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WE NEED tO StEP UP tHE FIGHt tO wIN

T
odays two-hour strike follows last Thursdays successful joint action with the EIS, Unison and Unite. Once again our strike was well supported by students. In London some university workers visited tube workers picket lines to link up with other workers who are ghting back. This is now our third two-hour strike. Despite these two-hour strikes being seen by many activists as a deescalation by the union, members have made the strikes a success on many campuses. This dispute can be won. We should ght to get more joint action by EIS, UCU, Unite and Unison linked with students if we can. Student support is crucial, thats why the ght for pay has to be linked to the battle to defend education. We need mass pickets, protests, rallies, meetings and teach-outs to strengthen unity on the campuses and debate the best way forward. But with UCU leaders holding back hard hitting ASOS to late April we need a bridge of action and activity to keep up the momentum of the dispute. Its clear that most activists dont want to see more two-hour strikes but do want to see a strategy that can win. We voted on a clear strategy at UCU Congress for more escalating strike action this term, now we need that plan to be implemented! A victory for university workers on pay can help the wider battle to defend education and give condence to everyone who is ghting back. Lets escalate our action to win.

After todays third two-hour strike

UCU ELEcTIONS
Elections to the UCU unions NEC have opened. They run until 28 February. This is a chance to challenge the recent retreats and pessimism of the current leadership. UCU Left candidates are calling for the reinstatement of escalating action and are committed to building a ghting, democratic union. For a list of candidates and election materials go to uculeft.org

Bullying

But bullying managements on some campuses have used the two-hour strikes to go onto the oensive and have docked a full days pay from UCU members. Most UCU branches will strike again for just two hours today. But Aberdeen, Bradford, East London, West of Scotland, Greenwich, Staordshire, the Leeds College of Art, Manchester Met, Nottingham Trent, Robert Gordon and Queen Mary UL are all set to strike for a full day against pay docking. Many activists believe UCU should have called out every university for the day on 10 February to show solidarity with those who have had pay docked. Thats because universities cannot be allowed to ght alone. An injury to one is an injury to all. If the university bosses dock pay for partial performance whether thats for strike action or action short of a strike (ASOS) we need a national response.
National activists meeting hosted by UCU Left

Future

In the UCU NEC elections we recommend these candidates

NEC candidates supported by UCU Left Vice-President (FE): Loraine Monk North East HE: Paul Blackledge, Mike Lammiman, Jeff Fowler North East FE: Lee Short, Umit Yildiz Londonand the East HE: Adrian Budd, Ioanna Ioannou, Sean Wallis UK-Elected HE: Lesley McGorrigan, Jelena Timotijevich, Karen Evans, Andreas Bieler, Carlo Morelli, Eleni Michalopoulou, Paul Blackledge UK-Elected FE: Darren Tolliday, Alan Barker, Paul Pritchard, Allister Mactaggart, Margot Hill Representatives of women members HE: Sue Abbott, Saira Weiner, Nadia Edmond Representatives of women members FE: Rhiannon Lockley, Margot Hill

Of course this dispute is about pay, but its about so much more. Its about the future of higher education, thats what were ghting for. And were also part of the wider ght against austerity. Other trade unionists are hitting back too. Teachers, members of the NUT have just announced a national strike on 26 March and Tube workers in London were out for 48 hours last week against job cuts.

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Lecturers 07/02/14

DEFEnd EducATIOn, FIGHT FOR FAIR PAY

Saturday 1 March, 11-4pm, School of Oriental and African Studies, Vernon Sq, Penton Rise, London, WC1X 9EW

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