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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