The strike is illuminating the massive divisions in Labour over something as basic as defending jobs, conditions and services. The party’s right is willing to take extreme measures to force through cuts, confident that the majority of the centre will acquiesce and shut up, waiting for all the fuss to die down.
The UCU dispute about pay and pensions is also a struggle against the marketisation in higher education, writes Andy Kilmister.
“A Romanian care worker and a British bus driver have more in common with each other than they do with their boss. That is the basis of the trade union movement. Len MCluskey’s job is to fight for their full rights, for decent pay and the right not to bedeported and harassed by the state because of their immigration status.”
