Lambeth UNISON sends solidarity greetings to Goldsmiths University workers in their fight to save jobs and protect education. Since 2008 the narrative has been the same, cut backs, and so called “savings” every year as austerity continues to rip through the public sector. Meanwhile The Sunday Times Rich List records 157 UK billionaires and energy companies made £30 billion profit last year. Higher education – alongside Further education – remains under relentless attack as those who rule Britain in the boardrooms and cabinet ministries continue their campaign to reduce the scope of opportunities and learning for people in this country.

How telling that ion 2026 as the trade unions at Goldsmiths fight back to save jobs and educational provision the bosses uses the same tactic they did against the miners in 1926 – a lock out, trying to starve workers into submission. What does this tell you about British society today where the rich do what they will and the rest of us suffer as we must? 

But the campaign being led here by the UCU is an inspiration, that it is better to fight on our feet than live on our knees, that these cuts are wrong, they are short sighted  and they are regressive. The kind of society we want as workers is one where there are life long learning and educational opportunities, where we fund books not bombs, where students can learn skills either for work or just learn because they want to and as human beings we have a right to live a good life where all ours talents and interests can be explored. This is what the fight is about, all across this sector where educators and support staff fight for jobs and better conditions for themselves and their students. 

Solidarity from Lambeth UNISON!