On Saturday the 12th of February, school and college student members of the MSF kicked off their half-terms with a trip to Birmingham. Students travelled from as far as London, Liverpool and Cambridge and Nottingham to watch two talks relating to student work and perspectives for the student movement. The first talk discussed in detail the reasons why the ideas of Marxism are gaining such a footing among students: a direct product Read more…
The Communist Manifesto was first published on 21st February 1848, 174 years ago. Despite being centuries old, the Manifesto has been and continues to be one of the most influential books in modern history. It introduced the ideas of scientific socialism, which Marx and Engels would elaborate on over the next 50 years and which would serve as a guide to action for revolutionaries to come. But more than just a historic Read more…
LSE (London School of Economics) Marxist Society has been out on the picket lines supporting UCU members. The Marxist Society spent the build up to the strike pushing the SU to actively support the striking workers. This resulted in us having a gazebo and hot drinks provided by the SU. This all went a long way to help build morale on the picket line and show the lecturers that they are supported. Read more…
Here is KCL UCU committee president Dr Ewan McGaughey talking with comrades about the strikes last term. The socio-economic conditions of workers, being attacked and threatened by the capitalists in charge of OUR university are making workers draw radical and revolutionary conclusions. Now is the time to fight back and secure better conditions and permanent gains as transitional demands in our struggle for socialism. Students and workers UNITE AND FIGHT! View this Read more…
Despite the cold and unappealing weather, the picket lines at Loughborough were energetic. The Marxist Society joined the lecturers to show solidarity. Student solidarity towards these strikes is being taken with great appreciation. While the media and even the SU try to divide lecturers and staff, we must clearly say that lecturers’ working conditions are our learning conditions. We believe that one of the most important parts of political activity is theory, Read more…
Imperial Marxist society enthusiastically intervened on the first day of the UCU strike in the Imperial College South Kensington campus. The mood amongst the strikers was optimistic and militant. We spread ourselves across two picket lines and helped with leafleting and other organisational tasks. Even those who had not been attending Marxist Societies before came out for the pickets with the Marxist Students. As both a Marxist society and UCU member myself, Read more…
The latest wave of industrial action on campuses begins today, with UCU members out on strike once again in the struggle for decent pensions, pay, and conditions. It is vital that workers and students unite and fight to defend education. The Universities and College Union (UCU) is striking once again – this time over three weeks: 14-18 February; 21-22 February; and 28 February-2 March 2022. UCU members are fighting against low pay, Read more…
Here at Newcastle, we are being very proactive in relation to the upcoming UCU strikes. Early contact was made with the local UCU branch. We offered our solidarity, and set up a meeting to discuss how we can best support the strike. We have offered to assist with fundraising, in addition to bolstering picket lines. We are also holding a student-staff solidarity meeting to raise awareness for the strikes, and to educate Read more…
We are busy spreading the word about the upcoming NUS student walkout, with frequent flyering sessions on campus. These have resulted in an impressive level of engagement from students. On 3 February, we had our first Marxist society event of the term. We brought up the student walkout, and specifically the MSF model motion and its demands, which were printed and distributed. Society members discussed the NUS walkout, why we as Marxists Read more…
In Birmingham, we held a meeting on 3 February to coordinate work for the upcoming UCU strikes and NUS walkout. The meeting was attended by student activists from both the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University. Dozens of people have already agreed to help mobilise for the walkout. We discussed the political background to the strike, making a case for linking the UCU and student struggles together, and emphasising the need Read more…
Over the past year or so, Goldsmiths University has been another victim of the crisis of education’s marketisation. A restructuring scheme was made in a backroom deal with Lloyds and NatWest banks, and was outsourced to a multinational consultancy firm. A series of loans were issued by these banks on the basis that mass redundancies would take place. Additionally, the university’s main building was to be provided as collateral if repayments could Read more…
The NUS has called for a national student walkout on 2 March. And university lecturers are set to take further strike action this term. Activists must begin building for these immediately, to mobilise a mass movement to defend education. The National Union of Students (NUS) has called for a nationwide day of action this term, on 2 March, involving a student walkout at universities across the country, and a mass demonstration in Read more…
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