Rally for Fair Pensions at Northumbria University

UCU organised a Rally to support those striking in London for Fair Pensions. Speakers included Mike McDonald, Regional Secretary of the NUT, Kevin McHugh, National Executive member for PCS, Adam Hansen and Julia Charlton from Northumbria UCU. The Rally was chaired by Martin Levy, Branch Chair of UCU at Northumbria University and Chair of UCU's Northern Regional Committee.

The speeches can be seen on Youtube:

http://tinyurl.com/ucum28-1

http://tinyurl.com/ucum28-2

http://tinyurl.com/ucum28-3

Regional Office staff from the Northern Region show support for London pickets

Staff from the northern regional office of UCU went to the picket line today at Westminster Kingsway College to show their suport for the pensions strike.
Members from South Tyneside College had "twinned" with the Branch in recognition of the long (but successful) battle that they had over Lesson Observations. Having just entered a dispute themselves, the UCU Branch at South Tyneside College sent messages of support to Westminster Kingsway for the action that they were taking today over pensions and had taken previously over un-announced inspections.
Coverage of the strike in London can be found at:
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=419492#.T3L6bIO5OvA.twitter
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=6040
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17528352

Some information about the dispute at Westminster Kingsway College over Lesson Observations can be found here:
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6046336

UCU members at Darlington College show their support for striking colleagues in London

Darlington College UCU Branch held a successful Fair Pension Rally with a wide range of support from UCU members, UNISON, the college Principal and students.
The event kicked off with music provided by UCU member Dave Cadman then an introduction from UCU Branch secretary Eddy Adam. Eddy asked the audience to applaud the London boroughs and especially Waltham Forest FE College (who twinned with Darlington) on their sacrifice and commitment to take action on behalf of every member of UCU.
Veronica Killen, Regional Secretary of UCU and a member of the Union's National Executive, gave an impassioned speech which was well received. A further contribution was made by Steve Sinclair, UCU membership secretary.
Darlington College Principal, Tim Grant, also spoke to support the campaign to protect Pensions and linked it to a high morale and motivated workforce.

Veronica Killen, UCU Northern Region Secretary and NEC member

Dave Cadman, UCU member at Darlington College sings at a support rally where members spoke in support of colleagues in London, and in particular their 'twinned' institution Waltham College.

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.