TUC next day. THEN THEY DECIDED TO CALL OFF THE OCCUPATIONS! Who could be surprised when London the occupations-to NUS headquarters!
In one fell swoop. while still pretendinc to molement ne decisions passec ov ine colleges involved in ine camoaan at the Manchester conference on 5 June, they in tact swept tem aside.
The Executive refused to support the demonstration called by the London Action Co-ordinating Committee (LACC) on the day of the TUC lobby. It lyingly suggested that because the demonstration was passing the headquarters or me nationa union or Teachers and National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education, this amounted to a direct 'attempt to alienate the trade union movement.
They decided that most colleges wanted to end their occupations on 16 June. Tetoniv a week earnier Nub President Charles Clarke had summed up for the successful motion at the Manchester Conference which threw out a national demo on 15 June, went all out for action on 16 June, and urged the occupations to continue.
who nouv contested unese decisions Dy the executive were eventually thrown out of the meeting. Two North East London Poly delegates were told that 'if the students decided to confront the police [i.e, resist the injunction to their occupation] they would not get legal aid or political support from the NUS Executive'. This was the culminaton or a week or scandalous actions on the part or me roso Lerteominatec It becan on Sunday 6 June. just on day after the Manchester conference. The broad Lett members or the Executive involved in the LSO decided THE EXECUTIVE of the National Union of Students met last Sunday. It 'urged all students wishing to participate in afterwards, where there is no local activity organised'. The Executive also reaffirmed its support for the lobby of the students, furious at being told to end the struggles they themselves had launched and maintained, decided to extend to call an LSO-organised demo — alona une unes or une proposar aercared al rosters were circulated to condon colleces. ano a Nus manline went out advertisingthis as a national demo. The Scottish and Welsh Executives, without consulting the colleges in their areas, suported this initiative. The NUS action desk began to volunteer information on me demo, succestine unar mere was a or or tank ano mue reeline oenino The final act was, so to speak, committed behind closed doors. The Executive decided, despite the clear position of the Manchester conference that 'the current phase of occupations snould eno in a united manner ...... Dy 16 June' and that 'the Executive will nold discussions with inose unions aole to continue their occupations over the This decision will split the occupation movement between those who are weak and those who are strong. The occupations could nave oeen developed to a new stage, however, if the Executive had called for area and regional coordinating committees to convene spec ial meetings in all the colleges taking direct action, in order to discuss how the struggle over the summer months could be organised given the difficulty of maintaining occupations in vacations the students decided on a local day of action on 15 June when some colleges will come out of occupation and some will continue, with C.F. Mott College becoming the focal point for organising the campaign in the area. In this way students can unite around clear common goals, adapted to local conditions, in stead of being told from above, 'It's from the Executive's actions over the last few weeks. They are afraid of a mass movement of students that develops democratic forms of struggle. They are afraid of the fighting links that students have forged with teachers, lecturers, building workers and a host of others.
joining with milant trade unionists to INATING LACC's picket of the DES - condemned by NUS President Charles Clarke. on 16 June. by North East London Poly, which had suggested that these were joint ventures win ine right to work campaign, was withdrawn as giving a false impression.
ongoing campaign in the London area, thus taking up the responsibilities of leadership dropped by the NUS Executive. In the North West area, for example.
and unemployment.
-Inere is only one conclusion to arav Above all, they are afraid of students The poster produced For demo.
LACC is now debating details of an NGHT GUTS CUPIED.
TEACHER US MUNYMENT A CHILD ILLITERACY TUDEN
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a demonstration against the Government's policies on education, cuts and unemployment to join the demonstration organised by the London Student Organisation (LSO) on Tuesday 15 June, and the lobby of Parliament organised