Huddersfield Report

Across Kirklees dozens of schools closed on April 24 th. At my school four of us held a picket line. Over 25 pounds was given to us by NASUWT and ATL members for the NUT's hardship fund, which illustrates the sympathy that the NUT's campaign has with teachers in other unions.

We finished our picket line at 9 and then went into Huddersfiled and went to the UCU picket line at Huddersfield Technical College. The rep there made the point very forcefully that April 24 th should be seen as the starting point of a coordinated fightback by all the public sector unions. She agreed that the unions have to coordinate the next round of strike action to have the maximum impact upon the government.

Over 200 attended the NUT rally which had speakers from PCS, UCU and UNISON. The best received speaker was Stella Dennis from the PCS. Her call for a united front of public sector unions to fight the government's pay freeze was received with rapturous applause.

A friend of mine who went to the Barnsley rally said that they had over 200 at their rally. All present bar one voted for further strike action to further the campaign in a show of hands at the end of the rally.

Dylan Murphy