All Organisations subcategories:
Committee for a Workers International
Nationalist and National Liberation
Pro capitalist and Imperialist
Left and radical keywords:
International Socialist Resistance (54)
Revolutionary Communist League (1)
Socialist Peoples Party (Denmark) (1)
Socialist Students
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Search site for keywords: Students - Workers - Unite - Strike - Socialist - Education - University - Socialist Students - UCU - Universities - Higher Education - Fees - Tuition Fees - Sussex - College
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.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
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.
LATEST POSTS
12 May Stop Israeli state brutality
 |
9 May Post-election meetings
15 May Birmingham Socialist Party: How can we fight for socialist change and a new workers' party?
17 May Oxfordshire & Aylesbury Socialist Party: The role of the state
18 May Bristol North Socialist Party: Liverpool - history of socialist struggle
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: [email protected]
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 079 8202 1969
East Mids: 077 3797 8057
London: 075 4018 9052
North East: 078 4114 4890
North West 079 5437 6096
South West: 077 5979 6478
Southern: 078 3368 1910
Wales: 079 3539 1947
West Mids: 024 7655 5620
Yorkshire: 078 0983 9793
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999