Nick Chaffey, Socialist Party Southern and South East secretary
Steve Desmond, president of Solent University and College Union (UCU), has sent an appeal to local trade unionists via Southampton Trades Union Council to support its five-day strike, beginning on Thursday 30 April.
“There is an ongoing strike of national significance taking place to defend pension rights and the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS). The university has now commenced Phase II of its pension strategy, with a target date of 30 June to TUPE [transfer] all academic staff to an internal subsidiary, stripping staff of their rights to a secure, government-backed pension.”
As UCU explained at the beginning of the dispute last year, “While the pension cuts are presented as a TUPE transfer [a transfer arrangement which is meant to protect pay and conditions], Solent’s plans mirror the most egregious fire-and-rehire practices, such as those seen at P&O, as staff are being forced to accept brutal cuts to their retirement benefits or lose their jobs.”
Labour had suggested that these brutal practices would be outlawed, but employers are acting with impunity. If Solent gets away with it, this could spread to other institutions. The economic situation is worsening under the impact of the Iran conflict and all employers are looking to defend their interests.
Trade unions need to match fire with fire – take steps to unify action and launch a national campaign under the leadership of the TUC (Trades Union Congress) to defend jobs, pay and pensions with a national demonstration against Labour austerity, to build confidence and show employers they will face action.
This strike comes a week before the May elections, which will be a verdict on Labour’s record over the last year – which is one of huge disappointment among working-class people as public services remained starved of adequate funding and the delays in the restoration of basic trade union rights continue.
