UCU slams Labour over attack on international students
UCU warned Labour’s attempt to ‘outflank Reform’ on international students is ‘political suicide,’ reported the Morning Star. The union was responding to a new Home Office campaign targeting foreign students and their families via text and email to warn them they must leave if they have “no legal right to remain”.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady told the Morning Star, Guardian and Times Higher “This attack on international students has very little to do with visa overstays and everything to do with aping Reform. With Farage talking up mass deportations and migrant prison camps, Labour continuing to demonise immigrants and refugees isn’t just immoral, it’s political suicide. Labour will never outflank Reform on division and bigotry. They should instead be making the case for a welcoming and economically strong Britain, of which international students and a world-leading higher education sector are an integral part.”
UCU president-elect Dyfrig Jones told BBC News 24 and BBC Radio 5Live that Labour was in danger of driving away its core voters and should instead be rolling out the red carpet for international students.
Reform shuts down adult education centres
Derbyshire’s Reform run council has claimed it needs to suddenly close a third of its adult education centres, reported FE Week.
Jo Grady told the outlet: “It is scandalous that Reform is tearing up Derbyshire’s adult education provision without even consulting the public and those affected, including learners and staff whose livelihoods are going to be affected without any proper process.”
University of Dundee staff balloted on fresh strike action
University of Dundee could face a fresh strike from UCU members as a new ballot on industrial action begins, reported BBC News. The university faces hundreds of job cuts as it attempts to tackle a £35m black hole.
UCU branch president Melissa D’Ascenzio told the BBC “Strike action is always a last resort, but staff at the University of Dundee have proven that they will take action to protect jobs and the future of the university.”
Jo Grady told The Courier and Daily Record “It’s scarcely believable that after almost a year, with the university on its third principal in that period, the university remains in crisis and staff are having to be balloted again to save jobs and secure the future of the university.”
Workers Against the War Machine
In an op ed for Tribune, Jo Grady argues the labour movement must oppose right-wing militarism. The piece marks the launch of a new campaign calling for Wages Not Weapons. UCU is also bringing a motion to TUC Congress next week in an attempt to reverse the movement’s support for ‘immediate increases in defence spending’.
University of Leicester staff back strike action
University of Leicester UCU members have voted to take strike action over job cuts and course closures, reported BBC East Midlands Today and BBC Radio Leicestershire.
Co-chair of Leicester UCU Dr Joseph Choonara told Leicester Gazette “Our ballot shows the enormous strength of feeling among the staff we represent. We do not threaten strikes lightly. We would prefer for our management to withdraw its plans to axe jobs, plans that would harm staff and students and damage the long-term prospects for the university. However, if we cannot persuade them to change course we stand ready to take sustained strike actions to defend our members, and defend the world-class research and teaching they offer.”