FEE call for mass support for UCU strike action

national | education | press release Saturday March 19, 2011 17:24 by FEE QUB - Free Education for Everyone feequb at gmail dot com

Free Education for Everyone (FEE) QUB have called on all students to support striking lecturers by not attending class on Monday 21st and Thursday 24th of March. Added to that FEE QUB call on all students to attend their nearest picket line on both strike days and to actively support their lecturers.

The implementation of draconian cuts in the North are soon to become a reality with severe attacks on every sector within society. Citizens in the North are expected to lie down and accept job redundancies, poorer resources with less funding, pay cuts, the slashing of benefits and an array of additional crippling changes in the coming weeks, however upcoming protests are doing quite the opposite; rather than shutting up and taking it, people intend to send a very clear message to the Assembly in the North that they are not willing to stand by and allow people to suffer for a mess caused by bankers and politicians . A substantial effort is being made by groups within the education sector to fight back against over £87 million of cuts and next week this will be accelerated by direct action called by the University and College Union (UCU).

The UCU is the largest post-school union worldwide and so it is next to impossible for the government to ignore its actions. As a gargantuan force, UCU have called on university and college staff to strike, specifically against pension cuts, pay erosion and job redundancies, and as the first strike action to be called by UCU in over 5 years, an overwhelming vote in agreement by members had led to set days for strike next week on the 21st (Northern Ireland) and the 24th (UK wide).

As attacks on the Education sector continue, it is integral for both workers and students to stand together as an instrument of opposition; employees within the sector have spoken in support of the student struggle against increasing tuition fees, the removal of the Education Maintenance Allowance and cuts to resources, and we believe students have a duty to support workers in the same way. Students must stand by workers as a united effort, and this will be reciprocated on April 6th when the UCU and NUS-USI will lead a mass rally in Belfast against education cuts. Splits within the movement are detrimental and entirely unproductive in a time of such crucial importance. It is for this reason that FEE encourage other students to stand by and support staff striking on March 21st and 24th in the North and across the water.

Free Education for Everyone (FEE) QUB have called on all students to support striking lecturers by not attending class on Monday 21st and Thursday 24th of March. Added to that FEE QUB call on all students to attend their nearest picket line on both strike days and to actively support their lecturers.