College strike
UCU members at Barnsley college are fighting pay cuts and increased workload. Strike action took place on 3 and 5 November.
There is a proposal to give lecturers a more managerial role within the college - thereby spending less time interacting with students and planning effective lessons. A 37-hour contract previously consisted of 21 hours of teaching, and 16 hours of marking, lesson preparation and organisation. Today, the contract is made up of 24 hours teaching per week, plus one cover lesson.
Giving lecturers titles such as 'course leader' or 'associate teacher' will mean cuts of £10,000 - 12,000 per year. Staff would also have an increased workload. This is, ultimately, demotion.
So far, six staff have been affected by these changes. A-level staff have been informed they 'won't be affected', but to many it seems inevitable.
As one lecturer described it, lecturers are 'at the coalface' of college life - interacting directly with students and teaching is the backbone of everything.
Further strike action is planned for the end of November.
Kirsty Morris Welsh
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 11 November 2009:
Fight for real jobs and free education
War and occupation
End the war in Afghanistan: Bring the troops back now!
Socialism 2009
Socialism 2009: An excellent weekend!
Postal workers strike
Postal workers force management back
Defend the four campaign
Unison witch-hunt: Defend the Four campaign gets a boost
Campaign for a New Workers Party
RMT conference on political representation
International socialist news and analysis
20 years after fall of Berlin Wall, capitalist triumphalism turns rotten
General Motors - no to 'divide and rule' in Germany
Ireland: 90,000 march against government cuts
United Socialist Party congress delegates defy difficult conditions in Sri Lanka
Socialist Party workplace news
Steelworkers get organised and score a victory over bonus payments
Young People
Big business fights for fees: Students must fight back
Internationally young people fight for their rights
Socialist Party review
Anti-fascists tactics - What happened in Newport?
Home | The Socialist 11 November 2009 | Join the Socialist Party
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
