* Strike action – Tuesday 27th May

As you are probably by now aware, the university trade unions have called a day of strike action at the Universities of Helsinki and Turku on Tuesday 27th May – the middle day of this year’s Dynamis seminar.

Whilst it is our hope that a satisfactory negotiated solution to the current industrial dispute will be reached before such action is necessary, and thus that the Dynamis programme can go ahead as planned, we recognise the seriousness of the current dispute – especially with regards to issues such as teaching caps, wage devaluation and academic freedom. Dynamis supports the efforts of the university trade unions to secure a working agreement that protects the interests of workers and students across the sector.

If the strike does go ahead, the Tuesday programme of the Dynamis seminar will be cancelled. We deeply regret any disappointment this may cause, especially to those due to present on that day. This decision was not taken lightly, but we believe is merited by the seriousness of the issues at the heart of the current negotiations and in order to show solidarity with and support for striking colleagues.

However, we invite all presenters and participants who were planning to be at Dynamis on Tuesday to join us for a day of community and solidarity building activities, including:

• Late morning: Metaphysics bloc on the picket line

• Lunch together (off campus, own expense)

• Afternoon: Metaphysics ‘Speed Dating’ (an event where we have short one-on-one conversations about some aspect of our current research interests, swapping conversation partners say every 10 mins until everyone has spoken with everyone else); Metaphysics Pub Quiz (and perhaps more similar activities, time permitting)

• Evening: Dynamis Dinner as advertised