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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. |
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Education Under Attack |
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| Fighting to Defend Education and Jobs in Tower Hamlets |
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Having heard of LSC (Learning and Skills Council) cuts to all colleges last month the UCU asked for assurances of no compulsory redundancies or additional workload. The employer failed to give us these assurances and we were able to put a timeframe in place for action up to and including industrial action with a view to taking a two hour stoppage this side of summer, therefore activating the ballot to pave the way for further coordinated action in the autumn. Late last Friday (June 5th) we were presented with a 30 day consultancy timeframe for 40.6FTE redundancies. Cut total teaching hours from 170,000 to 150,000. Cut A level from 180 guided learning hours to 150, close outreach sites, massively cut Esol provision and support staff and learning centre staff. We were initially shocked but organised reps meetings over the weekend. Monday (June 8th): We mobilised all our reps and supporters on Monday morning for emergency lunchtime meetings of all Unison and UCU members across sites. Many came to join the union, most meetings were double their normal size. The one at our site had over a 100 people. We decided to walkout at lunchtime and marched to East India doc road, the Idea Store and the local market Crisp Street. Students readily joined the protest and took up our slogans of 'They Say Cut Back, We Say Fight Back'. People in the market clapped us when we held a rally. We opened up the start of our campaign: 'Defend Education, Defend Jobs: Save Esol' Tuesday (June 9th): The next day we were due to present our initial response to the Principal, Director of Finance and Director of Human Resources. We mobilised our supports with more people helping out. We organised a lobby for people as they were leaving work. About 300 people turned out from offices. This included fifty Esol students who barged their way into the college to huge cheers. Our numbers were boosted when we heard middle managers had rejected the consultation period too. There was clearly no confidence in the Principal and Director of Finance, and we voted to go all out if they try to attack us. It was amazing. We entered negotiation and immediately rejected the timeframe for consultation as bullying and a sham. Wednesday (June 10th): We urged staff to take a lunch break across sites and handed out the contact details for Ministers, Governor's, Councillor's, prospective MPs and local MPs. We asked staff to talk through the impact of cuts would have in their department and write letters outlining our successes locally and who might suffer. Over thirty people joined a meeting with the Principal in the afternoon at Bethnal Green. Adult provision is being moved and cut from Bethnal Green. The centre is much loved by the community. 'The Principal got a frosty reception with staff holding posters up and a chorus of 'No Ifs, No Buts, No Education Cuts'. Today (June 11th) and next week: We are organising joint UCU and Unison meetings tomorrow with a formal vote of no confidence. We are sending teams out at lunch today promoting the ballot. We'll mobilise support for a lunchtime protest on Friday 11th of June at 1.30 at Poplar site (Poplar high Street E14 0AF). Adult and 14-19 sites joining together. We have contacted local unions to come and support us in preparation for a community demonstration we will propose for next week. We have lots of networks from recent solidarity work, Save ESOL, trade unions and ex-students as well as local politicians. On the basis that we win our ballot for industrial action we will ensure that we coordinate as best as we can any strike action with our colleagues at London Met, and local schools and colleges, such as Hackney college, who are themselves fighting to defend education and jobs. This is just the beginning of our campaign. By coincidence the union negotiated 8 days of the curriculum for AS Level returners for next week called East End Futures. We'll celebrate our community and standing up against racism, poverty, and homelessness. A national officer of the UCU and the Principal are due to debate 'Where is FE going?' At the end of the event we'll hold a big party with a performer from Love Music Hate Racism. Please send urgent messages of support to: UCU Branch Chair Poplar (14-19) alison.lord@tower.ac.uk UCU Branch Sec (Adult) John.Budis@tower.ac.uk Unison: kathy.harriott@tower.ac.uk; rashid.iqbal@tower.ac.uk Join our facebook group by searching: Blog us at http://tinyurl.com/my48s3 |
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