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From The Socialist newspaper, 25 October 2017
Manchester lecturers walk out
UCU walkout at University of (Click to enlarge)
Lecturers at the University of Manchester held a successful rally, supported by students, on the first day of their strike action on 23 October. UCU members are fighting 140 job losses in three departments.
Management give the reason for the job cuts as being financial but the university made a surplus of £36 million last year and is sitting on reserves of £1.5 billion.
There was a packed-out rally after a morning of strong picket lines at various buildings on campus. Staff are determined to fight these cuts and there is support from many students as well.
Students, in groups including Save Our Staff and Socialist Students, built support for the strike by leafleting and postering in the week running up to the strike to explain why attacks on staff mean a worse deal for students.
There has been an ongoing dispute over job cuts at nearby Manchester Metropolitan University and many students are campaigning for free education and against attacks on education, showing there is the capacity for coordinating action. United, these cuts can be defeated!
Manchester Socialist Students
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
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In The Socialist 25 October 2017:
What we think
Socialists must back Catalan struggle for self-determination
Women
1967 Abortion Act reflected social changes
International socialist news and analysis
Kurdish referendum declared illegal
Socialist Party news and analysis
Universal Credit chaos: Tories punish the poor
Fearful Tories mull borrowing to build
Kids wait 18 months for mental healthcare
Profit-driven pesticide use now threatens life
Profiteering NHS counter-fraud firm in alleged case of... fraud
Workplace news and analysis
Aslef members must reject poor Southern Rail offer
Arriva North West bus drivers strike over pay
NSSN meeting brings together workers in struggle
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Hear from socialists involved in struggles the world over at the Socialism 2017 Saturday rally
Angry east London residents organise against threat to leisure centre
Trade unionists march to defend 650 local jobs
Storm Brian cannot withstand working-class anger
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
Well-deserved ridicule of Stalinism is impressive, funny but flawed
Film - Dennis Skinner: Nature of the Beast
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