The Lambeth College UCU banner was among those which joined Saturday's central London education protest. The march was held to defend the jobs of teachers who are threatened with Labour's cuts to the education budget.
Up to 1000 members of the University and Colleges Union (UCU) marched to Downing Street yesterday in defence of jobs and education.
At first, demonstration organisers had been told by police that the march would need to stick to the pavements, but as numbers swelled at The Strand, we took the roads.
Although some education activists, and many London students had gone to Bolton for the day to stop the English Defence League, many new people were drawn in. There were banners from colleges and universities that have only just had cuts announced – such as Lambeth College in South London. Some teachers brought their families along, and young children held placards calling to save their parents’ jobs.
This helped bring an important message home – when jobs are cut, it can have a devastating impact on many lives beyond those immediately affected.
Students from the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts formed a loud and lively contingent with student activists from King’s College, UCL, Westminster, Oxford Brookes, Oxford, Colchester, and the University of Sussex which recently won a huge victory against management attempts to victimise activists. The air was filled with the shrill sound of whistles, and chants against Lord Mandelson who has been leading moves to privatise education, turning universities into businesses.
The National Campaign held a brief sit down protest outside Downing Street before moving to the UCU rally opposite where speakers called for a united campaign by teachers and students involving strikes and occupations to stop education cuts.
At first, demonstration organisers had been told by police that the march would need to stick to the pavements, but as numbers swelled at The Strand, we took the roads.
Although some education activists, and many London students had gone to Bolton for the day to stop the English Defence League, many new people were drawn in. There were banners from colleges and universities that have only just had cuts announced – such as Lambeth College in South London. Some teachers brought their families along, and young children held placards calling to save their parents’ jobs.
This helped bring an important message home – when jobs are cut, it can have a devastating impact on many lives beyond those immediately affected.
Students from the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts formed a loud and lively contingent with student activists from King’s College, UCL, Westminster, Oxford Brookes, Oxford, Colchester, and the University of Sussex which recently won a huge victory against management attempts to victimise activists. The air was filled with the shrill sound of whistles, and chants against Lord Mandelson who has been leading moves to privatise education, turning universities into businesses.
The National Campaign held a brief sit down protest outside Downing Street before moving to the UCU rally opposite where speakers called for a united campaign by teachers and students involving strikes and occupations to stop education cuts.
From WorkersPower.com
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