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University
University
Universities dispute in danger: are local settlements the thin end of the wedge?
There is an appetite for a fight, but the union must urgently change tack, argue Counterfire UCU members
University strikes: collectivise our anger
Employers in higher education have plenty of money but won’t spend it on their workforce. Only mass action will force them to concede, argue Counterfire UCU members
Glasgow students stand with UCU strikers
During a nationally-coordinated student strike, Glasgow University students picketed with striking staff in a show of resolute solidarity, reports Sophie Johnson
Shahd Abusalama: How the IHRA definition is being used to silence Palestinians - video
Shahd Abusalama speaks to Counterfire's Dave Randall about how she has been treated by Sheffield Hallam University, how the silencing of Palestinians is rooted in the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestine and why she is continuing to fight for justice
Strikes win: Anatomy of the University of Liverpool victory - video
Counterfire's Unjum Mirza spoke to University of Liverpool UCU Vice President Jo McNeill about their recent victory which stopped compulsory redundancies
Resist the attack on higher education pensions
Counterfire UCU members argue that we must have one clear demand for strike action - a rejection of the 2020 pension valuation
Covid and the campuses: can UCU turn anger into action?
Fighting back against attacks by employers in higher education requires coordinated action across the sector
Why University of Liverpool staff are striking and how you can help
Anthony O'Hanlon, one of the strikers at the University of Liverpool, spoke at a recent Counterfire event about the dispute and how you can show solidarity
Resisting ‘rank and yank’: UCU fights job cuts at Liverpool University
Ahead of a rally on Monday, UCU’s battle to save jobs at Liverpool University is a critical fight for the whole sector
No redundancies: Liverpool University staff take on management with industrial action
The struggle against redundancies at Liverpool university will have implications across the sector
Jobs saved, threats lifted: industrial action beats the bosses at Goldsmiths
Goldsmiths UCU members who are victorious after almost four months of industrial action show that when you fight you can win
Occupy the University: Manchester students take on the management
Students at the University of Manchester have occupied a building demanding a rent rebate, an end to policing of accommodation and staff redundancies, reports Lucy Nichols
Trapped in for profit: Sheffield students rent strike
Students in Sheffield are taking direct action against appalling living conditions, reports Mike McCarthy
Berkeley: The Student Revolt - book review
Hal Draper’s classic account of the 1960s Berkeley student free-speech movement reveals enduring patterns that remain important for all activists, argues Joshua Newman
"The university acted negligently, greedily and dishonestly" - Interview with Edinburgh Uni occupiers
Counterfire's Lucy Nichols speaks to student rent strikers who have occupied a building at the University of Edinburgh about their action and demands
Fighting job cuts in higher education
There is a national push in universities to restructure, cut jobs and weaken unions, but higher education workers are fighting back, reports Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Striking for Goldsmiths: can assessment boycotts deliver the goods for HE workers?
The government and universities are using Covid as cover to attack workers and students, but the sector is fighting back, writes Milly Williamson involved in the dispute at Goldsmiths University
The University and Social Justice: Struggles Across the Globe - book review
Student movements all over the world, covered in
The University and Social Justice
, show the potential student protest has to challenge the current order, finds Graham Kirkwood
Goldsmiths UCU: leading the charge with words and action - Branch Solidarity Network bulletin February 2021
Branch Solidarity Network's February 2021 bulletin on the fightback at Goldsmiths University and the demands around workloads
The Tories don’t care about students: Erasmus is just another example
Students will need to continue the fight for education as a right, argues Lucy Nichols
Students must stand firm: Palestine solidarity is a duty not a crime – CounterBlast
The weaponisation of antisemitism could soon hit the campuses, warns Lucy Nichols
#NoMoreNancy: Manchester students march against University management
Students in Manchester marched in their hundreds to send a clear message to the university management: they're not backing down
Growing university staff revolt as Northumbria UCU votes to strike
Members of UCU at Northumbria University have voted to strike over health and safety amid a growing number of branches escalating disputes and balloting
Message from Manchester: if you fight you can win
Lucy Nichols, one of the occupiers at the University of Manchester, calls on students around the country to follow suit
Manchester rent strike and occupation to continue after University's derisory offer
The University of Manchester's offer for a 5% rent reduction is an insult and students will continue their occupation and renew the rent strike for the January term, writes Lucy Nichols
Racists off campus: Manchester students protest against university security racism
After a black student was racially profiled by university security, students have taken to the streets of Fallowfield to demand justice
#OccupyUoM: students have had enough
Lucy Nichols tells us why she's part of the occupation at the University of Manchester, what are the demands and how the university has responded
Manchester action is only the beginning: a Glasgow University perspective
As Glasgow students take action against mistreatment by university management, resistance must continue to spread, argues Sophie Johnson
#OccupyUoM: Students take over University of Manchester building
Students at the University of Manchester are fighting back against the way they've been treated and have occupied a building until their demands are met
Students in revolt: The 2010 protests and beyond - video
Ten years on from the student protests that rocked the nation, Clare Solomon and Elly Badcock discuss the 2010 student movement and the impact it had
Manchester students tear down fences in thousands-strong protest
Students are raging at being repeatedly let down by the government and universities. Fences were the last straw for Manchester students - so they brought them down
Universities must lock down too
We must move teaching online, test students and allow them home argues Dragan Plavšić
Universities are a big part of driving infection rates
Staff and students at universities are taking on managements and the government amid sharply rising cases across campuses
Solidarity to the Rent Strikers – Bristol students fight back
Students in Bristol have called a rent strike over conditions of learning and living which the university promised and failed to deliver on, reports Jago Corry
Manchester students call for rent strike as thousands are infected with virus
Students and lecturers unite to confront government failure to keep universities safe, reports Lucy Nichols
Double trouble: COVID chaos and the neoliberal university
The financial priorities of the neoliberal university have fuelled the COVID crisis and the antidote is solidarity between lecturers and students, argues Dragan Plavšić
Students and lecturers must unite and fight for people over profit
With the mounting crisis in universities over rising Covid cases, students and lecturers must agitate together for safe learning, argues Lucy Nichols
Put students ahead of profit: the lesson of the Covid-19 outbreak at Scottish universities
Blaming students is a cynical move to distract from the deeper causes of the recent outbreaks, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Stop this madness: university campuses are not safe
Universities are risking student and staff lives by continuing the push to return students to unsafe campuses and maintain some face-to-face teaching
10 points against the unsafe return to campuses
Dragan Plavšić considers the growing opposition to universities re-opening as infection rates rise
Campuses and Coronavirus: students head to universities despite rising R rate - CounterBlast
As we head into a second wave, students and academic staff must put pressure on the government and university management to keep people safe, argues Lucy Nichols
The market crashes: from exam crisis to political crisis
University staff are pushing back against the callous actions of universities and the government putting staff and students at risk
The market crashes: Branch Solidarity Network Bulletin September 2020
Branch Solidarity Network's September bulletin on the return to universities and why face-to-face teaching isn't safe
Goldsmiths marking boycott: casualised staff fight back
We repost Branch Solidarity Network's interview with two Goldsmiths staff members involved in the dispute and the BSN June 2020 bulletin
For a national fight to defend higher education
UCU members report on the fightback at universities under attack by management and have put forward a model motion to show solidarity
UCU members: reject the employers' derisory 'Four Fights' offer
We should not even be balloting on this, but focusing on the issues arising from the universities’ response to the Covid-19 crisis, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Confronting the crisis in universities
There is an urgent need for UCU to develop a national strategy over Covid-19, write Counterfire UCU members
A Manifesto of resistance: to protect higher education during COVID times
Universities are at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, this manifesto protects them post lockdown
Coronavirus, competition and the universities
The coronavirus has exposed serious flaws in the university system, writes Dragan Plavšić
Striking in the time of coronavirus: results and prospects of the universities dispute
After 22 days of industrial action this year, the University and College Union (UCU) will now contend with the coronavirus outbreak as well, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica.
Toby Young is wrong again: the threat to free speech comes from the right
Right wingers like Toby Young are no friends of free speech and the left must fight back, argues Chris Nineham
Stop the cuts at Goldsmiths: the not–so-hidden costs of the higher education ‘market’
Des Freedman reports on students and staff rallying at Goldsmiths against cuts and how it links up with the UCU strike beginning this week
High stakes in UCU strike: another 14 days of action announced
Higher turnout likely than last year but the strike needs solidarity from the whole labour movement, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Students and staff at SOAS stand up to management attacks
The fightback at SOAS has begun with a student and staff walkout and protest against management's attack on fractionals, reports Shabbir Lakha
SOAS: a call to action to defend education as a public good
After SOAS management's drastic move, never has solidarity been so necessary and unity so possible to defend education, writes Des Freedman
SOAS goes on the attack with major cuts to casual academic staff
Claiming financial distress, SOAS has effectively sacked its precarious academics for the coming year in one fell swoop, reports Elaine Graham-Leigh
The lecturers are fighting back: reports from UCU strike day 1
As lecturers at 60 universities around the country began eight days of strike action, Counterfire activists reported from picket lines on day one of the strike
Confronting fear during a strike: why picket lines are important in industrial disputes
Ahead of the UCU strike, Vladimir Unkovski-Korica argues that mass unity creates strong bonds among strikers
University lecturers are gearing up for next week's strike
Preparations for the eight-day UCU strike starting 25 November are underway, reports Graham Kirkwood
Oxford Union violently ejects blind, black student from debate
The Oxford Union demonstrates that it remains at heart a racist, conservative institution, argues Josh Newman
Fight for the soul of Hong Kong
As the battleground shifts to universities, pro-democracy demonstrators continue to be met with violence in Hong Kong, reports Alex Doe
Universities take global steps to fight climate disaster
Universities around the world are organising together to declare an emergency and combat climate change, reports Pete Morgan
From toy drones to real ones: the arms trade and education
By allowing the arms trade into schools, colleges and universities, we are teaching children that innovation for the sake of destruction is acceptable and desirable, argues Lucy Nichols
Universities in 2019: facing the perfect storm
As the Tories' mismanagement of higher education continues, Des Freedman looks at the battles ahead
No platform for Alice Weidel in Oxford
The cancellation of Alice Weidel's visit to the Oxford Union is a victory and should help to push for a mass, anti-racist movement, argues Josh Newman
Speaking of Universities - book review
Stefan Collini offers a robust critique of the neoliberal academy, but we need an oppositional university as an alternative, argues Oliver Eagleton
University of Bristol students march for mental health services
Students at the University of Bristol demonstrated in huge numbers this Friday to protest inadequate mental health provision, reports Steven Cooper
University workers' statement on UCU ballot result
The strike is over: our fight is not
Reject the UUK deal: we need to fight now
In this open letter, university workers from across the country argue that we cannot accept the deal as it stands, and must fight for a No vote
Update on university pensions dispute
These motions, passed at various branches, offer a guide as to how we should approach the dispute at this critical moment
University strikes: employers’ retreat needs to be nailed down
As UUK returns with a further offer, Des Freedman takes a look at the immediate options facing university staff involved in the dispute
The UCU dispute: a lesson in the power of collective action
Solidarity among UCU strikers was not born on social media, but on the mass activity of the picket line, argues Milly Williamson
We're not going to take it any more - statement from precarious staff at the University of Kent
Following the UCU strike against pension cuts, precarious staff at the University of Kent release a statement demanding no pay cuts for strike action for already poorly paid staff
Time's up Theresa - Counterfire Freesheet March 2018
Brexit, Corbyn and the Labour right, gender pay gap, commodification of universities and more...
Lecturers' strike: the rank and file have spoken, now we have to take the lead
Feyzi Ismail reports from outside UCU headquarters as the union’s Higher Education Committee votes to reject the employers’ derisory offer
Lecturers' strike update: no capitulation
Des Freedman and Vladimir Unkovski-Korica explain why the deal between UCU and UUK is bad one and should be rejected
Lecturers' strike update: together we can win
As the lecturers' stike enters its final week, a lecturer explains what we have achieved and what we still need to do
Lecturers' strike update: students at Reading University begin occupation
Joining a wave of student occupations that look set to escalate this week, students at Reading University have begun an occupation in solildarity with striking lecturers
Student Occupations Live #OccupyUUK
Live updates of students occupying university buildings in solidarity with striking lecturers. #UCUstrike #StrikeForUSS
The lecturers' strikes started in winter but are finishing in spring - weekly briefing
University staff and students have shown that committed and passionate resistance is possible and neccesary, finds Des Freedman
From a community of scholars to purveyor of degrees: the changing face of the university
Universities are spending money on buildings and not learning and teaching, finds Susan Newman
Lecturers' strike updates: Striking to win
As the UCU strike carries on into its 4th day, we put together some short reports from picket lines around the country
Bristol leads the way in supporting striking university staff - photos
After a huge mobilisation to support striking lecturers on the first day of the strike, Bristolians took to the streets again to show solidarity reports Jack Sherwood
Forget the Arctic conditions: our universities are on fire
The UCU strike has the potential to rebuild the campaign against the marketisation of our higher education, writes Des Freedman
Lecturers' strike day two: ‘The things we have, we fought for on cold days like these’
Another day on the picket line as, across the country, striking lecturers put the pressure on
Lecturers' strike day one: A bad day for the casino
University strikers across the country are reporting the most successful and well supported industrial action for years
'They think we are weak - they could not be more wrong': Goldsmiths kicks off against pension cuts
On the first day of this historic strike, Goldsmiths lecturers show they mean business and are fighting to win
Solidarity with striking lecturers - resolution
Resolution to submit at your Union branches/CLPs/elsewhere in solidarity with UCU members going on strike from Thursday
Why we strike: why lecturers need your support
As university staff are set to take strike action, two lecturers, Des Freedman and Vladimir Unkovski-Korica explain why you should support the strike
University staff set to strike after ballot victory
University staff are set for 14 days of strike action after voting decisively for walkouts in opposition to attacks on their pensions reports Des Freedman
Hungary: the end of democratic illusions
The government-sponsored attack on the Central European University (CEU) represents one more step in the country’s authoritarian drift
Hungary: huge protests in defence of academic freedom
Prime minister Orban's attack on the Central European University has inspired strong opposition
The Capitalist University: The Transformation of Higher Education in the United States since 1945
Henry Heller’s
The Capitalist University
shows how higher education has served capitalism for over a hundred years, finds Orlando Hill
E.P. Thompson on how to save the university
Over four decades ago, the Marxist historian called for resistance against the commercialisation of higher education
Unionising university workers - extract
In the third extract from
The Capitalist University
, Henry Heller writes about growing resistance to the corporate university
Universities and the Cold War - extract
The second extract from Heller's
The Capitalist University
describes intellectual and political conformity that dominated academia during the Cold War
Universities, corporations and class - extract
We republish the first of three extracts from Henry Heller's new book
The Capitalist University
, which
resonates with the marketisation of HE in Britain
Back to Bash Street? May's grammar school myths
As Theresa May tries to take us back in time, Sean Ledwith and Adam Tomes take a look at the grammar school debate
Solidarity statement by JNU alumni and international academic community
Uditi Sen explains the background to the ongoing protests at JNU over the political persecution of the left by the Modi government
Preventing Prevent: Students are not suspects
Students need to unite against the Prevent strategy, which is only meant to spread division, argues Shelly Asquith
Why we should support the SOAS occupation
In defiance of SOAS management's proposed budget cuts, course closures and job losses, students occupied their university. Alex Bewley reports