UCU members across the region campaign to SAVE ESOL

UCU members who teach in ESOL departments in Colleges and many of their students went to the Save ESOL lobby of parliament. From the Northern Region Newcastle, Gateshead, Tynemetropolitan, South Tyneside and Middlesbrough Colleges were all well represented.

Over 1,000 staff and students queued in the rain to get into the lobby. Lobby meetings were held both in parliament and in an overflow hall. In the lobby meetings around 40 speakers voiced their support for the 'Save ESOL' campaign. MPs from Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties spoke in support and a Green Party MEP sent a message of support. Speakers from many national organisations added their backing and students, tutors, college principals, refugees and union members echoed the demand for the government to review its policy.

Our delegation from the region managed to secure a meeting with the Northern Group of Labour MPs, which proved quite fruitful. Concern was raised that some colleges were already retraining and redeploying staff in advance of final decisions about funding and MPs asked us to provide more information from the region. MPs listened to members concerns and issues and expressed some support for our calls for a re-think.

Local protests on 28th February and our national lobby got some good publicity:

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/chroniclelive/eveningchronicle/chroniclearchive/tm_method=full%26objectid=18687229%26siteid=50081-name_page.html

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/chroniclelive/eveningchronicle/chroniclearchive/tm_method=full%26objectid=18687209%26siteid=50081-name_page.html

http://www.fenews.co.uk/newsview.asp?n=2276