University and College Union (UCU) members at the University of Bradford began ten days of strike action on 30 June, over a £16 million cuts programme unleashed by university management.
As well as closure of the chemistry and film and media departments (in a year when Bradford is the ‘City of Culture’!), up to 20% of the university’s staff face the axe. On the picket line, Socialist Party members spoke to one striker whose whole team of over 20, apart from some managers, faces the chop!
UCU membership secretary, Zak Hughes, pointed out that compulsory redundancies have been rare at the University of Bradford, and that their modest demand for them to be ruled out has been met at other nearby universities, following strikes in Newcastle and Sheffield.
The news that the university nursery has been saved will raise confidence that the cuts can be fought.
Following Bradford Socialist Students’ campaign among students against the job cuts, student Tom Gibson was invited to address the strike rally. He said: “Instead of funding warfare or tax cuts for their big business donors, the Labour government should be putting money into universities, ensuring that courses and staff are properly funded, and stop raising tuition fees.
“This funding crisis is solvable, but the solutions involve dealing with greed within the system, and moving away from the marketisation of universities. They are not a commodity to be traded and sold, but a vital part of educating the people of this country.”
If negotiations do not lead to progress, further action is due on 7,8,10 and 12 July and five days the following week.
Iain Dalton, Socialist Party Yorkshire
