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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1030/28736
From The Socialist newspaper, 20 February 2019
Cardiff Uni: urgent action needed to stop job cuts
Cardiff University, photo by Jeremy Segrott/CC (Click to enlarge)
Cardiff UCU member
Cardiff University plans to cut 380 posts over five years.
The University and College Union (UCU) is combining its national ballot over workload, casualisation and pay with a simultaneous ballot over the threat of local compulsory redundancies to hit the Tories 50% turnout threshold.
Staffing cuts won't just affect those losing work. A 2016 survey by the union found that university staff were already working on average almost 2-days unpaid overtime a week.
The university has a budget deficit of more than £20 million. But cuts aren't aimed the Vice Chancellor's £256,000 salary, or his five-figure 'performance bonus'.
The university favours new buildings over staff. It's undergoing a £600 million campus development, and in 2016 borrowed £300 million - the largest public bond in UK higher education history - at £9 million interest a year.
This time last year, the union was preparing to strike over pensions - a strike which led to serious employer concessions. At Cardiff University, Socialist Students and the trade union council spoke at picket lines and rallies.
The trade union council arranged for the strikers to speak at other union branches where they won donations to our strike fund. UCU affiliated to the local trade union council and led the May Day march.
These impressive strikes showed the potential power of organised collective action, and this year, the workers are better prepared for what's ahead.
Support by students, the wider trade union movement and militant rank-and-file action will send a clear message to Cardiff University management.
Staff will not tolerate further assaults on their working conditions, and we must also use the union elections to elect a fighting left leadership to coordinate our fightback.
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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 20 February 2019:
News
Nationalise Airbus and other manufacturing plants to save jobs now!
NHS crisis deepens: Workers' and community action can save our health service
Youth climate strikes
"There's no planet B": Thousands of youth strike against climate change - we need socialist change!
Youth strike for the climate reports: "There's no planet B"
Opinion
TV: Les Misérables - Hugo's novel and this adaptation both offer a message of hope
What we think
Eight Blairites split - Now kick out the rest
Workplace news
PCS Left Unity must unite on pay and elections
Universal Credit staff ballot for action
Annoyed?! I'm annoyed to be on poverty wages
Nationalise to save jobs at Honda!
Birmingham bin strike against 'blacklisting'
Deliveroo riders strike against exploitative pay and conditions
Leicester college pay strike goes on
Cardiff Uni: urgent action needed to stop job cuts
Hackney: Unite fights racism and victimisation
Harrowing accounts of austerity at Unison women's conference
International socialist news and analysis
Spanish state: social polarisation and budget defeat force snap election
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Unite union London council workers back Enfield Labour no-cuts call
Leeds TUC presents a no-cuts alternative budget
Socialist Students conference shows potential for fighting leadership
London housing campaigners disrupt auction
Birmingham Uni: Standing up to racism is not harassment!
Leicester Socialists stand against Blairite mayor
Lincoln students back UCU ballot
Claimants and union slam Universal Credit
Energy retail firm collapse hits Tyneside
World economy
New recession fear stalks the world economy
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