Oisin Duncan, Leeds Socialist Students
Runaway price rises affect students and workers. Accommodation rents are growing as the quality decreases. The numbers of students using food banks has more than doubled in 2022 from 5% to 11%.
Students are waking up to the failings of privatised education and the catastrophe of capitalism. We must align ourselves with our natural allies – the working class.
On 2 November, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) will be protesting at Parliament. Students have the chance to join with the workers’ movement.
Socialist Student members from universities and colleges around the country will be going. And we urge all students to do the following:
- Ask your student union what they’re doing to support the demo
- Contact campus trade unions, like UCU and Unison, to extend solidarity and coordinate transport plans
- Join Socialist Students in our week of action following the demo
Medical student, Oxford Socialist Students
Never in my lifetime have I seen anything like this – a cost-of-living crisis, combined with political and social chaos. We have been edging towards a precipice for years. Now is the tipping point.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) protest on 2 November will be vital to call for a £15-an-hour minimum wage, protect the right to strike, and nationalise the energy industry to cut astronomical bills. It should be a mass demonstration, harnessing the huge discontent experienced by striking workers.
Students contend with price hikes in energy, rent, and food, while struggling to access jobs. We need tuition fees to be scrapped, and we need our lecturers to be paid what they deserve, for the high-quality teaching they provide.
The cost-of-living crisis is a triple-edged sword – soaring prices and astronomical tuition fees, significantly below-inflation pay rises, and continuing austerity that deprives public services, including universities, of essential resources.
On 2 November, students and workers must demonstrate solidarity together. Now is the opportunity to capitalise on the momentum of a growing strike wave to push against these injustices.
See ‘Unions must mobilise to boot out Tories’
Join the student fightback. Join Socialist Students.
Come and discuss at Socialism 2022
London, 19-20 November – tickets and info at socialism.org.uk
