Theory and analysis

Anti-natalist philosophy: hysteria, pessimism and capitalism’s decline

Readers of US-based magazine the New Yorker may have read a recent and sensationally-titled article, “The Case for Not Being Born”, by Joshua Rothman (27/11/2017). The article itself is a good introduction to a relatively recent school in bourgeois philosophy known as “anti-natalism”. The basic thrust of anti-natalism is that the trappings of modern life – and life in general – are so full of suffering and pain, that these outweigh the Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

Kings College London: we must fight the right with a united front

On 5 March, students at KCL called a counter-protest against a Libertarian Society event, where speakers included the chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute, Yaron Brook; and alt-right YouTube troll Carl Benjamin, better known as Sargon of Akkad. Both are arch-reactionaries, whose views many students steadfastly oppose and whom we justly resisted. The night’s events demonstrate the need for careful planning and collective action, rather than individualist shock tactics, to effectively defeat the Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

Why we are standing on the picket line: a view from Cambridge Marxists

In Cambridge, we have witnessed all kinds of twists, turns, and contortions by those who have sought to justify scabbing on the inspiring strike action currently being taken by UCU members at the university. But cutting through the musk of vacuous excuses, self-serving assumptions and empty soundbites, there’s only one thing we can say for sure about the UCU strikes: if this dispute is lost, it would typically leave lecturers almost £10,000 Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

UCU: No pension cuts! Fight marketisation! Bring down the Tories! – model resolution

In light of the ongoing UCU strike action taking place at universities around the country, on Friday we published an open letter to UCU members arguing that the UCU should not settle for the deal on the table for the negotiations with UUK that are due to start today. The deal constitutes a pension cut, that will hurt starting academics the most, and one that takes the wind out of the sails Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

Open letter to UCU members: we mustn’t accept a single cut to our pensions

Over the past two weeks, university staff all over the country have braved freezing weather, bullying tactics from management and attempted press smears, to strike in defence of their pensions. In the space of five days of action, we’ve affected a complete transformation of the situation: students have turned up in force, the Universities UK is on the run. And now Unison members joining us in demonstrations on the pickets, while Further Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

Student unions should build for occupations to support striking staff

The resolution below is being submitted by the Cambridge Marxist society to the Cambridge University Students’ Union (CUSU) to build support for the UCU strike action. Marxist societies all over the country should take this as a model motion to build for student occupations to support lecturers around the country. CUSU Notes: The UCU strike is the most powerful threat to the marketization of education since the anti-tuition fees movement. That CUSU Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

UCU marches through London as FE joins the strike and pickets stand firm

Yesterday thousands of UCU members and students marched through central London as part of the strike action that is sweeping the education sector. UCU members in Higher Education have been on strike for five days now over proposed changes to their pension scheme. And yesterday was the first day of strike action by UCU members in Further Education, who are striking over real terms cuts to pay. Dora from the Marxist society Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

HE Unison members on USS balloted for strike action

Unison have now balloted members in Higher Education who are part of the USS pension scheme for strike action over the proposed changes to the scheme. This is the same reason why UCU members are currently taking strike action at universities around the country. Unison actually began a consultation over the proposed changes to the USS pension scheme on 13 February, and the consultation was due to run until 2 March. According Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

Militancy on picket lines and at student unions in London

Report from the student union AGM at Queen Mary Out delegation from the Marxist society has attended the picket lines in the mornings and the mood was good. Yesterday evening there was a 5:30pm gathering in the bar for supporters of two motions that had been submitted to the SU AGM in support of the strike, and to lobby the university to protect grades during the strike. The motions were good and Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

How to stage a successful occupation

The idea of students occupying university rooms or buildings in solidarity with the UCU strikes is being raised on a number of campuses. It has been attempted in Southampton and is taking place now at UCL. Given the fury amongst students over how our university staff are being treated, occupations could connect with a broad layer of students and become a useful tool through which to support striking staff and build the Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

Picket line analysis from Southampton, Leicester, and KCL

Southampton At Southampton we have witnessed attacks by the Vice-Chancellor on our education since he arrived 3 years ago. He first attacked the support staff at halls accommodation, then cleaners and security and most recently in November announcing cuts to lecturers and a restructuring of the university. In response to the lecturer cuts, we created the Southampton Students Against University Cuts (SSAUG) group along with other left leading students at Southampton to Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

An open letter to the Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool University and President of UUK

This open letter was written by students at the University of Liverpool to their Vice-Chancellor, and President of Universities UK, Professor Janet Beer. It has been sent to the Marxist Student Federation, as well as other media outlets, and we are publishing it in its entirety as it shows the real feelings that exist on campus during the time of the UCU Strike action. The letter has been endorsed by the UCU Read more…

By Marxist Student, ago

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