Occupation at Essex University on NUS day of action.

The boardroom in Ivor Crew’s management suite at the University of Essex was occupied today, Wednesday 25th Feb.

Top university boss Crew is also the president of ‘Universities UK’, the consortium that is pushing for the £3,000 a year fees championed by Blair. He is therefore a key player behind the unleashing of market forces on higher education.

At 12 noon the first group of between 15 - 20 Essex students gained initial access to Crews private office suite and occupied his boardroom, placing banners and posters in the windows. More then joined, coming and going throughout the day. This peaceful direct action was part of the National Union of Students day of action against the fees. The occupation shut down the vital reception, registry and senior management offices of the university until the end of the working day.

This was done alongside the solid strike action by AUT members, which shut down all teaching at the University for two days. The AUT (association of university teachers) is fighting against attacks on their pay and conditions that go along with the promotion of a free market in education along with variable tuition fees. United action by education unions and students could win a great victory against this imposition of free market forces.

The action also shut down the registrar’s office, which is part of Ivor Crews management suite. This was our reply to an e-mail from the registrar instructing students to cross their lecturers’ picket lines. We do not agree with being told to scab! Instead, students have stood together with staff in solidarity. Our fight is their fight!

This action was spontaneously initiated by a group of ordinary students, frustrated at the lack of official action from their local student union. However, after the action began, student union officials, including the local union president came and joined the occupation in support. The occupation was also joined by some visiting sixth form students. Blair and Crew’s fees will hit the next generation hardest, and sixth formers are keen to join the fight!

We hope that this is just the start of a protest movement that can stop fees, win decent staff pay and a properly funded education system. We must stop the free market destroying education. Education is not a mere commodity, nor is it a privilege, its is a universal human right. We would like our movement to force a shift in society’s priorities, away from warfare and greed and towards satisfying human welfare and need! Another World Is Possible!

Essex Students Occupation.