Compulsory redundancy threat lifted at Conel

Lecturers in north London celebrated on Monday of this week after management lifted threats to impose compulsory redundancies.

The workers at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (Conel) had been balloting for strikes to stop the job cuts.

The UCU union members were in a meeting discussing taking all-out action when they were told the threat had been lifted.

Jenny Sutton is a UCU rep at the college. She told Socialist Worker, “I think that management was under pressure from us, the governors and our local MP.

“We have lost some jobs. Some people put themselves forward for voluntary redundancy.

“But the numbers who volunteered don’t add up to the number they wanted.

“They have backed down significantly.”

The threat of militant strikes had management worried. And workers clearly felt confident to fight.

Lecturers should now use this mood to keep fighting all cuts in education—voluntary or otherwise.