Allilengyi! (αλληλεγγύη – Greek for Solidarity)



Despina Koutsoumba and Foutis Georgiadis from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and a civil servants’ union,

Paul Mackney Former General Secretary of NATFHE,

Cath Hepburn UCU Vice Chair Sunderland College and Jude Letham UCU Centre Rep, Sunderland College

Hearing of the disputes with management at both Sunderland College and Gateshead College, the Coalition of Resistance in Newcastle asked for speakers from UCU to address their meeting last night (Thursday 26^th April).  The main topic was “Solidarity v Austerity – Report back from Greece” but UCU were given the platform first, to highlight local events. 

Cath Hepburn, as UCU FE Sector Regional Secretary and NEC member (elect) was able to speak for both colleges, outlining the drastic cuts to salary that hundreds of academic staff will face.  People were shocked at the level of percentage cuts (between 25% and 33% for most staff) placing the majority of lecturers in the two colleges below the national average wage and the average starting salary of a graduate.  There was some discussion on the implications this could have for both schools and universities. 

Many verbal messages of support were given from the floor and an information leaflet prepared by UCU Regional Office was distributed, along with details of UCU Sunderland College Branch Facebook campaign.

Paul Mackney, who many of you will remember as NATFHE’s General Secretary, began by drawing together the two parts of the meeting by telling us that the greatest lesson that other countries can learn from the situation in Greece is to fight public service cuts and the type of cuts to salaries and working conditions that Sunderland College and Gateshead College academic staff are facing.

Despina and Foutis, trade unionists who work for the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, gave powerful testimonies about the drastic decline in living standards in Greece, rising suicide rates and homelessness.  Their message for other countries aiming to avoid the same fate is to fight back against public service cuts.  Fight now and fight hard.

For more information:  www.greecesolidarity.org