SUPPORT OUR LECTURERS: DON’T LET THE BOSSES DIVIDE US!
Posted on April 25, 2006
Filed Under AUT/Natfhe dispute
Despite NUS’s official position of support for the NATFHE/AUT dispute, the pressure of supporting a prolonged industrial struggle is beginning to tell.
NUS has always been less than forthright in its support for the dispute, and NUS President Kat Fletcher has previously expressed “concern” at the AUT’s decision not to set dates for exams as part of its assessment boycott. However, the union has now gone a step further. In a recent press release the NUS said it “condemned” the AUT’s decision not to set exams, and would “put pressure” on them to do so.
This comes in the context of the publication in the Independent of a letter signed by 20 sabbatical officers from various students’ unions attacking the NUS for its position of support for the dispute. (Read the article here)
Although some pro-strike officers admirably responded with their own letter (available here), a groundswell of anti-AUT feeling is clearly developing. It needs to be combated.
To this end, ENS is calling for signatories to the following statement. You can add your name by emailing us.
Whilst it is unfortunate if students’ degrees are disrupted, we cannot allow university bosses to divide us by playing the interests of students off against the interests of workers on campus.
A quality HE sector staffed by well-motivated and well-paid workers is in all our interests. That means we have to support every struggle towards it, even if that means facing some disruption.
NUS’s demands on the AUT to call off aspects of their assessment boycott will have the effect of weighing into the dispute on the side of the bosses.
If you want well-paid lecturers, and if you want an NUS that offers full and unconditional support to workers in struggle on our campuses, please add your name to this statement
Signed:
Daniel Randall, NUS NEC
Sofie Buckland, NUS NEC-elect
Joe Rooney, NUS NEC-elect, Training and Development Officer, West Midlands Area NUS
Heather Shaw, Bretton Hall Officer, Leeds University Students’ Union
Keir Lawson, President, Glasgow University SSP
Pat Yarker, University of East Anglia
Josh Robinson, Queens’ College, Cambridge
Laura Schwartz, University of East London and Students Against Sweatshops campaign
Kate Ferguson, Oxford University Students’ Union executive committee
Mike Wood, York University
Louise Gold, Sheffield University
Ruth Cashman, Newcastle University Union Society Council
Heenal Rajani, Lambeth College
Dave Smith, King’s College, Cambridge
Mike Rowley, Ruskin College, Oxford
Anna Longman, York University
Thomas Lalevée, Pembroke College, Cambridge
Leonie Ratty, Oxford University
Katja Kurbus, University of East London
Edward Maltby, St. Johns College, Cambridge
Keith J. Baker, De Montfort University, No Sweat
Michael Hance, Reading University
Richard Wyatt, Lancaster University
Alasdair Thompson, Edinburgh University, Union Executive
Jacob Bard-Rosenberg, Robinson College, Cambridge
Riccardo Pantone, University of East London
Rachael Ferguson, Sussex University
Leonie Hannan, Royal Holloway, University of London
Rebecca Barr, Jesus College, Cambridge
Pete Harris, VP Services, Edinburgh University
Dan Swain, King’s College, Cambridge
Clare Bielby, Edinburgh University
Houzan Mahmoud, Birkbeck College, UK representative of the Federation of
Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq.
Martin Bleisteiner, University of East London
Sobhi Samour, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
Robert Lee, University of Sussex
Gary Dunion, Staffordshire University and Scottish Young Greens
Tim Freeman, Edinburgh University
Tim Perkins, Chair, Lancaster University Students' Union
Donnacha Kirk, Churchill College, Cambridge
Hanif Leylabi, University of Leeds
Ruth Matthew, Associations Rep, University of Leicester Student’s Union
Andrew Weir, Edinburgh University, Scottish Socialist Students’ Society
Roger Hylton, President, University of Sussex Students’ Union
Abigael Candelas, University of Edinburgh
Andy Hix, Royal Holloway, University of London
Ian Burnett, Edinburgh University Socialist Society
Vicki Mann, Welfare and Graduates Officer, Cambridge University Students’ Union
Gordon Strachan, Stirling University
Charles Atkey, Sheffield University
Keshav Dogra, Edinburgh University
Richard Budden, President, Canterbury Christ Church University
Dave Isaacson, Leeds Metropolitan University and CPGB National Student Organiser.
Jaz Lovett, Leeds Metropolitan University
Dan Glass, President-elect, University of Sussex Students’ Union
Andy Higson, Communications Officer, Union of UEA Students
MFV Manassei, Edinburgh University
Matilda Guffogg, Truro College
Eamonn Coyle, Glasgow University SSP
Vicki Morris, University of Westminster, NUS and NUJ member
Martin Jopp, Liberations Officer, Union of UEA Students
James Kerr, Goldsmiths College
Paul Mauerhoff, University of East London
Andy Mitchell, Welfare Officer, London Met Students’ Union
Kate Ahrens, De Montfort University, Leicester
Christopher Wray, Glasgow University
Ben Crosbie, Strathclyde University
Laurence Howell, University of Plymouth
Tim Gee, VP Services (Elect) Edinburgh University
Carly Smith, Glasgow University
Joshua Fenton-Glynn, Members Liaison Officer, Liverpool Guild
John Awty, Royal Holloway, University of London
Oliver Edwards, University of Bristol
Claire Sheppard, Lancaster University
Robin Evans, St Catharine’s College, Cambridge
Ben Smith, Royal Holloway University Socialist Society
Ant Ince, Queen Mary College University of London
Alisdair Taylor, University of Sussex
Khanya Price-Evans, University of Sussex
Eleanor Root, Essex University
Gemma Houston, Lancaster University
Camisha Bridgeman, Essex University
Elizabeth Elliott, University of Edinburgh
Oliver Murphy, University of Essex
Neil Bennet, Edinburgh University SSP
Gawain Williams, University of Essex, Essex Student Union General Representative
Tom Bristow, University of Edinburgh
Emily Downing, University of Essex
Debbie Hollingsworth, Ruskin College, Oxford
Alison McLaughlin, Glasgow University SSP
Liam O’Reilly, Oxford Brookes University
Matt Donoghue, Oxford Brookes University
Sarah Wilson, University of Essex
Isabelle Hewitt, University College London, PEO-elect
Kat Lay, University College London
Tom Yates, University College London
Sam Steddy, University College London
Jenny Savage, University of Sussex
Harry Stopes, University College London
Rene Lavanchy, University College London
