The Socialist 3 October 2012

Let's get a million on the streets, then a 24-hour general strike

Tory education policy: 'This is just about making cuts isn't it?'

Building the fightback in the universities

Suspended student union president continues fight for reinstatement

NUT activists prepare for action

Barnfield College, Luton: Kick private profit out of education

Partial victory for international students at London Metropolitan

No to slave labour in universities

Europe: Class struggle returns with a bang

South Africa: Solidarity with miners

Algerian war of independence 1954-1962

Action against Profit From Illness!

South West NHS workers want action against 'pay cartel'

Save Greater Manchester mental healthcare

Cut the Con-Dems - not our NHS!

Bin workers calling indefinite strike brought results

Day of Action to save HMRC nurseries

Crossrail flashmob blocks London's Oxford Street

Arts and culture workers need to fight back

The fight of all our lives - For a 24-hour general strike

Councillors must resist all Tory cuts

Thousands march for an independent Scotland

March for Jobs in Scotland

Rape is No Joke campaign discussed

Scotland: Lamont throws Labour Party into crisis

Sickened by Labour conference? Build the anti-cuts alternative!

Council tax benefit - new and not improved

Squatting conviction paves way for rise in homelessness




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Barnfield College, Luton: Kick private profit out of education

On the picket line at Barnfield College in Luton 2 October 2012, photo Steve Glennon (Click to enlarge)

On 2 October, lecturers at Barnfield college in Luton were on strike against an 'unlimited hours' contract.

The college already sponsors academies and free schools and now the principal is apparently keen to change it into a profit-making institution. The plan is to increase annual hours and cut the number of staff to deliver them.

Steve Glennon spoke to Shane Hall, regional support officer for UCU, on the picket line.

"The strike is going very well, we have more people out than we expected. We have pickets on ten gates at three campuses.

"The threat of the principal's plan to create 30,000 extra teacher hours, which would result in redundancies, stirred staff into action.

"All staff were sent a letter yesterday saying they had one week to sign the new contract or they will be deemed to have terminated their contract.

"The principal, who is the darling of the Tories, will also have the right to change the contract at any time without consultation.

"We are fighting for the college to return to the negotiating table. An increase from 21 hours to 26 hours is not workable, it could even be 35 hours."

Staff at K College in Kent are due to strike for half a day on 8 October, against cuts. The UCU and NUT teaching union members will be protesting outside a governors' meeting in Tonbridge against threats to 110 full-time teaching and support workers' posts.

In this issue

Education news & analysis

Tory education policy: 'This is just about making cuts isn't it?'