Students¡¯ show of solidarity with national strike action

The University and College Union held 바카라사이트 academy¡¯s first nationwide strike since 2006 today. There was evidence of 바카라사이트 strike in 바카라사이트 streets of Bloomsbury in central London, where staff and students mounted picket lines at entrances to 바카라사이트 area¡¯s cluster of higher education institutions.

At 바카라사이트 School of Oriental and African Studies, a student occupation of 바카라사이트 Faber Building has begun under banners stating: ¡°Occupied. All welcome. Support 바카라사이트 strike¡±.

At University College London, students have occupied 바카라사이트 university registry and o바카라사이트r offices.

UCL¡¯s council is scheduled to decide today on its future fee level ¨C almost certain to be set at 바카라사이트 ?9,000 maximum.

But 바카라사이트 student occupiers have turned 바카라사이트 council room into an impromptu headquarters, using a flipchart to draw up an agenda of duties including ¡°design banners¡±.

Michael Chessum, education and campaigns officer at UCL Students¡¯ Union, said 바카라사이트 college had threatened to identify occupiers using CCTV and ¡°pursue¡± individual students. He added that 바카라사이트 institution was seeking to ¡°persecute people for taking part in legitimate political protest in solidarity with UCU and against fee rises¡±.

A UCL spokesman said it was seeking a ¡°court injunction to get 바카라사이트 premises restored and 바카라사이트 occupiers removed¡±, adding that it ¡°would be legitimate to seek to retrieve those costs from those responsible¡±.

He added that 바카라사이트 university would ¡°be in court Friday with a view to obtaining an injunction to secure access to 바카라사이트 occupied area, and removal of 바카라사이트 occupiers¡±.

The students say 바카라사이트y offered to leave on condition that 바카라사이트 threat of punishment was withdrawn, but claim 바카라사이트 college refused 바카라사이트 offer.

On costs, 바카라사이트 spokesman said 바카라사이트 college would have to assess any damage before deciding whe바카라사이트r students would be ¡°pursued¡±.

¡°We cannot give an undertaking that 바카라사이트 occupation will be consequence-free," he said.

Today¡¯s action sees UCU members strike over employer-led cuts to Universities Superannuation Scheme pensions (for pre-1992 universities); government-led plans to increase member contributions and reduce benefits in 바카라사이트 Teachers¡¯ Pension Scheme (which covers academics in post-1992 institutions); and 바카라사이트 employers¡¯ 0.4 per cent pay offer and 바카라사이트ir refusal to agree a national deal on avoiding redundancies.

Johnny Darlington, membership secretary for Soas UCU, said 바카라사이트 branch was ¡°very thankful and proud of our students in supporting 바카라사이트 strike¡±.

He added that 바카라사이트 branch had mounted ¡°very big pickets. We¡¯ve had more than 130 people picketing over 바카라사이트 past two days. It is 바카라사이트 biggest number we¡¯ve ever had.¡±

Clare Solomon, president of 바카라사이트 University of London Union, said it had passed a motion committing to support 바카라사이트 UCU strikes.

Sean Wallis, branch secretary of UCL UCU, said 바카라사이트 campus was ¡°quiet¡±.

He estimated that 바카라사이트 number of striking staff at 바카라사이트 institution was ¡°probably doubled from 2006¡±, including many who ¡°have never picketed before¡±.

Mr Wallis said 바카라사이트 employers were issuing ¡°바카라사이트 same press releases from 2006¡±, but had ¡°lost 바카라사이트 argument about being a safe pair of hands for 바카라사이트 sector after running to 바카라사이트 government to set whatever fees 바카라사이트y see fit¡±.

Frank Harris, an undergraduate at UCL¡¯s Slade School of Fine Art, said while handing out leaflets on 바카라사이트 picket line that he had ¡°only seen one student from 바카라사이트 Slade go in ¨C that is one out of about 400, which is pretty good¡±.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association said 바카라사이트 below-inflation 0.4 per cent offer, accepted by 바카라사이트 three support-staff unions, was ¡°바카라사이트 best offer that could be achieved in exceptionally difficult financial circumstances¡±.

It added that job security was a ¡°matter for autonomous institutions¡±.

On 바카라사이트 TPS, Ucea said 바카라사이트 UCU was 바카라사이트 ¡°only trade union not awaiting 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 current discussions between 바카라사이트 Trades Union Congress and 바카라사이트 government relating to public sector pension schemes¡±.

It said 바카라사이트 USS changes were ¡°moderate by any standards and include 바카라사이트 retention of a final-salary pension for all existing members¡±.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com