Students come out in support of NUIM staff.
kildare |
education |
news report 
Tuesday November 24, 2009 21:10
by Donal Fallon- Free Education for Everyone NUI Maynooth
Solidarity pickets placed on both North and South campuses of NUI Maynooth.
Students assembled just before 12pm today in Maynooth to join lecturers and other staff at the National University of Ireland NUI Maynooth on the picket lines for a number of hours.
While the Student Union decided to take a 'neutral position' on the strike and not support workers on campus, students from various groups on campus- along with individual students- had spent the last number of days pushing for students to respect the strike and support NUIM staff. Free Education for Everyone (FEE) , the Social Solidarity Network (SSN) and Labour Youth all postered in the build up to the day.
Over 60 students participated in solidarity pickets, with Labour Youth and individual students joining academic staff and other NUIM workers on the South Campus entrance for most of the solidarity action, while Free Education for Everyone banners were present on the North Campus main gate. Students were joined on the picket lines by workers from Unite, the Irish Federation of University Teachers and Siptu.
Todays solidarity pickets showed the capability of the left on campus to work together and to support workers action at NUI Maynooth. Despite the feelings of dismay at the Student Unions decision not to support the strike, the response was a positive one- to build an alternative.
The cutbacks at NUI Maynooth are threatening both staff and students, and the decision of the vast majority of NUI Maynooth students to respect the strike and not go on campus today showed an understanding of just why the strikes were occuring. Free Education for Everyone will continue to campaign against cutbacks on campus, the appointment of Bertie Ahern T.D by the University and to offer practical solidarity to workers on campus.
A sincere thank you to all students who attended today.
'Students and workers- unite to fight the cutbacks!'
Comments (11 of 11)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11Solidarity guys!
We need to build on the great turnout for next Thursday. Maybe even get the SU on board... (imagine)
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NUIM Labour Youth supporting university staff
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Solidarity Picket, North Campus.
Good to see Labour supporting the strike.
Why did Labour TD's not support the strike in their own work place? The ushers in Leinster House were on strike yesterday, but the Labour staff passed the picket.
I was also wondering, did the TD's from the 'Labour' party cross the picket. If so, this act of solidarity seems pointless.
At least the Shinners didn't cross, but no one expected them to.
I see they brought the army in to work in the Dáil. Grrrr
I wouldn't say the Maynooth Labour action was worthless. Its good to see some LP members take a principled position. There would be nothing wrong with TDs going into the Dail yesterday if it was to support the striking workers. Sadly Gilmore also accepts the need for cuts.
The Army are always in the Government Buildings complex. The Military Police have a permanent armed prescence there.
I never said it was worthless, certainly not.
However, I do think its pointless if the main body of the 'Labour' party think its okay to cross picket. I don't actually know if they crossed the picket, which is why I asked did they actually cross over.
Also, I know the army are always there, just annoys they were working. Nothing serious, I presume thats one of the reasons they are there. But, just grrrr
Sorry for the note of negavity here on what was otherwise a very successful strike, but I noticed on Tuesday that while St. Pat's College in Drumcondra, TCD and UCD amongst others were all shut with large groups of pickets outside, the gates of DCU in Ballymun (NOT Glasnevin btw!) was open (shame! shame!) with no pickets (shame! shame!) and lots of students going in and as usual (shame! shame!)! To me it looks like they broke (scabbed) Tuesday's strike (shame! shame!)! Maybe I'm wrong, and I stand to be corrected, and perhaps DCU was also closed. It would be great if people from DCU (staff and students) would come on and clarify what exactly happened in DCU on Tuesday.
Actually, UCD was not shut.
Although large amounts of staff were on strike, the campus was open as normal, with pickets on the major entrances. Not all lectures were on strike, some classes and labs continued.
1,000 signatures have been collected amongst the student body in opposition to Bertie Aherns appointment. The petition will be delivered DIRECTLY to the University President next week ;)
Caption: Video Id: YR6FUlHthCw Type: Youtube Video
Vincent Browne mentions Bertie Ahern petition
DCU was open as normal, because the staff there voted against going on strike
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