70% of courses cut- London Metropolitan University Occupied
The Graduate Centre of Holloway Road Campus is currently occupied by students in protest against Vice- Chancellor Malcolm Gillies’ decision to axe 70% of courses- including Performing Arts, Philosophy and History. Gillies’ decision came as a shock a couple of weeks ago.
A demonstration has been called by the National Union of Teachers and the University College Union in support of the occupation, which will take place at 12.30pm, tomorrow (Thursday 5th May) outside the occupation in the Tower Building , Holloway Road.
None of the university teaching staff was consulted about the cuts. A majority of the excellent, dedicated tutors are under imminent threat of losing their jobs. Students already enrolled on the courses face an uncertain future. There have been rumours about transfers to other universities with which WE DO NOT AGREE. This statement is our call for help to save our university, our future and our dreams: to keep London Metropolitan University open to everyone, regardless of their social class, wealth and chosen subject of study. The purpose of this occupation is to present the Vice-Chancellor with our demands:
THE DEMANDS:
1) Meeting with Vice- Chancellor
2) Transparent process and direct communication
3) University management goes back to HEFCE to renegotiate repayment terms
4) Vice- Chancellor to accept proposals put forward by staff in HALE
5) University retracts decision of cuts of ALL courses
6) Students on existing courses which are being deleted, WILL NOT BE TRANSFERRED.
7) Free access IN and OUT of the Occupation
8) No student is victimized following action taken to occupy the space.
There is no other university which offers such a wide range of courses as London Metropolitan. We do not want to be transferred. We are proud to be London Met. Help us save our university and our future.
Claire Locke : Student Union President Elect
Agnes Panasiuk, Daniel Sado: Performing Arts students
Contact: Claire Locke
Mobile: 07957 540012
London Met Student Union President
Email: wearelondonmet@gmail.com
Website: www.wearelondonmet.wordpress.com
wearelondonmet
e-mail: wearelondonmet@gmail.com
Homepage: wearelondonmet@gmail.com
Indymedia
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Connexions Strike Birmingham
On a sunny May afternoon on Broad Street, Birmingham, Connexions workers walked out on strike. There were pickets outside the Connexions offices in Kingsheath, Northfield and Broad St. At around 2pm they planned to unofficially march to a rally in the city centre.
This is the second time Connexions have taken industrial action to prevent Birmingham City Council hemorrhaging jobs. Since the last strike, Connexions Unison members feel that management and the Council are starting to moot ideas about how to reduce the risk to 34 posts, but they obviously need a lot more prompting. 300 posts have been lost through compulsory redundancies elsewhere in the Council this year. The situation in other parts of the country for Connexions workers is a lot worse. We can't expect any political saviours, it's down to people like us to make the difference.
It's good if you can wrong-foot the employer and take action when you realise posts and services may be at risk, before people start serving their notices - because by then, demoralisation can creep in amongst staff. It would also be harder for the employer to back down and it would be more of a symbolic protest.
The lesson is, if you hit the ground running: agitate, organise, build support with the wider anti-cuts movement, take action, this will put your workforce in a stronger position to resist government attacks. It can also inspire others not to give up hope, but to fight back.
What you can do:
i) Draw people's attention to the struggle with the Connexions leaflets and petition, write to Councillors and the local press letters pages
ii) Use Connexions actions to inspire others
ii) Join future pickets and events, people are very welcome - bring colleagues, friends, young people.
Solidarity Forever
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Hundreds march through Cambridge against cuts.
Cameraboy | 03.05.2011 17:08 | Public sector cuts | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | Cambridge
On Saturday April 30th 2011, to mark the Mayday tradition of working class action, and in response to the latest round of public sector cuts, several hundred people gathered in Cambridge Market Square to to make it known that they don't agree with Clegg and Cameron's 'necessary' funding cuts.
The occasion was also marked and celebrated by several musicians and poets performing for all gathered (I don't know all the artists, please add in a comment if you do), including reknowned singer-songwriter Cosmo, who urged everyone (in sung form of course) to "Strike, Occupy Resist"!
This protest also came the day after we were informed that at least £30 million of public funds were spent on the wedding of one of our unelected royal figureheads, while in previous weeks Cambridgeshire County Council had cut funding for many projects and services by over £100 million.
In the circumstances, it should come as no surpise that there are many people who are feeling a bit peeved and are inspired enough to come out on the streets to make their dissent known.
The march did a single circuit of Cambridge city centre, arriving back at The Market Square in time for an hour of music, and before this many local representatives from the community spoke (further input/comments appreciated here), including an FBU rep, amongst many others.
There was a very broad cross section of the community present, including quite a few parents with their children, all of them concerned about the future their kids will face after our public sector has been so drastically (and forcibly) 'downsized' by a government intent on using the national deficit as an excuse to introduce 'market forces' into services where they really don't belong.
The police presence was very low key and there were no arrests.
Cameraboy
Homepage: http://www.cambridgeshireagainstthecuts.org.uk/
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Staff strike over equalities cuts
Wednesday 04 May 2011
by John Millington in Birmingham
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Workers at the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s walked out today in protest at brutal budget cuts which would see regional offices close.
PCS members in Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, London and Manchester co-ordinated a one-hour strike in a bid to save the essential service.
The union also accused the government and commission chief Trevor Philips of wanting to slash staff numbers from 460 to 200 and disconnect an advice helpline at the same time it is paying consultants more than £1,000 a day.
Striking workers in Birmingham received support from passing drivers as they donned yellow union t-shirts and held up placards outside their office.
Workplace rep Laura Ingram said the action was the first of four strikes set for the next four weeks.
But she explained that the action was limited to an hour so as not to “disrupt” the service for vulnerable people facing discrimination.
“We’re here to display our dissatisfaction with the cuts,” she said.
“But any strike action will affect people who face discrimination, so we have to take that into account.”
PCS campaigns officer Zahid Nawaz said workers at the commission performed a vital role in promoting equality “at the grassroots and in communities across Britain.”
Mr Nawaz said the cuts made no sense in the context of the “big society” rhetoric from the coalition.
“Our service is about community empowerment. We cannot do that if we are just based the other side of the Thames.”
Regional adviser Helar Shahid, who works in Nottingham, claimed bosses told them “to pack up their desks” with no discussion on what would happen next.
“I am worried about losing my job,” he said.
A commission spokesperson said: “We regret that the union has decided to withdraw from this process after issuing a list of unrealistic demands which the commission simply cannot meet.
“The entire public sector is having to take difficult decisions and we are cannot give untenable guarantees to staff here.”
johnm@peoples-press.com
Morning Star
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