The Government’s education white paper is on the rocks – we’ve had a successful demonstration on November the 9th, public opinion is turning against it and MPs are beginning to view it as incoherent and unworkable. Any pressure we apply now stands a good chance of helping derail the White Paper.
On the 23rd of November, the National Campaign against Fees and Cuts is calling a Day of Action to defend education and fight privatisation. Whether you’re at university, at school or a trade unionist, there’s plenty you can do to support students and maximise our impact. Here are a few ideas to make the Day of Action as effective as possible:
1. Organise a local demo – Make our opposition to attacks on education as prominent and public as possible. Hand out leaflets, send-out emails and work for as big a turnout as you can.
2. Organise a walk out from your school or college – Privatisation and tuition fees threaten the future of the next generation of university students – those currently at school and college.
3. Occupy your university – Occupation gains publicity, pressures management and makes our cause impossible to ignore. Don’t give the game away by announcing the location of the occupation before it begins. When you choose a location, try and target management: an occupation that disrupts what they do will be particularly effective. Leaflet and place banners everywhere on campus to make sure the occupation is as well-known as possible and your arguments are conveyed to all students and staff.
4. Link up with local trade union branches to build for November 30th – Build solidarity between workers and students. Support the public sector strike. In the education sector, staff and students are very obviously part of the same struggle, but it’s also important to make links with other workers. The Government’s cuts are incredibly wide-ranging and the more co-operation between different affected groups the better. Contact your local trade union branches and talk to them about how to support each other’s actions.
The NCAFC also recommends drawing up a Vice-Chancellor’s Pledge, a list of commitments (to condemn the White Paper, to guarantee no course closures or job cuts, etc) and asking your Vice-Chancellor or Principle to agree to them. If they agree, then you can point to this commitment if they try to go back on it. If they refuse, then this represents an opportunity to build a campaign around your demands, galvanise sympathetic students and gain momentum.
The Day of Action comes at a pivotal moment – do all you can to make it a success.
Here are links to a poster, a leaflet and an A4 leaflet template.
when and where will this protest taking place?
Is there a route? In which case can you tell me where it will be going through at approximately what times?