Bradford University staff strike against job cuts

Bradford University staff strike against job cuts   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Iain Dalton, Yorkshire Socialist Party organiser

“Today is the day we say enough. Together we can’t be defeated,” said workers at a strike rally on the first day of a four-day walkout by Unison union members at Bradford University. The university is trying to cut 165 jobs (down from the original 250). It is the latest in a series of ‘restructuring’ schemes.

Garbed in Halloween costumes, around 50 workers were on picket lines at both the main university campus and a satellite campus.

Anger is high among staff. One striker, Stephen, said: “I’ve only been working here ten months and already I’ve been through two restructures.”

Unison, University and College Union and Bradford Students Union all have passed motions of no confidence in the university’s vice-chancellor. Unison’s showed that 98% of members are demanding he resign.