Home

Sussex

Riot cops attack peaceful Sussex students' protest - Socialist Party

The trot papers are the only national media covering police violence during the occupation of Sussex House, the suspension of the 'Sussex Six', and the subsequent protest and re-occupation. They don't quite agree on numbers though (realistically, there were 300-400 demonstrators):

Socialist Worker: "Almost 500 students rallied on campus this afternoon outside the management offices in Sussex House where the previous occupation took place."
Socialist Equality Party: "Over 500 students held a rally at Sussex University March 11, following a week of protests against education cuts and in support of six students suspended for taking part in an occupation that was attacked by riot police."
Socialist Party: "600 rally in support of 'sussex six' suspended students"
Morning Star: "Seven-hundred protesters came out in support of the six, who were singled out by managers last week after participating in a 50-strong occupation of the university's Sussex House."

'Clear mandate' for strike action at Sussex - Times Higher Education

Staff at the University of Sussex have voted for strike action, with the highest turnout UCU has ever had in a ballot (80.9%). A total of 76% of those balloted supported a strike if the university goes ahead with plans to shed 115 teaching and support staff jobs.
 

Flash Occupation in solidarity with education workers at Sussex University

Over 100 students have occupied a conference centre at the University of Sussex in Brighton against proposed course cuts and job losses. The action comes after weeks of concerted campaigning during which the university management have failed to take away the threat of compulsory redundancies and course cuts.

The students described their action as "a display of support and solidarity for the UCU’s upcoming strike ballot. Furthermore, we stand in solidarity with all other workers at Sussex taking action against the cuts."

Sussex UCU approves ballot for strike

At an EGM on Wednesday 27 January, Sussex UCU approved ballot for strike and set a 48h ultimatum to management

University of Sussex

StorySoFar: 
  • Cuts were announced on 24. November, marking the start of a 90-day 'consultation' period. Plans include 115 redundancies, closure or privatisation of child care, student advice, unisex. This corresponds to a £3m budget cut, with an additional reduction of £5m planned for 2010-2011. The hardest hit schools are Life Sciences, Engineering, Informatics. Management refuse to release details of their plans and the financial situation.
  • In December the Stop the Cuts campaign organise a couple of demos and a mass meeting, each with hundreds of students and a smaller number of staff attending.
  • In the face of management refusal to modify their plans and remove the threat of compulsory redundancies, UCU propose a 'Unique Solution' to avoid redundancies. It consists in the main of savings through a voluntary reduction of hours.
  • An UCU EGM on 27. January decides to give management 48h to withdraw remove the threat of compulsory redundancies and adopt the Unique Solution. Though management express interest in the Unique Solution, they refuse to remove the threat of compulsory redunancies. Procedures for a strike ballot commence.
  • 106 students from the Stop the Cuts campaign occupy the conference centre in Bramber House, in support with education workers who are balloting for strike. (8. February) Many expect this to mark the start of a series of student occupations at Sussex and nationally.
  • The UCU strike ballot period runs from 12. February to 3. March.
General Info
workforce: 
2120
Number of students: 
12445
Management Plans
budgetcut: 
3.50
Job Losses: 
115
Service Cuts: 
child care, Unisex
Opposition to cuts
Contact here: 
no1
websites: 

http://defendsussex.wordpress.com

http://www.sussex-ucu.org.uk/sucu/

http://www.savechildcareatsussex.org/

  • By no1 at 2009-12-26 14:24

A hundred jobs to go at University of Sussex - The Argus.co.uk

The Argus, the local paper, reports the cuts from the management view:

The University of Sussex has told staff it plans to cut 100 jobs. Up to 100 redundancies could be made as part of cost saving measures to slash £5million from the university's budget.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Farthing said: “These are tough times and the University is far from alone in the higher education sector in facing a financial challenge. We have had to take a close look at how we can offer the very best to our students and staff and strengthen our position within the top 5% of universities in the world. We do not embark lightly on changes which result in posts being lost. No one wants to see their friends and colleagues lose their jobs. Where possible we will try to avoid compulsory redundancies. Staff affected by the changes will receive our support and help.”

Syndicate content