Strike action and a city centre protest are set to hit Leeds this week.
Tomorrow and Thursday, students at Leeds' two universities are being encouraged to join staff who are members of the University and College Union (UCU) on the picket line. Tomorrow's strike includes a protest outside the Parkinson building at the University of Leeds at 1pm.
Staff will be on strike over a number of issues, from changes in academics' pensions and concerns over pay to question marks over jobs at Leeds University's biological sciences department and the centre for joint honours.
Leeds food physicist Professor Malcolm Povey encouraged students to join staff in the walkout. He said the UCU has also campaigned with the National Union of Students against higher fees and the scrapping of the Education Maintenance Allowance. Povey added:
"Opposition to government spending cuts and austerity measures is growing. Students and education workers need to work together to resist cuts and privatisation in our universities and colleges."This kind of united action will show the government we are prepared to fight for our education. It would come days before the national TUC demonstration in London on 26 March which could see up to a million student and workers united on the streets."
On Thursday, 1-2pm there will be a rally organised by UCU in City Square in defence of education, jobs and pensions.
On Wednesday, the Leeds Against The Cuts campaign - set up by the Leeds Trades Council - is holding a budget day protest in City Square at 5.30pm. The campaign held a day of action on Saturday, with stalls in the city centre. Armley Town Street and Headingley Arndale Centre stalls also opposed the impending closures of local day and crisis centres.
Do you support the walkouts at the city's universities this week? Have your say in the comments section below.
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