The Socialist 17 October 2012

Build a 24-hour General Strike

We want a 24-hour general strike!

Southampton anti-cuts councillors form new council group

Meetings after 20th October TUC demonstration

Socialism 2012

Academies: march to defend education on 20 October

Stop the gas price hike - Nationalise the utilities!

Osborne's 'shares' plan threatens rights

Them & Us

Unions must build the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC)

Who was Malcolm X?

Poll tax: When organised mass action defeated the Tories

Liverpool 1983-87

Youth Fight for Jobs fortnight of action 13-28 October

Fight for a socialist and internationalist alternative to the crisis-ridden EU

Solidarity with Miners in South Africa

US elections: And the winner is... Wall Street!

Pakistan: Workers die as profit put before safety

Tamil Solidarity

Campaign Kazakhstan

Hands off our NHS! - Victory in Gloucestershire

Stop the far right from 'uniting' on 27 October

Stop health robbery in Sherwood Forest

Tough choices

Chase the sharks out of Toon!

Invest in caring - we're worth it!

Lecturers fight cuts

Amnesty International staff take strike action

Bus drivers: We need shorter hours!

Hospital staff in Stockton and Hartlepool threatened with worse terms and conditions

Attacks on Bromley workers

Workplace news in brief

The Socialist - Help us build it with the 20-20-20 plan!

Fight back against austerity - support the Socialist Party

Why I joined

New sales of the Socialist in Kenilworth

Previous issues, etc

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Lecturers fight cuts

UCU strikers on a picket line in Swansea on 10 May 2012 public sector workers strike , photo Socialist Party Wales (Click to enlarge)

Gateshead College lecturers took further strike action on 10 October in response to an attack on their pay and working conditions.

The picket line at the main campus was lively, and they were getting plenty of support from passing traffic.

College management are pushing through restructuring which could see lecturers working up to 50 hours a week.

Richard Bathgate, UCU branch chair, explained what restructuring has meant: "All members of teaching staff have had to go through the process of re-applying for their own job. Some have spent up to four days on their application form."

Another striker commented that her role has been changed from 'lecturer' to 'learning facilitator'. She went on to say: "My salary is protected, but I will get no cost of living increase until my pay grade matches what I'm frozen on."

Preparation time for lessons will be cut to six minutes per hour. This will include preparing lessons, marking and any individual attention required.

Clearly this will have a huge impact on the standard of lessons students at the college receive.

The mood on the picket line was determined, and lecturers commented that they were being well supported by their students.