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From The Socialist newspaper, 2 December 2020
Solidarity with Brighton UCU strike - we won't pay for Covid crisis
Brighton UCU pickett line Photo: Glenn Kelly (Click to enlarge)
Phoebe Rimmer, Brighton University Socialist Students
Brighton University's decision to make a third of its IT department redundant during a time when it is so desperately needed, is emblematic of a greater problem - turning universities into businesses.
It is a clear attempt at cutting costs at the expense of providing quality education. Where lectures have moved online in light of the pandemic, the IT team is crucial in ensuring that this can be achieved to as high of a standard as possible, given the circumstances.
How can we expect competent levels of teaching, and communication and resources to be available, without the work of the IT staff who supplement them?
Online teaching is massively important at this time, as it protects our vulnerable students and staff.
We cannot afford to go back to face-to-face teaching when the university cannot provide a safe environment, such as social distancing measures and proper hygiene procedures.
We have seen how universities are a hotspot for the virus, so can we really afford to open up Brighton campuses to risk it all? Are the lives of students and staff worth less than the profits made?
Ultimately we must put an end to the marketisation of education. Under this system, universities will forever be competing with one another like private businesses.
We stand with the University and College Union and their decision to strike on 2 December, and we call on Brighton Students' Union to do so too.
The redundancies will affect our education, our future, and we must unite against Brighton University's financially driven decisions.
University staff are essential in our education, students are not customers, and access to free education is a right.
Staff and students alike should not be exploited to uphold a broken system. Not now, not ever.
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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.
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In The Socialist 2 December 2020:
What we think
Spending Review. Unions must resist return to austerity
Spending Review
What will the spending review mean for me?
Napo kickstarts fight against pay freeze
News
Better for billionaires. Worse for workers
Arcadia and Debenhams closures: Nationalise to save jobs and pensions
Scotland: Campaign wins end to period poverty
NHS: Underfunded, understaffed, underpaid
Devolution
Workplace News
Don't let the festive season be one of misery for retail workers
Equity union conference calls for radical change - now lead a fight!
Solidarity with Brighton UCU strike - we won't pay for Covid crisis
East London teachers strike in support of victimised union rep
Heathrow workers strike against 'fire and rehire' plans
Hackney: Stop plan to halve school support staff!
Pay freeze protest Homerton Hospital
Unison general secretary ballot closes
Environment
'Building back greener' - yet more Tory greenwash
International News
Marxism
Review: Friedrich Engels - Condition of the working class in England
Campaigns
Wales TUSC plans to mount an electoral challenge
Rent strikers' victory in Manchester student halls
Labour meeting lets MP get away with 'Spycops' abstention
Reader's opinion
Fast fashion, big profits, low pay
Diego Maradona - Working-class rebel, football genius
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2021