UCU Left - Manchester City College UCU

The UCU Left is a national organisation of University and College Union activists. It is committed to ensuring that the new union has a democratic structure through which members can determine policy, and elected officers and professional officials can be held accountable. It seeks to defend educational equality, and to oppose the consequences of neo-liberal marketisation. It is opposed to all forms of racism, sexism, oppression and imperialism.

Support UCU City College Manchester

Latest News - Strike on hold following 'productive talks' - clike here for details

By David Swanson, UCU Branch Sec

Manchester City College staff protesting at City Campus against contract changes

Following an 85% yes vote for strike action, teachers at City College this week decided on a program of escalating strike action beginning with a one day strike this Thursday the 26th April.

Teachers in Further Education work the highest hours of unpaid overtime in the country. Since incorporation in 1993 (a form of part-privatisation), there has been constant upward pressure on teachers’ workloads at the college. Everyone has been pushed to the maximum teaching hours possible, breaks that were included in teaching time have been removed, and hours for each class have been reduced so that lecturers can take more classes involving even more preparation and marking. This has already had a serious impact on the quality of education that teachers’ feel they can provide, and the gap is only made up at the cost of their own health.

A new contract making this situation even worse is unacceptable. Even though it doesn’t apply to most of us (initially!) we are still prepared to take action to stop it.

With the proposed merger between the two large FE colleges in Manchester approaching, it seems a bizarre time for one college to attack the conditions of its staff. Lecturers at Mancat already have longer holidays and teach less hours than their counterparts at City College, and if a merger goes ahead upward harmonisation of contracts would be expected as has happened recently in similar moves in Glasgow.

Governors at City College are already facing criticism. The Learning and Skills Council and others are upset at their decision to mothball the Fielden Centre on Barlow Moor Road. Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, recently called on the governing body to resign due to their obstructive attitude to merger discussions.

How you can help

Protest Monday 23rd April 8pm

Lecturers will be protesting outside the college gates at its City Campus on Chorlton St. Please come along and show your support. We will be bringing along preparation and marking to do on the pavement to emphasise the large amount of work we do outside college that normally remains hidden.

Strike Thursday 26th April

Please come and visit our picket lines between 8.30 and 10.30am at the following sites:

Northenden- Sale Road near Princess Parkway

Fielden- Barlow Moor Road opposite Didsbury Mosque

City Campus- Chorlton St near UMIST

Abraham Moss- Crescent Road, Crumpsall

Messages of Protest

Send messages of protest to Chair of Governors Tony Nightingale tnightingale@ccm.ac.uk and copy to Principal Bill Grady bgrady@ccm.ac.uk, and UCU Branch Secretary David Swanson dswanson@ccm.ac.uk