Aris Prevost, Cardiff Socialist Students
Since the news of 400 jobs cuts at Cardiff University, there has been a flourish of activity to fight back against the cuts.
The University and College Union (UCU) held a rally outside of the Senedd (Welsh Government) building to show their members’ outrage on 4 February. Over 400 people were present.
There was a sea of pink, with the UCU handing out their iconic pink beanies to students and attendees. There was a defiant mood.
People at the rally were fed up with how the university is run, against the brash nature of these cuts, and out to demand change.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady spoke at the rally to say that the fight back against these cuts is a national issue. With the Office for Students reporting that 72% of universities are trending towards deficit in the next academic year, universities across the UK are considering cuts to staff members and more.
If Cardiff University gets away with these cuts, then it will only encourage other universities to do the same. This national scope was seen with seven different trade unions turning up to show solidarity with their banners and placards.
In particular, a huge number of nursing students turned up to show their support, forming their own line, and at times drowning out the rest of the crowd with their chants. The nursing school is being cut under the plans. This set the stage for the nursing rally on 7 February.
Nursing protest
Attending the protest, helping out with set-up and the sound system, I was blown away with the number of people that turned up – 150 – and how energetic people were.
The Royal College of Nursing union (RCN) spoke, as well as Save Nursing, a campaign to fight on behalf of nurses at Cardiff University. Linking up between nursing students, and students from music, modern languages, and other cut or merged departments into a unified voice is key in achieving results.
Socialist Students has been attending these rallies. And, from the meeting of 80 that we initiated on 3 February, we have created Cardiff Students Against Cuts, in combination with other student groups.
We are trying to build a united student voice to protest against the cuts, and build student-staff solidarity, at a time when the university wants to divide us.
We have been building for a rally on 12 February, with speakers from students, staff, UCU and other trade unions. This affects everyone in Cardiff, Wales, and beyond.
After this rally, we’ll see what the reaction is from the university, and decide what next steps we can do. But, whatever action we decide to take, we will link up students and staff, and build solidarity.
