Hundreds demonstrate as University of Sussex staff strike (From The Argus)
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Hundreds demonstrate as University of Sussex staff strike
9:09am Thursday 18th March 2010 in
Hundreds of staff and students from a university are expected to demonstrate today against proposed job cuts.
University of Sussex staff are staging a one-day walkout today over plans to cut 115 jobs in a bid to save £5 million in 2010-11.
More than three-quarters of the balloted University and College Union members voted for strike action last week.
About 850 students last night supported a vote of no confidence in the Vice Chancellor's Executive Group at a special meeting yesterday.
This morning, a lecturer, who asked not to be named, said: "People see the cuts as a blow to the heart of the university.
"Education should be at the heart of the university's mission, but it's being downgraded."
The support from students has been extremely heartening, to see how willing they are to support the campaign against cuts."
Tom Wills, the University of Sussex Student Union, said: "We want to defend education for anyone who wants it. "Three thousands students are going to be without a place at university this year."
Three picket lines on entrances to the campus, and at Bramber house.
The UCU says it is not aware of any members who has broken the strike.
Meanwhile, honks of support from cars going past the campus can be heard.
Up to 100 students have occupied a lecture theatre at the Falmer campus for seven days in protest against the cuts.
They are joining the protest next to the union picket line at the campus entrance from 7am to 4pm.
Comments(24)
rpdutt
says...
10:14am Thu 18 Mar 10
thucydides
says...
10:17am Thu 18 Mar 10
Lord Tilford
says...
10:33am Thu 18 Mar 10
davyboy
says...
10:34am Thu 18 Mar 10
sussexladybabe
says...
10:35am Thu 18 Mar 10
Lewesman wrote:I think you mean Peter Haine's rent a mob (not the audience one on BBC Question Time - this is already paid for by the BBC).
And no doubt there will be representatives from every left wing layabout group that exists including Peter Hain's mob.
oldmarket
says...
10:37am Thu 18 Mar 10
rpdutt wrote:Er, Permatan is Secretary of State for Wales under the current Labour government.
I don't think the Young Liberals still exist, Lewesman
Nyberg
says...
10:38am Thu 18 Mar 10
Demonstration against job cuts at University of Sussex - waste of time - job cuts will still be implemented - join the real world.
scthetruth
says...
11:28am Thu 18 Mar 10
Nyberg wrote:Why should you be concerned living in Sweden????
Smash EDO demos - waste of time - factory is still open and will remain so.
Demonstration against job cuts at University of Sussex - waste of time - job cuts will still be implemented - join the real world.
steveP2009
says...
12:02pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Also, the fact that the Vice Chancellor is on a higher wage than the primeminister!
Ellie Hristova
says...
12:36pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Lord Tilford wrote:Get your facts right
I wonder how many students will notice that their lecturers have 'walked out'? It's probably the first time most lecturers have been on campus for months.
to follow the campaign go to http://defendsussex.
wordpress.com/
Granny
says...
1:33pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Nyberg
says...
1:58pm Thu 18 Mar 10
scthetruth wrote:Never heard of a nom de plume? Or the Wallander novels?
Nyberg wrote: Smash EDO demos - waste of time - factory is still open and will remain so. Demonstration against job cuts at University of Sussex - waste of time - job cuts will still be implemented - join the real world.Why should you be concerned living in Sweden????
brightonboy1968
says...
2:06pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Kevin1978
says...
2:07pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Nyberg wrote:You see a lot of comments posted by people from overseas on other newspaper columns too. Either they are homesick ex pats or foreigners sticking their noses in.
scthetruth wrote:Never heard of a nom de plume? Or the Wallander novels?
Nyberg wrote: Smash EDO demos - waste of time - factory is still open and will remain so. Demonstration against job cuts at University of Sussex - waste of time - job cuts will still be implemented - join the real world.Why should you be concerned living in Sweden????
TheInsider
says...
7:29pm Thu 18 Mar 10
There were more pensioners at the Save Worthing Hospital Campaign.
Why are so many students so apathetic?
als40
says...
1:56am Fri 19 Mar 10
Kevin1978 wrote:Waste of time? At Leeds University, 600 job cuts were prevented by strike action. Our community's campaigning has already forced the management to reinstate a number of lecturers and only today six students suspended for efforts were reinstated. Why don't you join the real world and you might discover that whilst the university's funding is being cut the axe need not fall on lecturers, courses and ancillary staff. The UCU has already formulated a plan to make just as many savings as the VC's plan, but without any job losses.
Nyberg wrote:You see a lot of comments posted by people from overseas on other newspaper columns too. Either they are homesick ex pats or foreigners sticking their noses in.
scthetruth wrote:Never heard of a nom de plume? Or the Wallander novels?
Nyberg wrote: Smash EDO demos - waste of time - factory is still open and will remain so. Demonstration against job cuts at University of Sussex - waste of time - job cuts will still be implemented - join the real world.Why should you be concerned living in Sweden????
Brightonboy, whilst I think your use of the term "mickey mouse subjects" is highly insulting, I would also like to point out that well established traditional courses are amongst the worst hit. My own subject, History, is badly affected as are English, IT, Modern Languages etc. Business is one of the areas that management is actually intending to expand.
als40
says...
2:06am Fri 19 Mar 10
TheInsider wrote:The latest actions are not the end of this campaign. We are continually seeking to build the movement for a campaign which will continue next term and possibly next year. There have actually been very good levels of attendance so far. An EGM of the student union yesterday was attended by over 850 people who passed a vote of no confidence in the Vice Chancellor's Executive. Last week, just prior to the latest occupation, over 500 people attended a rally. These are impressive numbers at a university of only 10,000 and we hope to see the movement increase even further in the coming months
Considering there are 30,000 students in the city, this turn out is a shameful example of the lethargy of youth in modern Britain.
There were more pensioners at the Save Worthing Hospital Campaign.
Why are so many students so apathetic?
Nyberg
says...
9:42am Fri 19 Mar 10
als40 wrote:I don't call 850 out of 10,000 'impressive figures'. That means that more than 9,000 of the students DIDN'T pass the vote of no confidence.
TheInsider wrote: Considering there are 30,000 students in the city, this turn out is a shameful example of the lethargy of youth in modern Britain. There were more pensioners at the Save Worthing Hospital Campaign. Why are so many students so apathetic?The latest actions are not the end of this campaign. We are continually seeking to build the movement for a campaign which will continue next term and possibly next year. There have actually been very good levels of attendance so far. An EGM of the student union yesterday was attended by over 850 people who passed a vote of no confidence in the Vice Chancellor's Executive. Last week, just prior to the latest occupation, over 500 people attended a rally. These are impressive numbers at a university of only 10,000 and we hope to see the movement increase even further in the coming months
Hardly a mandate for your action, is it?
brightonboy1968
says...
9:55am Fri 19 Mar 10
rpdutt
says...
10:27am Fri 19 Mar 10
oldmarket wrote:You do have short memories, oldmarket and lewesman. Hain made his name in the early 70s in the Young Liberals.
rpdutt wrote:Er, Permatan is Secretary of State for Wales under the current Labour government.
I don't think the Young Liberals still exist, Lewesman
As for 'mickey mouse' subjects, in fact the V-C's strategy is precisely to remove subjects with real academic depth from the university, and keep those that bring in money, like business studies. The staff and students are to be applauded for standing up for a proper university education
als40
says...
10:37pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Nyberg wrote:Mandela Hall was full to capacity and students had to be turned away. That the vote was almost unanimous really does suggest that there is a strong depth of feeling aginst these cuts. Not every student is able to attend at any given time due to lectures and exams. Whilst I'm sure that wouldn't count for 10,000, you have to realize that back in November far fewer students were involved. Our numbers are burgeoning with each small victory and the accompanying publicity. As more the student body becomes aware of the nature and extent of the cuts it is inevitable that next term we will see record levels of support.
als40 wrote:I don't call 850 out of 10,000 'impressive figures'. That means that more than 9,000 of the students DIDN'T pass the vote of no confidence.
TheInsider wrote: Considering there are 30,000 students in the city, this turn out is a shameful example of the lethargy of youth in modern Britain. There were more pensioners at the Save Worthing Hospital Campaign. Why are so many students so apathetic?The latest actions are not the end of this campaign. We are continually seeking to build the movement for a campaign which will continue next term and possibly next year. There have actually been very good levels of attendance so far. An EGM of the student union yesterday was attended by over 850 people who passed a vote of no confidence in the Vice Chancellor's Executive. Last week, just prior to the latest occupation, over 500 people attended a rally. These are impressive numbers at a university of only 10,000 and we hope to see the movement increase even further in the coming months
Hardly a mandate for your action, is it?
als40
says...
10:56pm Fri 19 Mar 10
TheInsider
says...
12:35am Sat 20 Mar 10
This industry is now undergoing a re-structure in the same way many industries are in the current recession including BA, the NHS, the rail industry etc as they try to survive with falling customer numbers.
Higher Education in the UK has gone the same way as the UK police force which has also lost its status when the Govt tried to palm off the public with PCSOs.
I fear the students may have realised a little too late that they have been duped.
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Lewesman says...
9:32am Thu 18 Mar 10