3rd April 2008
International Astronomical Union calls for strike
Astronomers picketing an observatory |
Astronomers across the globe are to walk out of observatories, planetariums and international space stations for 72-hours from this Friday.
24 hours to save the world
Sir Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal, said that this was a "sad but inevitable" decision following the collapse of talks between astronomers and the government over the hours, conditions and salary of astronomers.
"All we are asking for is a fair day's wage for a fair day's work," Sir Martin said. "For too long governments, the UN and billionaire eccentrics have been more than happy for astronomers to work long nights in cold observatories with only one, maybe two, petite blonde assistants for company, but still expect us to rush into closed meetings screaming 'you've got to listen to me, we've only got 24 hours to save the world' at the drop of a hat."
21 seconds to go
He added that many astronomers were also denied a decent pension to support the conditions know as 'lurkers back' and 'wankers eye', which are attributed to years of hunching over a telescope and staring into it with one eye.
However, a government spokesman denied that it was being unreasonable, saying that "above inflation" pay deal had been offered and that working conditions had improved "significantly" since 1997.
5,4,3,2,1 – Thunderbirds are go
However, IAU representatives from around the world denied this, saying that this failed to account for the increased cost of living in London, Royal observatories, and remote mountains, let alone the costs of making international calls to warn humanity of extinction-sized asteroids.
While there are hopes that last minute talks will be revived, astronomers have already warned bored school groups and Bruce Willis to make alternative plans for when the course is on, and that Jessops will be accepting any observatory season tickets for the duration.
24 hours to save the world
Sir Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal, said that this was a "sad but inevitable" decision following the collapse of talks between astronomers and the government over the hours, conditions and salary of astronomers.
"All we are asking for is a fair day's wage for a fair day's work," Sir Martin said. "For too long governments, the UN and billionaire eccentrics have been more than happy for astronomers to work long nights in cold observatories with only one, maybe two, petite blonde assistants for company, but still expect us to rush into closed meetings screaming 'you've got to listen to me, we've only got 24 hours to save the world' at the drop of a hat."
21 seconds to go
He added that many astronomers were also denied a decent pension to support the conditions know as 'lurkers back' and 'wankers eye', which are attributed to years of hunching over a telescope and staring into it with one eye.
However, a government spokesman denied that it was being unreasonable, saying that "above inflation" pay deal had been offered and that working conditions had improved "significantly" since 1997.
5,4,3,2,1 – Thunderbirds are go
However, IAU representatives from around the world denied this, saying that this failed to account for the increased cost of living in London, Royal observatories, and remote mountains, let alone the costs of making international calls to warn humanity of extinction-sized asteroids.
While there are hopes that last minute talks will be revived, astronomers have already warned bored school groups and Bruce Willis to make alternative plans for when the course is on, and that Jessops will be accepting any observatory season tickets for the duration.
