by Sarah Sachs-Eldridge, Enfield and Lea Valley Socialist Party
“CCCG, shame on you! You need to listen to the UCU!”
That was the bold message from a fantastic lively picket line of University and College Union (UCU) members at Enfield College in north London on 10 December. Cars and trucks tooted their support. CCCG is Capital City College Group, an amalgam of Further Education (FE) colleges across London.
Anne, the UCU rep, explained the strike: “We’re on strike for fair pay, a sustainable workload – and for the FE national binding agreement. We’re also out in support of the National Education Union fighting in the sixth form colleges, which are slowly being eroded. They haven’t got fair pay. I think eventually, if it carries on like this, it will lead to the destruction of the sixth form colleges.
“Further Education is so important. The staff work so hard. The teachers work so hard. They really care about the students. It’s so important for the local communities. It’s vital. You want teachers to be supported and valued and it all filters down to the students. The courses we offer are a vital aspect of the community.”
Supporting the picket line, we distributed a bulletin of Socialist Party members in UCU for the strike. It makes the case for UCU joining with other education unions and student organisations to make that union voice heard and fight for democratic and student control of our sectors. They should be run in the interests of staff, students and local communities, not the financiers and profiteers.
This was an impressive group of women workers who have clearly gained confidence through their collective action. A hairdressing teacher spoke of turning a delivery lorry around on the last strike.
Workers, with decades of experience in FE, did not hold back on their opinions on cuts to support for students, imposition of admin tasks on teachers taking time from teaching, and the amount paid to the executive team.
The facts of the situation demand a union response. Salaries are worth 40% less in real terms than in 2010, and severe understaffing comes at a huge cost to staff. There was big enthusiasm for the next stage of the strike planned for 14-16 January, when there will be UCU strike action in FE colleges nationwide.
Socialist Party members also visited CCCG picket lines in Finsbury Park, City and Islington, and more