in earnings over the course of their careers.

Meanwhile the pay of university vice-chancellors, including at York, has rocketed.

Chris Jones, president of York University Students' Union, quipped that students will "welcome a couple of days off". That is far removed from the depth of feeling at the campus.

Many students are wholeheartedly in support of the lecturers, realising that the pay offer made to them is derisory and in the long-term will only serve to damage the lecturing and higher education professions.

These students are looking forward to supporting their lecturers and academic staff, realising that their hard work, professionalism and commitment deserves to be properly rewarded.

Rory Palmer,

Postgraduate student,

York University,

Fossgate, York.

Updated: 10:14 Tuesday, February 24, 2004