Occupation
Steve Stephenson | 23.03.2011 19:02 | Social Struggles | World
Yesterday at 2pm, students of the University of Kent fought back against the coalition's attack on lecturer pensions, in solidarity with the UCU staff strike. They have established themselves in the dining hall and intend to remain to represent the support of students for the strike action.
The protesters insisted, the UCU have not chosen to strike lightly, it has arisen from a disagreement with management due to the failure to agree on a proportional wage increase and pension package. Their requests are not selfish or extortionate, they are reasonable and fair and should be respected. Protesters remain in solidarity with lecturer actions and demands.
Protesters have negotiated to stay until tomorrow, but not without causing great frustrations for the university, as the dining hall will have been occupied for two nights. Numbers at the protest have increased over the course of the last 24 hours, as more and more students join the show of defiance.
One of the protesters, Stephanie Stevenson, a physics student, said 'Our staff and lecturers support us every day, and we wanted to express our solidarity with them, now that they have been targeted by the austerity measures.' Asked if she was disappointed to be going tomorrow, she said 'I guess I am a little... being here has been wonderful, we've formed a great academic community, standing together for our lecturers'.
Protesters remind students, as well as the general public, to show their anger at the severe and ideologically driven cuts to public services at the trade union march on Saturday, the 26th. The cuts coming through will effect great sections of society and this is a fight for more than just those in the education sector, this is a fight for all those who will suffer from these unjust and harmful measures.
Please write back ASAP for more info/interviews.
--
You can follow us on
Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/University-of-Kent-Occupation/171644132870152
Twitter @UKCanticuts (and our campaign at #iwouldntbehere)
Thank you very much
UKC anti-cuts
The protesters insisted, the UCU have not chosen to strike lightly, it has arisen from a disagreement with management due to the failure to agree on a proportional wage increase and pension package. Their requests are not selfish or extortionate, they are reasonable and fair and should be respected. Protesters remain in solidarity with lecturer actions and demands.
Protesters have negotiated to stay until tomorrow, but not without causing great frustrations for the university, as the dining hall will have been occupied for two nights. Numbers at the protest have increased over the course of the last 24 hours, as more and more students join the show of defiance.
One of the protesters, Stephanie Stevenson, a physics student, said 'Our staff and lecturers support us every day, and we wanted to express our solidarity with them, now that they have been targeted by the austerity measures.' Asked if she was disappointed to be going tomorrow, she said 'I guess I am a little... being here has been wonderful, we've formed a great academic community, standing together for our lecturers'.
Protesters remind students, as well as the general public, to show their anger at the severe and ideologically driven cuts to public services at the trade union march on Saturday, the 26th. The cuts coming through will effect great sections of society and this is a fight for more than just those in the education sector, this is a fight for all those who will suffer from these unjust and harmful measures.
Please write back ASAP for more info/interviews.
--
You can follow us on
Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/University-of-Kent-Occupation/171644132870152 Twitter @UKCanticuts (and our campaign at #iwouldntbehere)
Thank you very much
UKC anti-cuts
Steve Stephenson