LUU Scabs

The executive of Leeds University Union (LUU) has released a statement launching a campaign against any strike action to save jobs. They wrote “It’s time to put your education first” totally forgetting that the only way to save jobs and the education is to take decisive action. If the lecturers fail to take action against cuts courses will be cut and student will face the fall in standards. LUU failed to back the anti-cuts campaign called Leeds University Against Cut. In response to this the campaign has posted the below statement:

“Hi everyone, just a message about our Union’s recent activity. Sorry to bother you in exam/essay period but this is an important piece of information.

Leeds University Union has launched a campaign called Education First. The campaign calls for students to message their Schools expressing concern and disapproval of strike action. You can read more here: http://www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/campaigning/currentcampaigns/educationfirst/

The campaign says students will be “innocent victim[s] in your dispute” and strike action “will harm my education”. Surely the loss of staff will harm my education more? Surely the loss of specialist modules, larger seminar groups, less staff for feedback etc is damaging to our education? And yet this is what strike action is fighting against. Our staff are fighting for their jobs and we should support them as they protest against unemployment and to preserve the standard of Education.

It wouldn’t be so bad if the Union website offered an alternative link where students can show SUPPORT for their staff. Instead, despite our campaigns, our petitions, our protests, our e-mails, the scale of our Facebook group membership etc the Union continues to ignore the student voice.

Please e-mail our Union Execs Internal Affairs and Communications Officer Jak Codd J.A.Codd@luu.leeds.ac.uk and Education Officer Mike Gladstone M.E.Gladstone@luu.leeds.ac.uk about how you feel about this Education Campaign which is attempting to manipulate students into not supporting their tutors. Perhaps say that you do believe in Education First, except that you believe our tutors are the key to this education and getting rid of them not only reduces quality of education but also the value for money we pay the University. Please tell all your friends, housemates and coursemates about what is going on.

In the event of strike action some marking of material might be delayed but essentially classes and feedback sessions should continue and it is not UCU’s aim to cancel lectures or seminars. In the past (to my knowledge) NO student has failed to graduate from strike action. If you want more information please check out http://leedsucu.wordpress.com/about/

PLEASE NOTE: If you do not agree with strike action that is entirely your decision and you are more than welcome to still be a part of an anti-cut campaign. I would hope these groups and messages are a way for people to get information about what’s going on but approach the issues in their own way

Thanks, good luck with future essays and exams”