The University of Brighton staff begin their 8 day strike with pickets at Falmer, Moulsecoomb and Grand Parade.
The pickets started early in the morning but finished by around 12.30. From there strikers joined a “Teach Out” at the Black and Minority Ethnic Community Partnership Centre. The UCU will be running events there throughout the week such as film screenings and group discussions. You can find their events schedule here. Many students joined the UCU members as well as some unofficial strikers who stopped by to show their support.
At the Sussex picket Caroline Lucas gave a speech alongside University and College Union leader Jo Grady. The fire brigade union also showed up in a fire engine.
Brighton UCU members were joined by students at Grand Parade and Moulsecoomb pickets. Many students that I spoke to on the picket resented the decision by Brighton Students Union to oppose the strike.
Strikers at Moulscoombe campus were split between Mithras House and just outside the Advanced Engineering building.
This is Brighton staff strike day one. The strikes are set to continue until 4th December. We asked the UCU Brighton branch about the first day and they replied:
Thank you to all the students who have shown their support today! We have students as part of our open strike committee. Join us every day at 2pm in bmecp.org.uk 10a Fleet St BN14ZE. #UCUBrightonStrike
University of Brighton UCU
