Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/552/6512
From The Socialist newspaper, 15 October 2008
Beat the 'Man from Mars'
Hundreds of members of the University and College Union (UCU) gathered outside Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall last week where the vice chancellor was delivering a speech to students. It was a protest at the attempt by the Nottingham Trent University to de-recognise the lecturers' union. The national union believes that unless the lecturers at Nottingham Trent University win their battle then other universities may follow suit.
Brian Ward, UCU branch chair said: "It's a dispute that's not of our making. The university came to us with proposals on trade union recognition. This involved an 85% cut in any time we have to represent our members. It involved setting up a forum that would be packed with non-trade union members.
"We said this looks to us to be more like a de-recognition agreement than a recognition agreement. The university then proceeded to end, without due notice, our previous recognition agreement from 2001.
"We have a national petition with over 12,000 signatures on. We had a strike ballot, 77% of people voted for industrial action. We have a strike planned on 21 October if it is not resolved."
The university's vice chancellor used to work for the board of Mars Ltd. As someone at the rally said: "He is living on Mars if he thinks we are going to back down!".
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In The Socialist 15 October 2008:
Sack the bankers not the workers
"Give us what the bankers got"
Socialist Party editorial
Government bailouts: major measures to prop up capitalism
Socialist Party Marxist analysis
Recession in Britain: Anger and bitterness towards the financiers
Repossessions grow as banking crisis hits
Socialism 2008
Capitalism in crisis: Why you should come to Socialism 2008
Socialist Party campaigns
Political protest in Liverpool will not be silenced!
Mandelson - New minister for the rich
Planning Bill: Local views sidelined for big business
Socialist Party women
Defend and extend abortion rights
Education
Opposition grows to Kirklees schools plans
Bangor: Organising to fight university tuition fees
Nottingham Trent University attempts to de-recognise the lecturers' union
Staff and students unite over pensions
International socialist news and analysis
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Afghanistan - war without end?
Socialist Party review
75th anniversary of Walter Greenwood's Love on the Dole
Socialist Party workplace news and analysis
London bus workers strike for a living wage
Local government Scotland: Reject the pay offer!
Unison right-wing insecurity begins to show
Successful outcome for Suzanne Muna
Standing for president of Usdaw
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