Barnsley lecturers fight job cuts

UCU members at Barnsley College were on strike on 17 June against attacks by bullying management that could see a quarter of the academic staff lose their jobs.

Picket lines were solid, and there was very sizeable student solidarity. The strike was followed by a UCU meeting of over 40.

Management at Barnsley college has been provocative. Lecturers have been forced to re-apply for their jobs on worse terms, conditions, and pay, and have not got their jobs back when they’ve re-applied!

If these job losses go through, management will cut student courses and education further in future. Support staff organised in Unison and Unite are facing job losses too but they have not been balloted for strike action alongside the UCU.

On 18 June there was a solidarity march in support of the striking lecturers. The next strikes will be on 28 and 30 June and 6-7 July.

Ian Pattison, Yorkshire Socialist Party