Education - Progress at Harlow
WORKERS, JULY 2007 ISSUE
Lecturers at Harlow College in Essex have made a big stride forwards in their battle against the imposition of the principal's plan, which threatens the quality of education there, when the principal broke his refusal to speak to national union negoatiators.
The lecturers, members of the UCU, brought the college to a standstill when they went on strike from 11 to 14 June. Students mounted a rooftop protest in support of their lecturers. The strike followed days of action on 24 and 25 May.
Some lecturers face the prospect of a £13,000 cut in salary, a longer working week (up to 56 hours a week including Saturdays), an increased workload and shorter holidays. If the plans had been implemented, 52 per cent of teaching would be delivered by staff on non-teaching contracts and 35 per cent of teaching staff would be moved onto unqualified terms and conditions of service and pay.
The lecturers were also planning a programme of action to back their demands, including a boycott of the newly advertised college posts of principal tutor, senior tutor and tutor.