Tyneside and Wearside - Colleges disrupted and closed as UCU members strike and join other protestors in Newcastle

Cath Hepburn and Jude Letham from City of Sunderland College at the rally for fair pay

The UCU Branch of Sunderland College had been up early on the picket lines, and reports say that no teaching took place in any of the five sites. The Branch has been busy getting photos and comments in the press and UCU Chair Barry Campbell explains about the anger:

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Lecturers-call-for-equal-pay.4015701.jp

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Strike-action-closes-schools.4016169.jp

Kevin Lightfoot (Sunderland College UCU Branch), Alan Reynolds (Gateshead College UCU Branch) with Idwal John and Pat McGee (UCU members retired from Gateshead College)

Northumberland College UCU - sending a clear message to the government on public sector pay

John McCormack, UCU Branch Chair at Northumberland College, Chair of the union's FE Northern Regional Committee, and (from June 2008) a member of the union's National Executive Committee
John McCormack - pointing the way forward!

Kathy Taylor, Branch Secretary at Northumberland College

Kathy Taylor, David Owen (Kirkley Hall Branch) and John McCormack

"Not much happening in there today." That was the word from Northumberland College as UCU members took part in the national strike on pay. Northumberland College members were well represented at the Rally, and John McCormack gave a rousing speech to striking public sector workers. "Give us the money Gordon Brown", was the general message. The Branch has been succesful in getting publicity before the strike, and the press also came down to their picket lines.

http://www.newspostleader.co.uk/latest/College-lecturers-to-strike.4007247.jp

New College Durham UCU Branch and Middlesbrough College UCU send representatives to Public Sector Rally in Newcastle

Stella Thornton, Kay Murray and Kevin Mochrie from New College Durham

Showing support from their Branch at the rally

Why are they taking action? Kay Murray, UCU Rep, says why she is on strike for better pay:

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14733

Branch Chair David Branson and UCU Rep Cameron from Middlesbrough College

Packed out with protestors

UCU and PCS - Lecturers and Civil Servants - united in action!

The Rally in Newcastle attracted union members and reps from County Durham and Teesside. Pickets at New College Durham started at 7.30a.m. and received good support from staff and students alike.

In Middlesbrough, Branch Chair David Branson organised pickets at the different College sites and obtained good media coverage for the action:

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2008/04/15/students-face-new-strikes-84229-20766069/

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2008/04/23/126-teesside-schools-hit-by-teachers-strike-84229-20806142/

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2008/04/24/teachers-strikes-hit-teesside-schools-84229-20813063/

Prison Educators at Castington join the Rally for Public Sector Pay

Around 1000 public sector workers gathered in Newcastle City Centre at Grey's Monument to join the fight for fair pay. Among them were UCU members working at Castington Prison - part of Newcastle College.

This was an excellent turnout and the work by prison educators was praised by Sasha Callaghan (UCU's President Elect) as she spoke out at the Rally.

Sasha Callaghan - "Our prison educators do a marvellous job and deserve our support"

Newcastle College Branch unveil their new banner!

Picket Lines at Newcastle College began at 6.55a.m. on Thursday 24th April as UCU members took strike action to join the national campaign for better pay and the Branch had organised a new banner, a barbecue, negotiated free teas and coffees for all strikes from the local deli, and pickets with children who were off school due to NUT action also joined to show their support.

Almost 100 pickets surrounded the campus and covered the multitude of entrances. Support on the picket lines was excellent, with some people being involved in their first strike action. Local support on the picket lines came from FBU members, the NUS President of Newcastle College, NUT members working in local schools, and UCU members from the Universities in Newcastle.

Metro Radio and Century FM came down to the picket lines to carry out interviews and get reports, and the Evening Chronicle used our lively pickets to get a photo:

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/04/24/teachers-strike-hits-pupils-72703-20813075/

Carlisle College Picket Line gets Media Attention!

Mike McBride, Terry Jones and Julie Bryson on picket duty

Joining many other lecturers across the region, UCU members picketed outside of Carlisle College campus to show their anger about pay. Thursday 24th April 2008 saw a massive show of strength across the public sector and with picket lines outside most colleges, these got media attention.

The Carlisle College picket featured on BBC Look North at 6.30p.m. and UCU Branch Secretary, Terry Jones, spoke about the crisis in the profession with low pay impacting on both the recruitment and retention of lecturing staff.

Judy Bloxham, UCU Branch Chair at Carlise College reports that the picket line "had good support from staff and students were supportive by not turning in. The Royal Mail agreed not to cross the picket line and so they didn't deliver and the Fire Brigade were due to do a demo of cutting people out of cars and they agreed not to come as we were on strike, so we had support from the FBU. Border and BBC TV turned up as did the News and Star local paper. And we had plenty of hoots of support from passing motorists."


The Branch received good coverage in the press both on the day of the strike and in the lead-up. Whilst this was often alongside NUT coverage, media attention was drawn by picketing outside the College.

Media coverage at:

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/1.93319
http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/1.91922
http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=825924
http://www.fleetwoodtoday.co.uk/latest-north-west-news/Schools-to-close-as-teachers.3998422.jp
http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/1.90222

Jon Bryan shows support for anti-racist March and Rally in Newcastle

Jon Bryan, one of the North East representatives on UCU's National Executive Committee, spoke in support of an anti-racist March and Rally in Newcastle, organised by TCAR.

TCAR - Tyneside Community Action for Refugees - organised the March and the Rally and more details can be found at http://www.asylum-seekers-defence.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Tyneside_Community_Action_for_Refugees

Speaking at the Rally, Jon offered support for initiatives like this that seek to unite us rather than divide us and welcomed the continued work both TCAR and UCU were doing to challenge changes to ESOL funding. Jon argued "Basic skills should be a right and provided at no cost. What more basic a skill is there than learning English Language so that you can fully integrate into society?"

Jon spoke about the pivotal role that UCU members have in educating others and building up trust with students. He explaining that UCU members voted unanimously to resist attempts by the government to engage lecturers in surveillance measures against students from Muslim and minority ethnic backgrounds at last year's Congress:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2594