Whatever views one may have on the call to discuss a boycott of Israel, the boycott call that was passed at the University and College Union congress (without a scintilla of opposition) has so far received virtually no interest outside these pages. This was the one concerning London Metropolitan University management's attempted de-recognition of the UCU on the ludicrous premise that pre-existing recognition was with Natfhe, and as Natfhe no longer exists neither does recognition.
Since congress, London Met governors have approved up to 60 redundancies and have explicitly stated that the majority of these are likely to be compulsory. Given this escalation, we will soon be balloting on major industrial action.
We have also launched an online petition (www.petitiononline.com/lmufight) calling on our governors to intervene; in its first week this has attracted more than 1,400 signatures.
Our local MPs have also initiated an early-day motion calling on our vice chancellor to recognise the UCU and enter into meaningful discussions over redundancies.
As a result, the UCU higher education committee has agreed to our request that the proposed boycott of London Met begin immediately and that a major public campaign in defence of London Met UCU be initiated.
Please support us in fighting back against this attack on our basic trade union rights.
Mark Campbell
Amanda Sackur
Cliff Snaith
London Metropolitan UCU co-ordinating committee