Here is a brief report from a London picket line – one of many which were held yesterday as part of the Nov 30 strike and protest.
Here is a brief report from a London picket line – one of many which
were held yesterday as part of the Nov 30 strike and protest:
"London
College of Communication was shut down today. A handful of managerial
staff went in plus one lecturer. 20 students went in who had been told
they had to attend his lecture, plus maybe half a dozen more who went in
then came out. This out of a total student population of 6000. Solid
contingent of pickets from GMB,
Unison and UCU – 30 or so in total. During last year’s strikes most of
the students crossed the picket lines. During the last week the Marxist
Society had been leafletting and had posters around the college asking
students to support their staff and not come in. Yesterday in the
canteen when we were leafletting we told everyone the college would be
closed today anyway, so there was no point in coming in. That might have
helped! Anyway, whatever the reason, 20 or so going in out of 6000 is a
big change. We’ve begun to establish the basic trade union principle
that you don’t cross picket lines, which didn’t exist last year. That’s a
step forward. Donation of £10 to the SA Fighting Fund from the UCU university convenor,
plus a very welcome jam doughnut from a GMB picket. "