Answer for MSC Socialist students

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Jim Denham reports on a response by Birmingham trade unionists and youth slip through the picket unnoticed, and this angered the hundred or so Asian youth and LPYS members who had gathere. Half of us then STUDENTS at Sheffield University went into occupation last week against cuts in the Library book grant. Within 26 hours we were out of occupation with a threatened £20,000 fine and no backing from the Students Union.

Sheffield University Library is one of the worst in the country and cuts are continuing. In recognition of the uselessness of negotiation and as a backlash against our Tory union officers failure to lead any effective campaign, we went straight from the union meeting which adopted the occupation policy, to the main University administration building.

The occupation rapidly gained support with over 200 students staying the night and 350 attending the mass meeting the following day.

The occupation was Iun democratically by twicedaily mass meetings and accountable occupation committees.

But the University reacted harshly. Within two hours a writ was issued. The following day • NO He STVDENTS 15 minutes until it became clear that large numbers of police had arrived outside, and so to avoid arrests, we decided to leave.

Dave Sheffield Crown Court gave the University a repossession order and awarded the cost of enforcing it, estimated at £20,000 per eviction attempt, to the Students The tactic of the legal system was to cripple the Union financially to cripple us politically. Just like the anti-union laws used against the NGA, the tactic is to destroy political autonomy by destroying financial autonomy.

The right of students everywhere to take direct action in defence of their interests is threatened.

Instead of working to build support for defying the Court order, our Tory union president packed an unconstitutional meeting with his supporters, lied to the occupiers and tried to close the occupation.

When the occupiers refused to that we would be back and that the youth of Halifax the people of Halifax. leave, he used his constitutional prerogative to overturn union policy, and withdrew our union backing. In panick, we withdrew.

There is now a core of students committed to direct action against the cuts, who have learnt from the occupation.

There were some splits in the occupation - ultra-leftists who failed to understand the difference between student action and workers action called University staff scabs when they delivered the mail, not helping us to work alongside the campus trade NUS have promised no support, with NUs president Neil Stewart telling us that illegal action was "futile"

The cuts in education are part of the offensive against the working class, and the attacks on student unions are parallel to attacks on trade unions. To defend their education, students must be prepared to break the law and build a national campaign to build student union autonomy. THE GLOSSY complacency of the government Manpower Services Commission's "Training Fair' in Birmingham has been shattered by the intervention of rank and file trade unionists and young people.

The Fair was intended to sell the Tories' Youth Training Scheme to groups of fifth formers dragooned out of Birmingham schools. But amid the slick displays from the likes of 'Curves , British Leyland, etc. etc., Birmingham against student unions too. Trades Council set up a stall distributing counter-propaganda. to demonstrate or occupy buildRobbery. (which exposes the away with it. It there were a fin it would be small and negotiable. rip-off activities of private train. ing agencies), a list of pertinent became dependent on questions for young people to put authorities and students to schemes, and material on grants for money, it has not been backdoor compulsion.

We also showed a video of so easy. the TV Eye programme 'Death on YOPs'. students' union effectively sold its autonomy. under The MSC officials were clearly £30,000 fine, it allowed the highly embarrassed by the Trades Council's stall, but dared not university to rewrite its constitu.

tion (to include a seven day throw us out in front of the cooling-off period before any young people who quickly gath- direct action on campus). ered round our display.

The MSC's agitation reachdents' union is in serious trouble. ed near-hysteria when our interAlthough a fine is only threatenvention inside the hall was supLed, if they return to occupation plemented by a 40-strong lobby they faced substantial bailiffs' outside the hall. The "Trainees Action Group' had organised it to costs.

In Sheffield the courts have been used to penalise the union.

WRITS and fines have been flung In Warwick the university used far and often recently, not just ag- into hold on the union's purseainst the NGA and NUJ but strings directly. sentential or cupy bal. Meanwhile student unions in further education colleges usually remain subject to the rules and whims of their Principals and Local Education Authorities.

The Socialist Students in But since the student unions NOLS [National Organisation of Labour Students] AGM at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology on March 17 (starting 10.30) will be This term Warwick University discussing the fight for student union autonomy and other battles.

Everyone is welcome. Just turn up, or phone Tony (061-273 5691) or Jane (01-609 7459) for details.

Now Sheffield University stuNEWY JOHN HARRIS

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omen s ly 1984 no.169

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CENTA I STUDENTS CUTS CARLOS AUGUSTO (IFL)

4 STUDENTS OR THATCHER! ALL EVERYTHIN G SHE DOES IS TRAGIC

would never allow openly racist councillors to represent

BAT HE STUDENTS FUTURE

We had trainees' rights cards, ings for short while and get the report 'The Great Training

Prosest against compulsion onto, conference