Lambeth College III leaflet
Content
Lambeth College: striking to defend education
T
he decision by UCU members at Lambeth College to launch an all out strike was absolutely right. That action will be even stronger if Unison members vote to strike too. The draconian new contracts will hit the conditions of staff of course, but they’ll also badly affect the education of students. Lambeth College represents a poor working class area. Its ESOL classes are vital for migrant communities. For many students Lambeth offers a second chance for a good education. But the sell off of the Brixton site shows why it’s only the unions and the community who can be trusted to defend the college’s future.
Tube workers picket London Bridge this week. Photo: Guy Smallman
www.socialistworker.co.uk
Back in 2009 an all-out strike by UCU members at Tower Hamlets College received huge support from across the movement and stopped compulsory redundancies.
Lambeth College staff, UCU and Unison members, can win this fight. Its crucial that strikers get out into the movement fast to raise solidarity and put their case. UCU has to build huge support for this strike. Every employer and every union member in further education will be looking at the result. That’s why this is a fight that has to be won – for staff, students and the whole community.
Time
Back these fights
• Unison members at Care UK in Doncaster will strike for two more weeks from 5 May against huge pay cuts. • UCU members at Lambeth College start an indefinite strike on 1 May, over a contract dispute. • Workers at Ritzy cinema in Brixton are fighting for a living wage. These workers need your solidarity. Rush messages of support and requests for reps to speak at your union branch to: Care UK: [email protected] Ritzy: [email protected] Lambeth College: [email protected]
Crude
Management have made several pretty crude attempts to divide and rule the workforce. There have been flyers to all staff and students urging members not to strike and claiming that striking against attacks on contracts ‘damages’ the college. But any crisis in college finances is due to a combination of government funding cuts and austerity, previous mismanagement of finances and significant over-borrowing to pay for poorly researched projects. That’s why it’s right to organise hard-hitting strike action now to defend our college. In recent weeks extended strikes at Edinburgh College (EIS), Ealing hospital (GMB) and by cleaners at SOAS university (Unison) have all brought victories. Workers at CareUK in Doncaster start a further two weeks of strikes against a massive pay cut on Monday.
Everyone would rather teach than strike. But if there has to be a fight this is a good time to do it. Locally in Lambeth workers at the Ritzy cinema are also striking, for a living wage. More generally we’re seeing strikes by tube workers, firefighters and teachers. Ballots for action are also underway, involving hundreds of thousands of health and local government workers. People are fed up with bullying bosses and years of austerity.
■ I would like to get Socialist Worker regularly ■ I want to join the Socialist Workers Party
Name .................................................................................................... Address ................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. Phone.................................................................................................... Email.....................................................................................................
Lambeth College 30/04/14
Return to Membership, PO Box 42184, London SW8 2WD or email [email protected] Have you got a story for us? Please use the email address above, or call 020 7819 1180 (Editorial)
T
he decision by UCU members at Lambeth College to launch an all out strike was absolutely right. That action will be even stronger if Unison members vote to strike too. The draconian new contracts will hit the conditions of staff of course, but they’ll also badly affect the education of students. Lambeth College represents a poor working class area. Its ESOL classes are vital for migrant communities. For many students Lambeth offers a second chance for a good education. But the sell off of the Brixton site shows why it’s only the unions and the community who can be trusted to defend the college’s future.
Tube workers picket London Bridge this week. Photo: Guy Smallman
www.socialistworker.co.uk
Back in 2009 an all-out strike by UCU members at Tower Hamlets College received huge support from across the movement and stopped compulsory redundancies.
Lambeth College staff, UCU and Unison members, can win this fight. Its crucial that strikers get out into the movement fast to raise solidarity and put their case. UCU has to build huge support for this strike. Every employer and every union member in further education will be looking at the result. That’s why this is a fight that has to be won – for staff, students and the whole community.
Time
Back these fights
• Unison members at Care UK in Doncaster will strike for two more weeks from 5 May against huge pay cuts. • UCU members at Lambeth College start an indefinite strike on 1 May, over a contract dispute. • Workers at Ritzy cinema in Brixton are fighting for a living wage. These workers need your solidarity. Rush messages of support and requests for reps to speak at your union branch to: Care UK: [email protected] Ritzy: [email protected] Lambeth College: [email protected]
Crude
Management have made several pretty crude attempts to divide and rule the workforce. There have been flyers to all staff and students urging members not to strike and claiming that striking against attacks on contracts ‘damages’ the college. But any crisis in college finances is due to a combination of government funding cuts and austerity, previous mismanagement of finances and significant over-borrowing to pay for poorly researched projects. That’s why it’s right to organise hard-hitting strike action now to defend our college. In recent weeks extended strikes at Edinburgh College (EIS), Ealing hospital (GMB) and by cleaners at SOAS university (Unison) have all brought victories. Workers at CareUK in Doncaster start a further two weeks of strikes against a massive pay cut on Monday.
Everyone would rather teach than strike. But if there has to be a fight this is a good time to do it. Locally in Lambeth workers at the Ritzy cinema are also striking, for a living wage. More generally we’re seeing strikes by tube workers, firefighters and teachers. Ballots for action are also underway, involving hundreds of thousands of health and local government workers. People are fed up with bullying bosses and years of austerity.
■ I would like to get Socialist Worker regularly ■ I want to join the Socialist Workers Party
Name .................................................................................................... Address ................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. Phone.................................................................................................... Email.....................................................................................................
Lambeth College 30/04/14
Return to Membership, PO Box 42184, London SW8 2WD or email [email protected] Have you got a story for us? Please use the email address above, or call 020 7819 1180 (Editorial)
