A variety of protests took place on Wednesday 4th June and UCU and UNISON managed to gain some coverage in the media.South Tyneside College
City of Sunderland College
Article in "The Independent"
Press Association:
Thursday, 5 June 2008
In The News - protests at lunchtime make the press
A variety of protests took place on Wednesday 4th June and UCU and UNISON managed to gain some coverage in the media.
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Newcastle College UCU Branch - cheque out their protest!
Adding his signature - UCU member Stephen Lambert joins others in the protest
David O'Toole, UCU Branch Chair and Vanessa Maughan, UCU Branch Secretary hold up the cheque signed by College Staff, symbolising the amount of un-paid overtime that lecturers undertake.
The Newcastle Evening Chronicle (4th June 2008) carried the story:
The lunchtime protest at Newcastle College was supported by both UCU and UNISON representatives, and staff came down to sign up to the campaign and the UCU cheque and agreed that the 2.5% pay offer was derisory. Coverage was also in "The Journal":
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/06/04/walkout-pay-claim-protest-at-colleges-61634-21019512/
Staff and Students at Bishop Auckland College Protest on Pay
Lined up together - wound up by low pay!
United in action - UCU and UNISON
Students at Bishop Auckland College show their support by wearing UCU stickers....
....and taking "Timeout" bars with lecturers who took timeout from their working day!
Staff and students at Bishop Auckland College came out in force on the eve of pay negotiations between the AoC and the trade unions. UCU Branch Secretary Anne Bainbridge described the day as a great success as "the sun shone down on the Students and Staff and there was an excellent turnout from members".
Members of both UCU and UNISON took part in the protest and it generated good feelings of acting together to fight for better pay. "Timeout" bars were used to show the importance of taking time out and away from your desks. The clear message from both UCU and UNISON members at Bishop Auckland College is that 2.5% is not enough!
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Darlington College Picket Line gets TV coverage as UCU members show excellent support for action
Darlington Pickets - and excellent show of strength from UCU members! 
Darlington UCU members showed their support for the national action, and got some good publicity as well!
North East News at 6.00p.m. on Tyne Tees Television had coverage of the picket line and a photo was in the Northern Echo.
Eddy Adam, UCU Branch Secretary, who has been quoted on the UCU website in the build-up to the action http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3233 spoke of the success of the picket and thanked members and reps for supporting the action is such great numbers.
Coverage of the strike can be found on the Northern Echo website, including a video-clip of the rally and NEC member Jon Bryan explaining why lecturers are taking action:
The impact of the action at Darlington College also features here:
Bishop Auckland College - the first UCU picket line on Thursday 24th April 2008?
The UCU Branch of Bishop Auckland College began their picket at 6:00 am with an impressive roadside display of posters which got the motorists and passers by shouting their support. UCU members, including Branch Representative Anne Bainbridge, were on probably the earliest picket line established in the country. The support from members was excellent, and students showed their support for our campaign throughout.
After the picket, UCU members and reps travelled up to the mass rally in Newcastle to join others from across the region in a strong show of support for the public sector, and the demand for fair pay for public sector workers.
Derwentside College - closed to students on Thursday 24th April 2008
UCU Pickets, including Ian Stephenson, Phil Moss and Thea Khamis, were up early and outside Derwentside College shoing their support for the national strike action. 
Derwentside College decided to close to students on the day of the strike, and pickets were out on duty in the early misty cold. Support for the strike was excellent from the staff, with UCU members being solid behind the action.
The response from the support staff who are primarily in UNISON was very encouraging. So too were the hoots of support and thumbs up from passing vehicles.
Ian Stephenson and Hilary Kurt on the picket line, with the almost deserted College in the background
"Never seen the place this quiet." Support for the UCU National strike over pay was very encouraging at Derwentside College. Not surprising as Derwentside lecturing staff have still not been paid anything for 2007-2008 and are also in dispute over the college’s intention to move the pay date. Over 93% of Colleges paid the 2007/2008 recommendation given by the Association of Colleges. Derwentside College Senior Management are out of step once again.
Friday, 25 April 2008
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