An estimated 8500 people marched from Gateshead Civic Centre down over the Tyne and on to Spillers Wharf on Wednesday to the cheers and clapping of onlookers along the route. Speakers from many of the Unions involved addressed the crowd at Spillers Wharf where marchers gathered with an array of flags and banners to brighten…
Category: News
Middlesbrough College picket line
Middlesbrough College UCU members and representatives were back on the picket line again – but this time were joined by UNISON. Making sure that every entrance was covered, the pickets started early on what was a cold morning, but were kept in good spirits by the small number of people going into the building and…
Darlington College Picket Lines get a VIP visit!
Pickets were up and ready to start at 7.00a.m. at Darlington College as UCU members showed the strength of feeling about attacks to pay and pensions. Around 100 members took strike action and a quarter of those turned up on the picket lines to show to others why we were taking action. Those who came…
Strike causes disruption at Newcastle University
UCU members were up early and picketing on Thursday 24th March 2011 as strike action over a 0.4% pay rise led to anger amongst academics. The strike at Newcastle University had big lively pickets with music and banners and the support from the students was visible and very welcome, including one Newcastle University student who…
Students show their support for strike at Newcastle College
Pickets were up early and ready to show the strength of feeling of UCU members at Newcastle College about the attack on pay and pensions for those working in FE Colleges. Those working at Newcastle College had additional incentives to be angry as the College has begun proceedings to dismiss as redundant 171 staff…
Teesside University Lecturers – on strike to defend pensions, pay and jobs
Lecturers at Teesside University – “The University of the Year!” – took strike action on 24 March 2011 and reported good support from staff and students alike, also reporting that senior management in the institution were sympathetic to the dispute as “No-one likes it when their pension and their future is attacked”. Further coverage: http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2011/03/23/teesside-lecturers-take-action-in-pensions-protest-84229-28383004/
Northumberland College lecturers strike as pay rise is 0.2% and pensions are under attack
Pickets at the main entrances to Northumberland College, Ashington Making pickets (and striking!) as visible as possible! Pickets at Northumberland College were up early to picket and then went on to the centre of Newcastle for a march and rally, to hear Kathy Taylor (ex-Branch Secretary of Northumberland College and current national Vice-President) speak about…
South Tyneside College – Pickets and Strike 24 March 2011
he above picket at Hebburn Campus was named on the UCU website as “The winner of the first branch to report pickets up and running goes to South Tyneside College“ (reported at http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5395) Branch Secretary, Jonathan Spink, had ensured that every entrance at both sites were covered and some of the pickets at the…
Sunderland University on Strike!
Lecturers across Sunderland University took strike action on 24th March 2011 to fight for jobs and to protect pay and pensions. Pickets were up early and at every campus and building: Together we are stronger! Many of the strikers and pickets later attended a mass rally of lecturers and students in Newcastle, Jeff Fowler, Branch…
Pickets at FE Colleges across Durham on 24th March 2011
Lecturers across FE Colleges in Durham were taking strike action to protest about pay and pensions. Lesley Rich and Mike Binner, Branch Officers at New College Durham picketed to explain the situation to staff and students alike, and were joined by Joyce McAndrew, Regional Support Official for UCU, (and others) on the picket line. Early…