Thanks to Mark Husmann of Northumbria University for this short film of the march last Wednesday...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LceYNWZmD7k

Middlesbrough College 30.11.11

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 the large number of people offering hot drinks and breakfast butties!

Jon Bryan, Regional Support Official, says "It was good to see UCU and UNISON together on the picket line showing their support for the action that both memberships had voted for". David O'Toole visited the pickets and brought greetings from the National Executive of the union.

Gateshead/Newcastle March and Rally 30.11.11

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 the day. Amongst those speaking was Cath Hepburn, UCU Chair of the FE Committee and Bob Crow, General Secretary of the RMT.

UCU at Teesside University

UCU members from Teesside University held pickets at various parts of the campus, along with members of other Unions. At lunch time, a march through town ended with a well-attended rally at which Teesside Uni Branch Chair Terry Murphy addressed the crowd.

Cleveland College of Art and Design 30.11.11

UCU members and representatives at CCAD welcomed NEC member Dave O'Toole and Regional Support Official Jon Bryan to their picket lines on Wednesday.
There was a good turnout for the picket at the College, braving the cold weather to stand up for pensions!
Branch representative Francis Fitzgerald thanks all those memebrs who supported the strike and helped to make the TUC's "Pensions Justice" day such a success.

Darlington College 30.11.11

Members from Darlington College (the College was closed for the day) outside Mowden Hall where all the teaching unions were present to demonstrate their opposition to proposed changes to TPS which has its administrative HQ at Mowden Hall.

Redcar & Cleveland College 30.11.11

Picketing in the dark is often something done by those on night shifts, but at Redcar and Cleveland College, on the last day of November 2011, the picket line of UCU members and representatives started well before sunrise and this photo has been described by UCU Head Office as "I think, one of the darkest UCU picket lines I can recall!"

But the picket line brightened up when NEC member Dave O'Toole turned up before the dawn and passed around "Celebrations", only to be outdone a little later by Tom Blenkinsop's team who had a box of Cadburys Roses to show their support!

Jon Bryan, Regional Support Official, says: "It was good to see UCU members continuing to stand up and defend their pensions". Phil Smith, Branch Secretary of UCU at Redcar and Cleveland says: "The picket lasted from before 7.00a.m. until 11.00a.m. then we went into Middlesbrough to join the rally - the turnout was impressive. Thanks to all who supported us."

Stockton Riverside College 30.11.11

Stockton Riverside College took to the picket lines on 30th November to support the TUC's Pensions Justice day. The College had decided to close one campus but keep the other open - but even the one that was open was very quiet on a day when UNISON and UCU stood together in action to defend their pensions.

The pickets were visited by Dave O'Toole, a member of UCU's National Executive and Jon Bryan from the UCU Regional Office and were in good spirits outside the College, before heading off to the march and rally in Middlesbrough.

30th November Day of Action: Northern Region

Pickets were out our Colleges and Universities to show the strength of feeling towards the Government's plans to impose detrimental changes to our pensions. Here are a few pictures from around our Region....