Liverpool Community College strike

HUNDREDS OF lecturers and support staff took strike action at Liverpool Community College on 3 June. The lecturers' union UCU branch called industrial action in response to management's proposals to destroy the college's present wage structure.

Staff who picketed Community College campuses across the city told The Socialist that management's attacks include cutting pay for new teachers by introducing a wage cap barring them from earning over £29,000 a year. Increased workload, unsociable hours and cuts to ESOL and adult learning provision have added to staff anger.

A rally at the arts campus gathered 200 staff and supportive students. UCU liaison committee member Ian Slater was loudly applauded when he said that the college's outstanding Ofsted report from which management have profited was down to the hard work of staff who now had to suffer cutbacks. Action will continue with "protest picnics" involving staff and students.

Liverpool Socialist Students members have done daily stalls at the college gaining support for the Youth Fight for Jobs campaign from students and staff.

Socialist Students raised the need with staff and students at the college to get active in the Defend Education campaign set up by university students against cuts. The campaign is calling a demonstration in October.

Greg Sheeran and Matt Dobson