by Marco Tesei, UCU NEC member
I went to support the lively University and College Union (UCU) picket line at London Metropolitan University (aka London Met). There were impassioned speeches from teachers and one student defending what should be London Met’s fundamental role of giving working-class students opportunities.
I spoke in solidarity, and encouraged the UCU branch to keep on demanding a bold lead and national action from our union leadership. That’s what we need to really stand a chance of defeating the broken funding system for good – for all of higher and further education. And not have to constantly fight back against the employer sharks locally and on our own.
We must also press UCU general secretary Jo Grady to confront Keir Starmer on the anti-union laws and the Tory 50% turnout threshold which disgracefully is still in place. That way we could really come out in force collectively and the bosses wouldn’t stand a chance!