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From The Socialist newspaper, 27 March 2019
Bradford College strike remains solid over pay and funding
Bradford college workers on strike, March 2019, photo by Iain Dalton (Click to enlarge)
Iain Dalton, Socialist Party West Yorkshire organiser
University and College Union (UCU) members at Bradford College were out in force for the latest round of action over pay in a number of colleges across England.
Over 30 pickets gathered outside the college's flagship David Hockney building, a testament to the money that management has thrown at new buildings while restraining pay for staff.
The college is in crisis, having gone through four different CEOs over the last year, with staff increasingly despairing of the future of the further education sector. But this chaos is also making pickets more determined, as what they see at stake is the existence of such educational provision.
While management at Bradford seem intransigent on the pay issue, increasing numbers of other college managements are being forced to back down to the demands of striking UCU members.
Sheffield UCU branch committee and Socialist Party member Sam Morecroft was one of those who addressed the picket line, bringing solidarity from his UCU branch, along with a donation to the strike fund, and demanding college management open the books so staff can see the full extent of their mismanagement.
This latest three-day action will continue to up the pressure on college managements. But it is vital, given the small numbers of UCU branches in further education that were able to overcome the undemocratic 50% turnout threshold, that other UCU branches and the wider trade union movement mobilise full support.
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In The Socialist 27 March 2019:
What we think
Corbyn and labour movement must mobilise to bring down Tories and force election
Socialist Party news and analysis
Haringey 'Corbyn council' finance chief resigns
Oil firms spend $1bn fighting climate laws: 'Green New Deal' needs socialist policies
Universal Credit forces women into 'survival sex': scrap it now!
NHS staff shortage now permanent: reverse health cuts!
International socialist news and analysis
Algeria uprising: 'We stay here until the whole system goes'
Socialist history
Lessons of the heroic 1984-85 Miners' strike
Visteon: when factory occupations stayed the hands of the bosses
Workplace news and analysis
Support the Honda workers: nationalise to save jobs
Valentine school strike against budget cuts and redundancies
Newark machine bearings factory workers return to work
Striking teachers march against Enfield schools academisation plans
Bradford College strike remains solid over pay and funding
West London civil service workers strike against office closure
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
United working-class struggle needed to fight for trans and women's rights
Leeds residents' anger against private 18-story monster block in 'Little London'
Enthusiastic Southern region socialists plan for the struggles ahead
Worcester library cuts: staff not even consulted
Opinion
Reader's comment: mental health under capitalism
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