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.
Thursday, 1 December 2011
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."
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.
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....
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Darlington College Picket Lines get a VIP visit!
Pickets were up and ready to start at 7.00a.m. at Darlington College as UCU members showed the strength of feeling about attacks to pay and pensions. Around 100 members took strike action and a quarter of those turned up on the picket lines to show to others why we were taking action. Those who came on the picket line were visited by two members of the union's national executive - Kathy Taylor (Vice-President) and John McCormack (NEC-FE). "A great turnout by the branch and pickets were well organised, in good spirits but in a determined mood", said Kathy Taylor.
In good spirits! Pickets at Darlington College 
Pickets spoke to everyone to make sure the message got across. "Support from the students was excellent" said one of the pickets. Leaflets (below) were given out to explain what we were striking for. 
Showing their support for the UCU campaign!
The branch at Darlington College have had some successes recently and this was reflected in the good support for the action. During last summer and at the start of this academic year UCU and its members fought hard to ensure jobs were protected: 1. REDUNDANCIES – No enforced job losses as a result of hard union negotiations with the support of members. 2. Inadequate classrooms and class sizes too big for workshops – A vote of no confidence in the college management voted for by the membership and worked to a conclusion by your officials resulting in a much improved situation and working conditions. 3. RESTRUCTURING OF WBL – Following long and hard negations by both UCU & UNISON and our members, a positive outcome was reached with no compulsory redundancies.
In good spirits! Pickets at Darlington College 
Pickets spoke to everyone to make sure the message got across. "Support from the students was excellent" said one of the pickets. Leaflets (below) were given out to explain what we were striking for. 
Showing their support for the UCU campaign! 
The branch at Darlington College have had some successes recently and this was reflected in the good support for the action. During last summer and at the start of this academic year UCU and its members fought hard to ensure jobs were protected: 1. REDUNDANCIES – No enforced job losses as a result of hard union negotiations with the support of members. 2. Inadequate classrooms and class sizes too big for workshops – A vote of no confidence in the college management voted for by the membership and worked to a conclusion by your officials resulting in a much improved situation and working conditions. 3. RESTRUCTURING OF WBL – Following long and hard negations by both UCU & UNISON and our members, a positive outcome was reached with no compulsory redundancies.Kathy Taylor said "It was good to visit a branch where the support for the union is strong and where there is clear evidence that acting collectively and with determination has brought results for members of our union."
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Strike causes disruption at Newcastle University
UCU members were up early and picketing on Thursday 24th March 2011 as strike action over a 0.4% pay rise led to anger amongst academics. The strike at Newcastle University had big lively pickets with music and banners and the support from the students was visible and very welcome, including one Newcastle University student who spoke in support of our action at the mass rally. Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and Shadow Business Minister, sent a message of support.
After picketing, UCU members and students at Newcastle University joined the march against education cuts and marched to the Monument in the centre of Newcastle, where one of the speakers was Barry Gills, UCU President at Newcastle University (below). 
Jonny Pickering (below) is a student at Newcastle University and he addressed the mass rally and pledged the support of students to UCU's action.
The march and rally appeared on Tyne Tees news in the evening and attracted some good publicity, including some supportive articles in the newspaper for Newcastle University students:
After picketing, UCU members and students at Newcastle University joined the march against education cuts and marched to the Monument in the centre of Newcastle, where one of the speakers was Barry Gills, UCU President at Newcastle University (below). 
Jonny Pickering (below) is a student at Newcastle University and he addressed the mass rally and pledged the support of students to UCU's action. The march and rally appeared on Tyne Tees news in the evening and attracted some good publicity, including some supportive articles in the newspaper for Newcastle University students: Other coverage includes:
http://sparksunderland.com/2011/03/24/lecturers-and-students-protest-in-newcastle-and-sunderland/ http://nessn.org.uk/2011/03/newcastle-the-ucu-strike-on-24-march/
Monday, 28 March 2011
Students show their support for strike at Newcastle College
Pickets at the main campus of Newcastle College - Rye Hill 
Pickets were up early and ready to show the strength of feeling of UCU members at Newcastle College about the attack on pay and pensions for those working in FE Colleges.Those working at Newcastle College had additional incentives to be angry as the College has begun proceedings to dismiss as redundant 171 staff (10% of the workforce). More details on this can be found on the Newcastle College UCU website at http://newcastlecollege.web.ucu.org.uk/
The students have shown their support for lecturers and UCU at the College and this was reported here:
The anger of both staff and students was visible for all on Thursday 24th March as UCU Branch representatives reported good turnouts on the pickets and a lot of support from students and the public - including the Fire Brigades Union.
After the pickets, staff and students marched together to join the main march and rally in Newcastle City Centre, and David O'Toole (Branch Secretary of UCU at Newcastle College) addressed the mass rally at the Monument (below) and spoke of the anger amongst members and the support that the union was receiving from students.
Patrick Hutchinson, Branch Chair of UCU at Newcastle College says: "How proud I am of both the branch and the students who took part in the strike. The passion and depth of feeling was a sight to behold. I want to thank everyone who attended what was for me was one of my best days as a trade unionist. I don’t think the day could have been any better."He added, "It is is unfortunate that UCU members at Newcastle College had three reasons to take strike action today - national pay cuts, national attacks on pensions, and local job losses. That simply tripled the anger that was felt by many and has made people more determined to fight back."
For more on Newcastle College job losses:
(with special thanks to Simon Drummond for providing the photographs at Newcastle College)
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