Earlier this afternoon I met with the Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science at the Scottish Parliament alongside comrades from UCU, and joined by representatives of the EIS union who are also striking in several Scottish Universities. We explained in detail the impact of the issues UCU members are in dispute over, on workers in Higher Education.

This followed a huge march and 2 rallies in Edinburgh culminating in a *very* large gathering outside the Scottish Parliament — there is absolutely no doubt about members’ strength of feeling! I was lucky enough to be invited to get there on the Strathclyde UCU ‘CoolBus’ having been taken round picket lines at Glasgow uni, Glasgow Caledonian, and Strathclyde this morning by a particularly kind Strathclyde comrade who drove me round to maximise how many we could visit!

I’m now on my way to Durham! See you at the rally there tomorrow!

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Meeting between Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Richard Lochhead (third from left), UCU Scotland colleagues, and myself
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Strikers march in Edinburgh
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Addressing Strathclyde Strikers before we head to the ‘Cool Bus’
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Brilliant strike delegation from the Glasgow based unis, on our way to Edinburgh
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Our working conditions are your learning conditions – fighting for a fair HE
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Quick rally and demonstration of strength of feeling before we join the main march!