Salford Against the Cuts is supporting the action being taken by UCU members this week. We agree with the UCU that attacks on their members are linked to the Government's wider attacks on higher education and we encourage all those opposed to cuts in Salford to head down to the picket lines from 7am on Thursday. The picket lines are at Crescent House, Maxwell Building, Peel Buolding, Clifford Whitworth Building and Faraday Building. The pickets will be glad to see you!
Below is a report of today's action from UCU member and SAC activist Bob Jeffery
Salford Uni Against Cuts were pleased to see so many people out in support of the UCU stike and pickets today (Tuesday 22nd of March). In addition to UCU lecturing staff and postgraduate UCU members, a number of students turned out to show their support (and this follows a poll by the University of Salford Student's Union
showing that 61% of those who voted backed the strike action being undertaken by their teachers). In addition to official UCU pickets outside all major teaching and administrative buildings, a lively demonstration was held outside of the University House. Leaflets were distributed and many pledges of support were given by passing staff, students and local Salford residents. Like many of those teaching at Salford, I am not a full-time contracted member of staff, but rather a casual worker who is paid on an hourly basis. Nevertheless, I have fully supported the strike action led by my union both because I believe that the attack on pay and conditions of academic staff is just one move by a government that seems intent on making ordinary working people pay for the mistakes of the super-wealthy (and this needs to be resisted on all fronts), but also because I believe such moves are part of a wider campaign targeted against higher education (as a public service) in the UK aimed at demoralising and marginalising those who actually deliver the courses, while concentrating power and privileges in the hands of small number of undemocratically appointed managers. Members of Salford Uni Against Cuts oppose these measures as much as we oppose the increase in tuition fees and scrapping of EMA and as much as we oppose the punitive and disproportionate cuts being forced upon our communities in Salford and elsewhere in Greater Manchester. We hope that as many people can join us on Thursday the 24th March for the second day of strike action.
Best wishes,
Bob
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