[The economic crisis has even provoked a response…]

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The economic crisis has even provoked a response from university teachers. Refusal by the government to submit to arbitration the paltry increase of 18 per cent which the Association of University Teachers has claimed for its members brought many teaon 6th May.

About 1000 marched in Manchester, and in cities such as London and Leeds calls for meetings drew a tremendous response.

Those who hoped that the meetings would put forward a programme of action were disappointed AUT general secretary Laurie Sapper entertained a packed auditorium of 1700 London teachers by poking harmless fun at government 'stupidity' and dwelling on the AUT negotiating team's persistent moderation.

PRENTICE

The next day Reg Prentice, right-wing Secretary of State for Education, condemned direct action by university teachers as "irrelevant and unhelpful'. The next step is not clear; most likely Prentice and Sapper will reach a compromise of no rise now and a bigger increase next year (which will in the meanwhile have been eaten up by inflation).

The Workers Socialist League; in leafleting the London meeting, was the only group to make political intervention. We criticised the inadequacy of the AUT salary claim and the lack of a programme to achieve it and fought the notior of teachers as "gentlemen scholars" cut off from the labour movement. Many teachers have begun to see the need for trade-unionism and for cohesive, united and militant action.

'The crisis of capitalism threatens every aspect of the education system, not just teachers' salaries. The running down of universities by inadequate finance poses a serious threat to job security and working conditions. Every vacancy not filled means a decline in the quality of education or a speed-up' for the remaining statt, or both. Teachers must fight every step of the way not just be maintain and improve their standard of living but also to ensure that university funds keep pace with inflation.

"This battle must be waged hand-in-hand with other members of the universities. Teachers must seek the support of students for their claims, and be prepared in turn to help them defend their own standard of living and education. They must likewise campaign for complete solidarity with non-academic staff, a key step in which is the establishment of the AUT as a fully functioning trade union, affiliated to the TUC.

"The Workers Socialist League calls upon university teachers to: -demand a • sliding scale of salaries to meet increases in the cost of living, as determined by committees elected from teachers' trade unions.

campaign for full information on government plans for education finance, and for a sliding scale of expenditure to meet the effects of inflation in full.

give complete support to NUS grant claims and to the demands for salaries and conditions made by nonacadentic staff.

demand immediate affiliatiori of the AUT to the TUC. demand that the AUT leadership support claims with properly prepared strike action.' Jenkins - appears on anti-market platforms with known racists.

The Conference was opened by Len Wells-whose address was much more left wing than the actions of the NEC during the Conference.

All the motions against the social contract were referred to the NEC who verbally oppose it but were not willing to be bound by a conference decision.

The motions on womens' rights were also referred to the NEC, which means ASTMS still has no policy for women but boasts a larger membership among female workers than most unions.

WOMEN'S RIGHTS

The discussion on womens' rights was preceeded by guest speaker Marie Patterson - chairman of the 'TUC. She made very correct statements on womens' rights with

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Members of the three main ship would have rejected the deal" PRESS, Thursday May 15th,

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chers out on strike in support of the 'National Day of Action