Inside students’ occupation of Cambridge university
‘We made it clear that the Vice Chancellor urgently needs to reassure his staff he had their interests at heart, not just in these ongoing disputes, but in the future as well’, union says
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Your support makes all the difference.Cambridge University has called for the union of its lecturers to submit a request for formal recognition amid a six-day occupation of its administrative hub, the Old Schools building..
Under the banner of Cambridge Defend Education, students took over parts of the space on 3 March, before moving into the second and third floor of the site including the Reception area, Registrar’s Offices, and a whole corridor of management offices on the second floor.
The group have pledged to remain until their demands – including a letter from the vice chancellor denouncing the government’s hostile environment policy towards migrants – are met.
As their protest has continued, the university has invited the Cambridge branch of UCU to submit a formal claim of recognition – however other conditions have reportedly not yet been agreed to including the acceptance of UCU’s demands and ensuring students and staff face no disciplinary measures.
A UCU spokesperson said: “On Monday, the eighteenth day of our strike action, the Executive Committee of Cambridge UCU met with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Stephen Toope.
“We made it clear that the Vice Chancellor urgently needs to reassure his staff he had their interests at heart, not just in these ongoing disputes, but in the future as well.
“We noted in this context that Cambridge was one of only a handful of institutions that refuses to recognise UCU, a fact that goes against the University’s professed commitment to improving the working conditions of its staff.
“We are pleased to announce that, at this meeting, Cambridge UCU was officially invited to submit a formal claim for recognition. This is a hugely significant step, and it’s down to the strength of our strikes.”
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