Leicester Lecturers On Indefinite Strike

LECTURERS AT Leicester College are out on indefinite
strike. The FE College is imposing new contracts that cut holidays, push
through Saturday working and worsen conditions of service.

Lecturers’ union NATFHE, sees it as an attack on union
rights because the changes were not negotiated with them. The college say they
are ‘voluntary’ but they will be imposed on all new posts and anyone who
changes jobs within the college.

Members of Leicester Socialist Party spoke to workers on
the picket lines. At the St Margaret’s site Tony Wightman, NATFHE member said: 

"We are not asking for anything other than what we agreed when we accepted
our positions. We signed a contract with the college and they want to tear it
up".

Kate Drew NATFHE branch secretary said: "They are
introducing a non-negotiated contract. We tried to negotiate but they would not
shift from a position of worsening our conditions. They want to remove four
days of holiday entitlement, bring in unlimited Saturday working and take out
the protection on the number of hours we teach.

"The response has been incredible. The college was
claiming that all lessons were ‘covered’ but classes are cancelled and those
students who have turned up are leaving again. We have even had students
standing alongside pickets, with placards supporting the strike.

"Management have over-reacted – telling us to take
placards off the premises and putting security all over the place. Highly paid
managers are out on every door to greet students when they arrive!

"Management representatives complained that there were
too many pickets, saying there should only be six and threatened to call the
police.

"We have had to fight the college to get pay owed to
part-timers for up to three months, yet they could offer a bribe of a £1,800
one-off payment to staff who signed the new contract before Christmas! It is
not worth losing holidays and worsening conditions for life in return for a
one-off payment."

Arum, a student on an English as a second language course
was on the Abbey Park site picket line with a number of fellow students:
"If the lecturers don’t oppose these things there will be more attacks in
the future. We want to support the lecturers because they support us".

Strike committee member

Siobhan Logan said: "Support is already coming in from
other unions. We visited the PCS picket lines to support them and they are
supporting us in return. The FBU phoned us to ask what they could do. The
postal workers refused to cross the picket lines and just turned around. We
have circulated trades unions with collection sheets."

Messages of support and donations would be appreciated and
can be sent to Siobhan Logan, 22 Kensington Street, Leicester. [email protected]