STRIKE action took place yesterday across the three campuses of Middlesex University with lecturers and staff picketing every entrance against the threat of 300 sackings.
The joint UCU and Unison strike action was supported by the Middlesex University Students Union (MUSU) who brought students and their banner to the picket line at the Hendon site.
The lively picket caught the attention of passing motorists who honked their horns in support.
The Unison branch secretary for Middlesex University, Paul Howell, said: ‘Middlesex Unison branch are striking today to protect jobs and services at the university.
‘Staff are facing up to 300 redundancies across the board, from academics to support staff.
‘Three hundred sackings would amount to 15 per cent of the entire workforce.
‘Middlesex’s recent gains in the student league tables representing student satisfaction have been worked for by staff who are now being made redundant.
‘Unison fears that job losses on this scale will irreparably damage the student experience.
‘The redundancies and job losses we are seeing here are part of a national attack on higher education that is denying working class students the opportunity of studying.
‘Education is not a privilege, it is a right.
‘Tuition fees will not solve the problem of higher education funding.
‘Tuition fees need to be re-thought and abolished.
‘We see this as part of an ongoing campaign, we know that next year they are probably looking at more job losses, so this is just the beginning of our fight.’
UCU member Christina Delistadhi told News Line: ‘I am one of those who have been made redundant.
‘I feel very angry and I have worked here for seven years.’
Regional official of the UCU, Andy Young, said: ‘I am responsible for this branch.
‘Responsibility for all the North London universities is divided up between myself and another colleague.
‘It is going very well today, we have good pickets here and at the Archway campus, which is mainly medical students, nurses and allied professions, and also at Trent Park, so all the sites were covered.
‘On a 53 per cent turnout we had 84 per cent for strike action and 94 per cent for action short of strike and I believe that this was the best result our union has had.’
Unison joint chair at Middlesex University, Karen Ridout, told News Line about an important development at the Archway campus picket. She said: ‘A Royal Mail van was successfully turned away by UCU joint chair Kate Brown.
‘It was going to deliver mail to the university and when the strike was explained, turned away.
‘CWU support our fight!
‘Middlesex University is a great university, but the bottom line is that students’ education will suffer as a result of the cuts. I absolutely believe that this government needs to be kicked out.’
President of the students union, Iyer Manoj Kumar, who brought a delegation of students to join the struggle, said: ‘We have brought our students union banner here today.’
