University and College Union (UCU) members at Barnsley College as part of a one day national strike across post 16 Education. The strike is against a derisory pay offer of 0.7%. In the universities, UNISON, UNITE and UCU are on strike, in the colleges just UCU.
UCU members will be picketing the main sites of the college from 7am – 9.15am and then heading through to Sheffield for a regional rally.
Barnsley College UCU has been in the forefront of showing solidarity for other workers who are taking action. In 2013, they have held collections for strikers including those at Mid Yorks Hospitals UNISON and Chesterfield College UCU, Also in 2013, UCU members have supported PCS, CWU, NAPO , UNITE Yorkshire Ambulance and FBU picket lines.
I would ask you to get your union branch/activists to do 2 things in solidarity with this strike:
1. Send a message of support to the UCU branch secretary Lee Short at: lee.short1975@gmail.com
2. Get a delegation to visit the picket line (and in my experience of UCU picket lines some Christmas cake/parkin etc will go down well!) You will be made very welcome.
The UCU branch buys a breakfast for all picketers after the picket and financial donations to the cost of that will be gratefully received. (cheques payable to Barnsley College UCU)
The branch hopes that lots of retired UCU members will come and join the picketline for a while too.
in solidarity,
Dave Gibson