Leicester UCU dispute

Socialist Students receive standing ovation

At Leicester University, Socialist Students members were involved in
the setting up of the Campaign for Students’ Information, because the
Students’ Union (SU) executive were campaigning against the lecturers’
marking boycott (despite their declared support for the lecturers).

Nick Parker, Leicester Socialist Students

Despite the SU executive stopping us from using the SU print shop, we
collected over 400 signatures and got 150 students to sign letters to
the Vice Chancellor expressing our disgust at the role he’d played in
the dispute. It was difficult to campaign due to the exams, but we even
had students out campaigning before and after they went into exams!

We were able to continue our campaign due to the tremendous support
we received from our lecturers, who helped with the printing of our
leaflets and petitions. Scores of lecturers came up to our stall to show
solidarity to our campaign, some joining us during their lunch breaks to
help out. One revealed that she would have earned more money as a bus
driver, despite having spent years training for her job.

Our lecturers’ resolve was hardened by our campaign, which cut across
the attacks from the SU executive, who had organised an anti-union
demonstration.

Unfortunately, the University and College Union (UCU) negotiating
team arbitrarily decided to accept a pay offer from the employers (UCEA)
and called off the assessment boycott.

We were invited to attend the UCU general meeting where the pay offer
was going to be discussed. We heard from many how they felt betrayed by
the union leadership, who had sold them out and ended the boycott
without consulting the members.

We received a standing ovation from the members present for our work
and we’ve been invited to join them for a union social, which we’ll be
attending with delight! We’d like to offer our gratitude for the
messages of support we received from students across the country, and in
particular to Kes, Marie-Claire and Indhira, whose energy and enthusiasm
was tremendous in building this campaign.