UCU takes strike action at Sunderland College to defend pay and conditions

Pickets at Usworth Sixth Form - a welcome break from the rain!

Hylton Campus Picket Line - car park behind almost deserted

Pickets at St Peter's Sixth Form, with colleagues from Northumbria and Newcastle Universities

Bede Campus Picket Line taking natural shelter

Shiney Row Campus - Pickets supported by the students

Picket Lines at the various Campuses and Centres of Sunderland College were up and running from 7.00a.m. this morning as UCU members took strike action over attacks on their pay and conditions.

Barry Campbell, Chair of the UCU Branch at Sunderland College explains:

Being asked to take pay cuts of up to a third is not something that members are just going to accept - and that is why we are striking today.  We are hoping for a resolution, but not under what is currently on offer.

Cath Hepburn, Vice-Chair of the Branch says:

Thanks to all of our pickets today - some of whom are on strike for the first time over an issue like this.  The rain did not dampen either our spirits, or our determination 

Today's strike has already been covered in the local media:
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/education/sunderland-college-lectures-take-to-picket-lines-over-plans-to-cut-pay-1-4601143

Full details of the dispute can be found at http://tinyurl.com/citysunucu11 and at http://tinyurl.com/citysunucu6

Lecturers explain why they are taking action (YouTube clips) http://tinyurl.com/citysunucu8, http://tinyurl.com/citysunucu9, http://tinyurl.com/citysunucu10

Messages of support to barry.campbell@citysun.ac.uk or gateshead@ucu.org.uk

Message of Support from NUT to UCU for May 10th Pensions Strike

NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS

secretary@northumberland.nut.org.uk

www.northumberlandnut.co.uk
   

MESSAGE OF SUPPORT TO UCU FOR 10TH MAY 2012

Can you please pass on the best wishes of Northumberland NUT to members of UCU fighting in defence of pensions.

Like you, we are now paying more for our pensions.

Last month alone teachers paid an extra £25 million in pension contributions to the Government. By April 2013 we will have paid a massive £300 million more. 

Increased contributions, together with the pay freeze, mean that this is the first time in generations that teachers' take-home pay has been cut.

The Government wants to increase our contributions even more over the next two years and, in return, give us less of a pension and make us work longer before we receive it. It is outrageous that the Government is taking this money and refusing either to negotiate or to carry out the long overdue valuation of the Teachers' Pension Scheme. This is unfair and unjust.

 

Like UCU, the NUT has not signed up to the Government's proposals. We are talking to other teacher unions with a view to coordinating our campaigns on this and many other attacks that we are facing in the teaching profession. In the meantime we are committed to working with any and all unions to defend the interests of teachers and other public sector workers.

We wish you good luck for the 10^th of May and hope that we will be joining you in action.

Christine Carruthers
Division Secretary
Northumberland NUT

Vin Wynne, from the NUT, speaking at the May 10th Pensions Justice Rally in Newcastle

Further information from May 10th Action in the North East:

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2012/05/11/north-east-workers-protest-against-pension-plans-video-72703-30946331/

Sally Hunt, UCU General Secretary, visits picket line at Northumbria University

Pickets were in force at Northumbria University Campuses on Thursday 10th May 2012 for a one-day strike, as the union continues to campaign against government imposed changes to TPS.  These changes are already beginning to have an impact as increased pension contributions took effect in April and members of TPS found their wage packets somewhat lighter.

UCU's Sally Hunt was in Newcastle to visit pickets and speak to members and representatives of UCU, accompanied by Iain Owens (Regional Official) and John McCormack (who becomes Vice-President of UCU next month).  After picket line duty, members went to the Rally at Newcastle Grey's Monument to hear the speakers, including Kevin McHugh from PCS.  His speech can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_HfD86Tdw.

A news report about the Rally, including an interview with Unite's Martin Wright, can be found here:

http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/20262

"Wet weather wont dampen our spirits" - the message from UCU at Northumbria University

 

Newcastle University UCU members hand over a collection donated in solidarity by ordinary members to Northumbria University members at the Coach Lane campus

Northumbria University Branch Banner at the Pensions Justice Rally in Newcastle

 Northumbria University Branch Chair of UCU, Martin Levy, spoke about the strike action:

Despite the dreadful weather, and anxieties expressed by some members about the timing of this strike, we have had a very successful day, mounting picket lines and even collecting for the Branch’s hardship fund.  The University was noticeably quiet with very few academic staff at work.  The visit by the General Secretary was a real boost.  On behalf of the Branch Executive, I would like to thank all of those who supported the NEC's call to take action - and especially those who braved the weather and joined the picket lines.

City of Sunderland College take strike action on pensions, while concerns still exist about proposed changes to pay and conditions

UCU members at City of Sunderland College had pickets at their five main centres today to show their support for the national strike action called by the UCU National Executive Committee, as part of the continued fight about government imposed pension changes.

At the Bede Campus, pickets were joined by UCU's National Head of Further Education, Barry Lovejoy.  Visitors to the picket lines to show their support also included representatives from Sunderland University UCU, Sunderland Against the Cuts (http://sunderlandagainstthecuts.co.uk/) and a Unite health worker who was also on strike.  Jon Bryan and other staff from the UCU Regional Office were also on the picket line to show their support.

The picket line gave the opportunity for UCU representatives and members to discuss the attack on pay and conditions that they are seeing locally.  Barry Lovejoy listened attentively to pickets and heard how the College's proposals would drastically impact on members living standards, as well as the quality of education that they provide.  Pickets then went to the Rally in Newcastle to join with PCS and others taking action on pensions, where Cath Hepburn (Vice-Chair of Sunderland College UCU) gave an inspirational address.

Pickets at Bede Campus, City of Sunderland College, May 10

UCU's Barry Lovejoy, listening to the concerns of members

The College proposals to downgrade lecturers were a hot topic of conversation on the picket line

For more on the UCU strike on pensions in Sunderland, go to:
http://www.sun-fm.com/news/local/676418/sunderland-staff-join-national-strike/
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/education/sunderland-workers-take-to-the-picket-lines-in-anger-at-government-1-4532187
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/may/09/public-sector-workers-strike-cuts
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/education/university-lecturers-walk-out-on-strike-1-4527988
http://www.citysun.ac.uk/2012/05/strike-action-2/

For details and media coverage about the attack on pay and conditions at City of Sunderland College, go to:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=6072&from=1676
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-17895224
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/education/latest-news-college-staff-to-vote-on-pay-strike-1-4500359
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/education/lecturers-pay-strike-vote-comes-after-slap-in-the-face-over-improved-results-1-4502267
http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/update/2012-04-30/strike-ballot-over-salary-cuts/
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=28414
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/716/14454/02-05-2012/workplace-news-in-brief
http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2012/05/01/sunderland-college-strike-ballot-greenwich-libraries-strike-new-nuj-chapel-wapping
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/may2012/wkrs-m04.shtml
http://feweek.co.uk/2012/04/27/college-redundancies-and-restructures/

Facebook Campaign Page
https://www.facebook.com/#!/UcuCampaignSunderlandCollege

Bishop Auckland College Pickets visited by Head Office staff

Pickets at Bishop Auckland College were up early and on duty this morning to show support for the national day of strike action on pensions.  Barry Lovejoy, UCU's National Head of Further Education came to show his support for the picket.  Jon Bryan, Regional Support Official, also came to show solidarity with UCU members at the College taking action.

Dave Johnson, Chair of UCU at Bishop Auckland College comments:

It was a wet morning and an early start for the pickets, but we were joined by others as the morning went on.  The College is on a busy road and we got a lot of support from passing motorists who tooted their horns.  The action was at a difficult time for us, but we thought it was important to show our continued opposition to the attack on pensions by the Coalition Government.

Getting support from both Head Office and Regional Office was a good boost for us and it reminds members and Reps that we are not alone.  A cold morning in mid-May on the picket line is always that little bit better when we get support from other colleagues - especially when they bring spare pairs of gloves!

Dave Johnson (Chair), Sheila Viney (Vice-Chair), Christine Grogan (Equality Officer), Phil Marshall (Picket), Barry Lovejoy (National Head of FE)

Darlington College support the national call for action on pensions

"Strong as ever at Darlington College, around 40 members turned out in the pouring rain to defend their Pensions, with others deciding to stay at home.

Our members believe that protecting pensions is a fight we need to win and is an essential part of our working conditions. However, to maintain the momentum our leadership needs to have a clear strategy which ramps up the pressure on this Government, odd days are not going to work."

Eddy Adam, UCU Branch Secretary, Darlington College,

on behalf of UCU members

Press Coverage on the action http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9698816.Strike_Latest__Union_members_picket_at_Darlington_College/