Support Leeds University lecturers - no to SU scabbing!

Posted on January 15, 2010
Filed Under AUT/Natfhe dispute, Issues and Debate, News

UCU image
Leeds University Union has begun a disgraceful campaign to encourage students to lobby against their lecturers taking strike action. At a time when students unions need to be uniting with workers to launch common campaigns against cuts that affect us all, this is a dangerous, divisive and unprincipled move (if not a surprising one; LUU took a similar position the last time lecturers were in dispute). Read on for a statement from left-wing student movement officers and activists condemning the campaign and calling for solidarity with striking workers. If you agree with it, sign it.

The willingness of Leeds University Union to accept some of the most dramatic cuts in HE in the recent past is a travesty for the student movement and the recent action taken by LUU condemning the strike by lectures should be nationally condemned.

The grassroots student campaign against cuts in alliance with the UCU is an initiative that needs to be supported if the labour and student movements have any chance of reversing yet more government and management decisions to slash HE funding. The decision taken by the Leeds UCU to withhold their labour from the university is by far the most effective way to oppose these cuts. By effectively scabbing on the strike by Leeds lecturers, LUU is handing over victory to management and helping to destroy the most powerful weapon against these cuts. The link between the causes of workers and students is a very real one; indeed, LUU supports the Leeds refuse workers’ strike. Why won’t it carry through the logic for a dispute defending the rights of its own members?

We, the undersigned condemn the action taken by LUU and demand they reverse their decision and support their lecturers and the students of the anti-cuts campaign.

Signed,

Hind Hassan, Equality & Diversity Officer, Leeds University Union (07-08) & NUS National Executive (08-09)
Chris Marks, Vice-President (Education), Hull University Union
Alice Marshall, Vice-President (Welfare), Hull University Union
Assed Baig, President, Staffordshire University Students’ Union
Heather Shaw, Bretton Hall Officer, Leeds University Union (05-06)
Hazel Kent, Women’s Officer, University of Manchester Students’ Union
Daf Adley, NUS LGBT Officer
Daniel Randall, NUS National Executive (05-06) & NUS Trustee Board
James Haywood, NUS National Executive
Aled Dilwyn Fisher, General Secretary, LSE Students Union

To add your name, email Chris Marks at c.marks@hull.ac.uk