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From The Socialist newspaper, 26 September 2018
Students and workers unite and fight
Liverpool UCU strike, photo Roger Bannister, photo Roger Bannister (Click to enlarge)
Connor Rosoman, Sussex Socialist Students
Socialist Students is campaigning for an autumn of resistance against Tory marketisation of our universities. For students, this has meant cuts to education services alongside rising tuition fees and massive debt.
A mass movement against attacks on education could mobilise into action the thousands of students inspired by Jeremy Corbyn's anti-austerity programme, alongside striking university staff.
Unison public sector union members in higher education are currently balloting for strike action against the latest in several years of below-inflation pay increases. They are joined bymembers of the University and College Union (UCU). Earlier this year UCU held an inspirational strike over cuts to lecturers' pensions.
Pay for uni staff has declined by 21% in real terms since 2009. If both unions strike, there is the possibility of even more significant action this autumn than in the first half of the year, when lecturers were on strike at 61 different universities across the country.
After the tremendous solidarity shown for their lecturers throughout the last academic year, students must work to support the campaign for a 'yes' vote among university staff.
The ballots must meet the 50% turnout threshold imposed by the Tories' draconian anti-trade union laws. But with a concerted effort this boundary can be smashed.
The Tories have been responsible for the destruction of higher education, but their government is caught in a deep crisis. A Corbyn government, if it adopted socialist policies, could provide the alternative many are now looking for. Socialist Students calls for a united struggle of both students and workers against the cuts and to kick out this rotten Tory government.
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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.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 26 September 2018:
What we think
Militant was right - councils can fight cuts
Fight for a democratic, socialist Labour Party
Fighting for socialism amid capitalist chaos
Socialist Students
Students and workers unite and fight
Freshers fairs: socialist ideas chime with students
News
Private firms and toothless regulator to blame for trains chaos - nationalise rail now!
Fight plans for A&E appointment system - fight to save our NHS
Labour civil war rages in Enfield
Workplace
Who wants driver-only operation?
Hospitality workers coordinate historic strike
Strike vote: college staff want a pay rise
Compulsory redundancies stopped at Leicester University
Safety-critical airport workers continue strike
Glasgow workers striking for equal pay
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Victory for Sheffield Save Our NHS
Residents push back Barking estate landlords
Brilliant sales at Labour Party conference
Directors' contempt for repressed workers
Huddersfield campaigners keep their powder dry
International socialist news and analysis
Trump's tariffs raise international tensions
Opinion
Powerful defence of the welfare state
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