Striking to Defend Sixth Form Colleges

I went down to the picket line at one of the entrances to Leicester QE college. National Union of Teachers members were on strike against cuts by the government to sixth form college funding. The strike went ahead after a government attempt to stop it with legal action failed. As one supporter from the local trades union council said: “The government doesn’t seem to understand it when workers take action to defend the service rather than just their pay!”

Many had already left to get the bus to a rally in London. Those that remained were leafleting pupils and other staff going past. Some stopped to sign a petition against funding cuts and take stickers to support the strike.

One picket said: “We are protesting against a real danger to our students and future students. We are doing this for the whole community.”

Another teacher said: “We believe sixth form colleges offer specialist education, we are trained to teach at this level. The impact of the government cuts will mean a third of sixth form colleges could potentially close.”