UCU Strikes in Bradford, Occupation in Manchester

Icon_article Star-blue1 Published: March 24, 2011 16:16 by unscabby dog

Tagged as: m26 occupations social_struggles strike students workers_rights
Neighbourhoods: bradford great_horton_road

Staff at both the University of Bradford and Bradford college formed a picket line on the main entrances to both campuses today, Thursday 24th March, as a national strike called by the University and College Union (UCU) entered a third successive day

Also, across the Penines, students have been in occupation at the University of Manchesters Roscoe Lecture theatre for over a month now and are preparing to wind down the occupation in order to join in with the March for the alternative actions that will be happening in London this Saturday, March 26th.

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UCU is the largest trade union and professional association for academics, lecturers, trainers, researchers and academic-related staff working in further and higher education throughout the UK. The strike was called as a nationally coordinated walkout by staff from over 500 institutions across the North and around the UK in protest at changes to pay, pensions and job protection measures.

Lecturers in Bradford, including some wearing traditional robes for academic staff, formed a picket line at each of the major entrances to both the College and the University, supported by students and trade union officials. 

The strikers were gaining support from passers by and students assisted with the handing out of leaflets to passers by explaining the reasons behind the action, leaving the pickets able to remain at the entrances. Although many students were still milling in and out of the buildings, no staff could be seen crossing the lines and entering as far as this correspondent could see.

For more information on the strikes nationwide, see the UCU live timeline.

In related news, students at the University of Manchester have this week occupied the Roscoe Building, both in solidarity with the UCU action, as part of their own struggle against tuition fees and as part of the buidup to the "March for the alternative" demonstrations to be taking place in London this Saturday 26th March.

The students who have been occupying the building peacefully have been busy holding workshops, planning for a much needed successor to the former Manchester social centre "the basement", planning actions to raise awareness of resistance to the cuts and preparing people for the battle ahead

The occupation has 5 main stated aims:

  • To act as a centralised organising space for all facets of the Manchester anti-cuts movement.
  • To build and prepare for the national demonstration in London on the 26th of March.
  • To offer a programme of alternative education in the form of free lectures, film nights, music and other events.
  • To stand in solidarity with the international protests currently working their way through North Africa, the Middle East and the rest of Europe.
  • To pressurise the university management into taking a different stance on cuts.

The students intend to occupy the building until friday when the majority of them will be making their way to London for the planned march.

For more information see the blog at http://www.roscoeoccupation.com/

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