Monday 28-02-2022 - 09:37

Bristol SU stands in full solidarity with the students occupying Wills Great Hall in solidarity with the UCU strikes. The student and staff struggle is a shared one - staff working conditions are our learning conditions, and to neglect one is to neglect the other. Staff are set to lose at least 35% from their retirement income if we do not urge our universities to get round the table again and accept an offer that will not destroy staff's retirement. 

This is all part of the wider struggle against the marketisation of universities, where our institutions compete against each other for more and more students to drive greater fee income, at the detriment of student and staff experience. Bristol SU stands against the marketisation of higher education, and we recognise the key role that it plays in causing the issues that university staff are striking over, as well as many of the issues currently faced by students. 

We call on the University to allow our students to continue their peaceful protest whilst allowing them access to running water, toilets and food immediately. We’d like University staff to meet with the occupiers and Bristol SU as a matter of urgency to discuss their concerns, and ensure there are no repercussions for the student occupiers.

You can show your support to our striking lecturers and students occupying the Great Hall by taking part in the NUS ‘Walk Out /Teach In’ student strike on Wednesday 2 March. ‘Walk Out/ Teach In’ is a national student strike day of action and part of the NUS ‘New Vision for Education campaign’, which aims to tackle the commodification of higher education and make it more accessible for all. Attend the local rally on 2 March in the Victoria Rooms at 11am and march to College Green alongside striking staff.