Tuesday, 01 May 2012 00:00

Written by Mark Tyers and Tony Dowling

Staff and Students Gateshead college protested on May Day against plans to cut pay by a whopping 25-33%

On Tuesday I used my lunch break to visit a lively protest at Gateshead College to show support - as a local teacher and NUT activist - to staff and students uniting in opposition to cuts.

Around 70 people - a mixture of lecturers and students - gathered outside the college. This is not their first protest and it won't be the last. The dispute is set to escalate, with UCU strike ballots (from 8-18 May) here and at Sunderland College.

Richard, a UCU rep, explained: "Management want to advertise teaching jobs at a lower salary. They are creating new contracts with no limit on how much contact time teaching staff will have. They want to cut holiday entitlement. Major cuts are being pushed through alongside these changes to staff conditions."

Alan, a lecturer, told me: "Many teaching staff will suffer pay cuts of several thousands pounds, while senior management have excellent salaries. At a general meeting before Easter three quarters of UCU members turned up. There was a unanimous vote that we should pursue industrial action if there's no change to threatened changes. Many staff are saying they feel indefinite strike action may be necessary."

Meriem, an art and design student, explained that 500 students signed a petition to support staff and protest at cuts. She has been in touch with both the local MPs for the Gateshead area, who have met with the college principal.

She said: "We're protesting to save education for us and for the future. Experienced lecturers' salaries are being cut. What makes Gateshead college is the lecturers - if we lose them we lose the college. Last week we protested for an hour in the rain - we're back today and will keep protesting."