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A lecturer from Harlow College spoke to the UCU Left conference about the campaign at the college against the imposition of new working conditions and contracts.

Over 120 lecturers came together for the UCU Left conference in London last weekend.

The inaugural congress of the University and College Union (UCU) last week brought together two very distinct unions – the AUT and Natfhe, into a new lecturers’ union.

The congress of the UCU lecturers’ union heard a storming speech from PCS civil service workers’ union general secretary Mark Serwotka. He outlined a strategy for a united fight across the public sector to break Gordon Brown’s pay freeze.

On the first day of the UCU congress, delegates voted by 158 to 99 in favour of a motion that instructed the union to facilitate discussion on Palestine and open the possibility of a boycott of Israeli academic institutions.

It was a good conference for the new union and the left within it. The potential of a union representing 120,000 educationalists organised at the heart of what is fashionably known as "the knowledge economy" could clearly be seen.

I’m sure UCU will be bold in recognition that you don’t necessarily get what you deserve, you get what you fight for.

The UCU lecturers’ conference passed a series of motions on Wednesday supporting Palestinian rights, calling for discussions about solidarity, and supporting debate around a possible boycott of Israeli academic institutions

Lecturers in the UCU union at Harlow College in Essex struck on Thursday and Friday of last week against management’s attempts to impose a draconian new contract.

This week will see the first annual congress of the University and Colleges Union (UCU) which was formed last year from the merger of the AUT and Natfhe unions.

The UCU lecturers’ union is balloting its members at six further education colleges in London that are facing cuts to English for students of other languages (Esol) and adult education.

Teaching staff at Harlow College – members of the UCU union – have voted for strike action as part of a campaign to defend their contracts and jobs.