I have received the following letters of support, many thanks to all involved.
Paul
1. From Trevor Pitman, Chairman, Unite, University of Reading Branch
Dear Paul,
On behalf of Unite, I would like to send wishes of support to UCU members for their decision to take action in respect of proposed reforms to the USS pension scheme, and for the continued dispute, nationally, with regard to the 2010 pay settlement and job security. We will endeavour not to carry out any work that is caused by academic absence, unless it is part of our duties.
Yours sincerely,
Trevor Pitman
2. From Reading SOS (Save our Services)
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
We are writing this to offer our best wishes, respect, gratitude and solidarity (that is to say, real practical support, through our words and actions) to the members of the Reading Branch of the University & College Union as you approach the start of industrial action.
We understand that your decision to take industrial action is not an easy one, but we also believe it to be entirely necessary.
The actions of Government and employers across the country and the world, in attacking our pay, terms and conditions under the guise of ‘difficult economic circumstances’ are a disgrace, based as they are on a cynical exploitation of our generous patience, a patience we maintain despite their repeated collaborative deceits.
In your case, you have seen a restructuring of your University, with worsening conditions for both staff and students. You have seen your autonomy and specialism chipped away through cost cutting reductions in support staff. You have been patient through this and more, continuing to work day in day out. Yet now you face both a humiliating pay offer and an attack on the standard of living you should expect in return for all this patient work in future.
Yes, these are ‘difficult economic circumstances’ – but only for ordinary working people. MPs of all parties participated in the theft of £millions in dodgy ‘expenses claims’. Today’s cabinet has more millionaires amongst them than any other. And they take advice from the billionaire owners of multi-national companies, those who gladly employ sweatshop labour, who pay their employees as little as possible here and who avoid paying their taxes, outraged that they should be expected to pay their share.
Where did all our money go? Ah yes. To the poor, struggling banks. The banks that gambled and lost, wiping out millions of peoples livelihoods and homes, then came crying to the Government, under the burden of their stolen wealth. The combined profits and bonuses of these banks last year totalled £90billion, more than the planned Government spending cuts, though less than the £120billion owed by tax dodgers. Our ‘debt’ will be reduced in just four years, at the cost of vital services like education, healthcare and welfare. And the banks debt to us? Oh, theirs will be paid back in 370 years. Fair’s fair…
And so, next week, unless the ‘circumstances’ change, you will refuse to work. This is not unreasonable. This is not violent, intimidatory or temperamental. This is calm, considered, proportionate (to say the least!) and entirely reasonable. If it is solidly observed by all of you, this will be the very picture of dignity.
At the start of this letter we offered our best wishes and respect. We also offer our gratitude and solidarity. We want to say that we are grateful to you. Whilst we view it as a deficiency of ours to not yet be able to count your branch officially amongst SOS Reading affiliations, many young RUCU members and reps have been amongst the most dedicated and inspiring of SOS Reading activists, reaching out to make the human connections which represent the real ‘Big Society’. They embody the generous spirit of solidarity and deserve all of our thanks.
More than this though, we thank you for taking a stand next week. We understand you are doing this to defend yourselves and your colleagues, and this is the most honest character of a protest.
But, your action will have knock on effects. Our non-UCU supporters also have to work and live in these ‘difficult economic circumstances’, attempting to support themselves and their families, relying on public services to do so. A united and dignified UCU strike next week will be an inspiration to millions of trade union members in both public and private sectors. We are all looking up to you.
So what of solidarity? Well, we offer to distribute UCU press releases to spread your word, explaining to students, local residents, our colleagues and friends and families, why you are doing the right thing. In addition, we offer to ask our contacts to become your supporters. We will ask our contacts to pay visits to your picket lines, to meet you and exchange hellos. We think if you are minded to accept this offer, it might be nice to keep picketers company for a short time, perhaps with coffee or tea?
So, once again, our very best wishes. We hope to see you return to work smiling.
Yours in solidarity,
On behalf of Save Our Services in Reading:
Stuart Melvin – SOS Reading Chair
Isabelle Travis – SOS Reading Vice Chair
Kathryn Dixon – SOS Reading Secretary
Mark Cutler – SOS Reading Treasurer
Neil Dunnett – SOS Reading Web/Media Organiser
On behalf of the Reading Trade Union Council:
Bob Wilkinson – RTUC Secretary
In a personal capacity:
Christian Bishop
(SOS Reading, PCS, RTUC executive member)
Rebecca Hillman
(SOS Reading, RUCU, RTUC delegate)
James Cleveland
(SOS Reading, RFFC)
Will Hall
(SOS, IWW Reading branch treasurer)
Carole Bordeau
(SOS, RUCU rep, RTUC delegate)
Chris Reilly
(SOS Reading, RMT Reading branch secretary, RTUC executive member)
Kevin Jackson
(SOS Reading, Unison West Berkshire health branch secretary, RTUC executive member)
Simone Knox
(SOS Reading, RUCU committee member)
Sam Wade
(SOS Reading, Unison, RTUC delegate)
Robert Stirling
(SOS Reading, CWU)
Pauline Thomas
(SOS Reading, NUT retired member, NUM Hon. member)
Jo Melvin
(SOS Reading, USDAW)
Greg Wilton
(SOS Reading, NUT)
3. From Reading Fights Fees and Cuts
Dear Reading UCU members,
Reading Fights Fees and Cuts are a primarily a group of students, based mainly at Reading University, but with a few younger members in schools and colleges in the Reading area, who are opposed to education cuts. We would like to express our support on behalf of ourselves and many, many other students we know, for your decision to take strike action.
We understand that this difficult, serious decision to stand up for working conditions and the wellbeing of staff is integrally linked to our experiences as students and the quality of our support and education. We understand it as essential in maintaining the quality of education, and conditions of studying and working in education which is itself integral to the wellbeing of wider society, now and into the future. We also understand it as part of a history of struggle and negotiation that has brought us the education we benefit from today.
We would like to extend our support to any practical help you would consider useful, in spreading the word amongst students at Reading University, for example, as to why the strike is going ahead, and why it is so important to support our staff.
In solidarity and with very best wishes
Mark Whiley (3rd year English Language, Reading Uni), James Cleveland (Computer Science and Cybernetics BSc, Reading Uni), Becki Hillman (PhD in Theatre, Reading Uni) and Ruth Sullivan (teacher, Slough) on behalf of RFFC
