by Scott Hunter, UCU member
Strikers at London Metropolitan University held a rally on 31 July as part of the continuing action against cuts and redundancies by members of the University and College Union (UCU).
Despite eleven days of strike action and a marking and assessment boycott since March, university management has pressed ahead. Some staff have already opted for voluntary exit rather than go through the stress of the redundancy process.
However, the mood was one of determination to fight on as they are still facing 47 more redundancies and increased workloads for remaining staff. There were speakers sharing their struggles from other universities including Goldsmiths, Imperial College and University College London, as well as from the actors’ union Equity and strikers at the Institute of Cancer Research, who have just gone on indefinite action.
UCU National Executive Committee and Socialist Party member Marco Tesei spoke about the crisis facing the whole of post-16 education and laid the blame where it belongs: the failed market model for higher education and decades of public funding cuts. He raised the need to fight for a fully funded public education system at all levels, which means fighting for socialist change.
At its annual congress in May, UCU members passed motion HE11, calling for the union to develop a coordinated national campaign across higher education to defend jobs, pay and pensions.
Marco also reported that the leadership – including general secretary Jo Grady – is trying to backtrack on the members’ demands for a national fight.
Socialist Party members will continue to be at the fore in fighting for the UCU to mount a serious national campaign in both further and higher education.