Cien Elan Butler, Essex Socialist Party
Students and workers protested against a shock announcement on 10 December. The Southend campus of The University of Essex is to close from October.
The plan cuts 400 staff. 800 students are expected to move studies to Colchester.
This leaves many without a realistic way to continue their education. Many courses include unpaid placements. “Everyone’s jobs are now at risk”, protesters told Socialist Party members.
Compensation offered to students is minimal – £400. Students told us it’ll cost them around £40 a day to travel! One teacher explained they were offered just £3,000 redundancy pay.
“Decisive steps towards a sustainable future” – that’s what the uni has claimed as their explanation. This is despite students starting courses in September and October this year, when higher-ups knew the campus would close.
This disproportionately affects women and parents. Many chose their local university, because of its accessibility.
This whole situation has been building from 14 years of Tory austerity, carried on with this current Labour government. Uni management have presented no alternative proposals. The decisions made by the vice chancellor, on an eye-watering £280,000 salary, prioritise profit, even if it means cutting education.
There has been a 52% decrease in international students coming to Essex, driven by visa changes, alongside increasing hostility. It’s not fair, people suffer, while those dividing us are rewarded.
Tuition fees, maintenance loans, all this debt, for what? It’s yet another barrier to a higher education.
All 3,000 staff across Essex uni have been threatened with redundancy. And the University and College Union (UCU) is now balloting for strike action to stop Southend’s closure. They could strike in February.
Socialist Party members say:
- Open the books. Student representatives and staff trade unions should have access to the financial information held by Essex University. No hiding behind ‘business confidentiality’
- No job cuts
- Students should be allowed to complete their course at Southend campus
- Trade unions and student bodies to continue to hold the Southend Labour MPs to account – we demand emergency funding from the government to prevent Southend campus closing
