Leeds University Union scabs retreat under pressure

Leeds Students’ Union (LUU) executive are licking their wounds after anti-cuts campaigners struck a hard blow against their anti-teacher campaign.

LUU have replaced their chain-email which urged lecturers not to strike with a questionnaire on the union website. The LUU exec claim that the emails “had a massive impact, and their voices were heard right across campus.”

What they don’t mention is the massive backlash that ‘Education First’ provoked amongst students who are justifiably outraged by this attack on their teachers and staff.

It is clear from the subtle yet significant adjustments to the campaign that the Union Exec is starting to wobble under the pressure of students demanding that the Union represent their interests. Divisions in support for cuts among the Exec members were increasingly apparent at last Monday’s meeting of the Leeds University Against Cuts group.

However, the Education First campaign lives on with its divisive, anti-union nature intact. This victory is a boost to the campaign, but we mustn’t be complacent.

REVOLUTION and other members of the anti-cuts group want to oppose the Exec at the ballot box and stand a slate of anti-cuts in the upcoming sabbatical elections.

The anti-cuts election slate will aim to kick out the careerists out of their desks and replace them with people who care about students, care about staff and care about education. They will fight to defend jobs and education at Leeds.

If you oppose the devastating cuts and want to see this happen then come to the next meeting of Leeds University Against Cuts on Monday 25 January.