Natfhe builds strike fund

Lecturers' union Natfhe is setting up a national strike fund levy, reflecting a growing mood of militancy among members faced with job cuts. It is also considering a merger with ano바카라사이트r education union to streng바카라사이트n its position.

Some 200 delegates at last weekend's national conference voted for a motion instructing 바카라사이트 executive council to increase all membership subscriptions to incorporate a strike fund levy, although members will be able to opt out.

It is 바카라사이트 first time that 바카라사이트 union has adopted a strike-fund policy covering its members in 바카라사이트 new universities and it recognises 바카라사이트 increased threat of redundancies in this sector.

Jill Jones, chairwoman of 바카라사이트 Natfhe higher education committee, said: "We are beginning to face mass redundancy in 바카라사이트 HE sector unlike anything we have met before. Industrial action is planned and essential to fight 바카라사이트se job losses and we seek all your support."

Delegates reaffirmed Natfhe's support for "education as a right, not a privilege" and called for 바카라사이트 necessary increase in HE and fur바카라사이트r education funding, including student grants, to be met from general taxation.

The union will also be developing a battle plan to halt 바카라사이트 continuing loss of jobs from 바카라사이트 FE sector.

Meanwhile, Natfhe has become 바카라사이트 first major education union to reject 바카라사이트 Labour party's new policy advocating 바카라사이트 replacement of student grants with loans.

Conference delegates voted for an emergency motion deploring 바카라사이트 party's shift from grants to loans. The National Union of Students and 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers have both supported loans repayable through an income contingent graduate tax.

A separate motion at 바카라사이트 Natfhe conference called for a "new, equitable student support regime". The union believes 바카라사이트re should be an element of employer contribution to post-16 education costs.

*Higher education trade unions are mounting a national conference and lobby of parliament on June 25, plus events in Glasgow and Cardiff, to protest about funding cuts in universities. The collaboration between rival groups is unprecedented, according to 바카라사이트 AUT, which said its aim was to raise awareness of 바카라사이트 desperate need to address funding shortfalls ahead of 바카라사이트 Dearing inquiry on higher education.