Monday 6 December 2010

University of Sheffield Occupation: Going Strong

Sunday 6th December 2010

I'm old enough to remember when the term "public service" held all sorts of positive connotations. Now that the concept has again been ConDemned, it is meat and drink to see a bunch of young people put their heart and soul into working selflessly for the good of future generations. Perhaps this is the Big Society that we should really be aspiring to?

University of Sheffield students have been occupying the Roberts building since last Tuesday, and this afternoon over 200 people packed their lecture theatre to listen to their story and to express support. Walking to the Coop in this weather is one thing; sitting in a building with no heating for 2 hours is altogether a more chilling experience, so hats off to the occupiers for sticking with it despite the big freeze.

Messages of support came from a host of local trade unions, left and green parties, unemployed, disabled and welfare campaign groups, and even from one school student (whose eloquent appeal for building the fight against cuts to pay for the bankers' crisis was the most moving speech I've heard in a long time).

One message of support was quite unexpected. Paul White, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University, stopped in to tell the students that despite spending thousands on securing a High Court injunction last Friday the VC and other University management are not, after all, planning to evict... at least not for a few more days. Call me an old cynic, but I doubt the sincerity of the people who recently decided to close the USPS pension scheme (and indeed to give the worst deal in the aftermath of that closure to the lowest paid). The reason they cite is that USPS is short of cash; they steadfastly refuse to mention the fact the University took years of "pension holiday" during the good times. Tails they win, heads we lose.

In other words, the management statement is indicative of one thing only: the occupation is having a real effect, and it is currently strong enough to prevent action against it. Sheffield UCU committee believes that we have to build on this strength to make sure we all benefit from the gathering momentum in the anti-cuts movement.

Things you can do:

  • drop the students a message expressing support
  • join the Sheffield Rally for the Future of Education, this Wednesday 8th at the Students' Union, Western Bank at 12, or at the Town Hall at 12.30
  • demonstrate at the first reading of the relevant cuts bill in London, this Thursday 9th
  • start building for the demonstration at the 2011 second reading and for the main Trade Union demo on March 26th

Finally, if you're University staff and you're not in one of the unions then now is definitely the time to join (if the employers don't back down over USS pensions, for example, then there's a strong likelihood of strike action early next year, and if you're not a member you've less protection from victimisation etc.). If you're already a member -- get active! The planned 40% cut in the core HEFCE budget won't be a picnic for any of us, and the student occupiers have a lesson for us all about how to respond.

And perhaps along the way we can resurrect the idea of a society in which public service is a good thing, after all.

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