Workplace news in brief

Unison witch-hunt

The next set of Unison disciplinary hearings have been postponed. The hearing against four Socialist Party members were to be held on 20 and 21 May. The lobby on 21 May is cancelled.

For more details see:

www.stopthewitchhunt.org.uk

Sold out by John Lewis

On 9 May, textile workers from Stead McAlpin took their protests about job cuts to John Lewis in Liverpool. As we have previously reported, Stead McAlpin and its sister firm JH Birtwistle were sold off by John Lewis in 2007. Now both companies are in administration and workers are being made redundant on very poor terms compared to what they were promised by John Lewis.

Birtwistle workers will be protesting in Manchester's Trafford Park shopping centre on 16 May.

Please send messages of support to: pepperami@mcdermott08.plus.com

Save linguistics at Sussex

Students and staff at Sussex University are not giving up the fight to save the linguistics programme.

The cuts have not been through any committee or consultation with those affected. Trying to distance themselves from the decision, management have said that it was a decision made by the School of Humanities. But when we met with the academics responsible, they were clear; the closure of linguistics is the result of management's funding cuts for 'unprofitable' departments.

We are now lobbying all members of the committee which will have to ratify the decision.

Socialist Students has played a key role in organising Save Linguistics. This is a battle we really can win and we won't stop fighting against what is a clear agenda to make staff and students pay for the bosses' crisis.

Sarah Wrack

London Met occupation

30 students at London Met have staged a sit-in protest in a campus canteen in opposition to management's plans for cuts and job losses. London Met staff took strike action on 8 May organised by the UCU. Staff and, trade unions and students have called a demonstration to defend education and jobs on Saturday 23 May. Socialist Students members involved have raised the need to organise a student strike.