Tower Hamlets College strike continues into fourth week

Teachers again affirmed support for continuing the indefinite strike action in a mass meeting Tuesday. About 150 people voted to stay out, with 13 abstentions and no votes against. At the meeting a number of people expressed their understandable concerns about 4 weeks with no income and more people talked about how students were suffering, but many more people argued that the students know what we’re doing and support us.

Negotiations have moved to ACAS and will continue this week, with progress made on some individual cases but management refusing to meet our demand for no compulsory redundancies.

Unison voting against strike action in week 3 was a serious blow [despite a mass meeting of UNISON members voting to strike, an official ballot returned a 13-12 no vote] but those on strike and those still working continue to try to find ways that we can support each other and move things forward.

Strikers continue to travel around speaking at workplaces and community centres, gathering support and increasingly, offering encouragement to others considering strike action.

We have won a lot of concessions but some feel we could have done so much more with the power we’ve had. Our collective strength has been amazing. Of course, it’s not over yet.

How you can support the strike:
Come meet Harvey McGrath, Head of Prudential, Educational Philanthropist and Tower Hamlets College Governor.
Critical Mass from Arbour Square picket line (E1 0PT) 10:30 or meet at Bank Station 11am Thursday 22 September. Bring banners, noisemakers, new slogans.
Come to our Gala Fundraiser and Solidarity Jumble Sale
Saturday 26 September, 1pm -3pm, Roland Phillips Scout Centre, 65 Copley St, London E1 3DF.

Benefit Social – Wednesday 30 September:
The George Tavern, 373 Commercial Rd, E1 0LA

Come to daily pickets::
Arbour Square E1 0PT
Bethnal Green Centre E2 6AB
Poplar E14 0AF

Donate Money::
* Make a direct bank transfer to:
The Cooperative Bank
Sort Code: 08 92 99
Account Number: 65252262
* Send cheques payable to "UCU Arbour Square" to
UCU Tower Hamlets College
c/o LARC 62 Fieldgate Street London E1 1ES

For background and updates:
http://defendjobsandeducation.posterous.com/

Facebook: Tower Hamlets Stop the Cuts

For earlier coverage:
see here.