The NUS Annual Reception took place at the House of Commons on the 17th January, it was a great time to meet our colleagues in the trade union movement and show solidarity for the issues that we are fighting for and campaigning for on a day-to-day basis. In the past we have talked so much about the power in unity but this year we have really got the ball rolling and been forward thinking as an organisation planning for the inevitable further attacks on our education system. What ever you think about the education campaign this year it has to be said that the 2010 Coalition is a huge step forward.

The Coalition is something that has been initiated by NUS this year but is set to run for the next three years, in fact up to the review of the new funding regime or whether the £3000 cap should be lifted. The Annual Reception saw the launch of the Coalition and the great thing about that is that the five main Education teaching unions have all signed up to it. The key signatories have signed up to three principles, opposition to variable fees, opposition marketisation of education and opposition to the removal of the £3000 cap.

It’s brilliant to get together with others in the union movement to fight against one, two or even three things that we all believe in. For me there are several detrimental elements to the new student funding regime the effect on students and the contradictions in different policies. From September students will have to pay top-up fees, getting into thousands of pounds worth of debt if they choose to go, but I believe that many will be put off from applying and therefore the access agenda is threatened. This funding policy is the most exclusive and contradictory yet, how can the Government on the one hand want to increase access to Higher Education and on the other hand charge students £3000 per year for attending. NUS must keep fighting for free education and a well-funded and resourced Education system for FE and HE.

We can no longer tolerate the wave of privatisation creeping through our education sector and we must take a view that poorly paid and undervalued teaching staff is unacceptable. Many of you will know that students may be affected by the possible action taken by the teaching unions as they go out to ballot their members for possible industrial action. They’ve been in talks with the management about a gradual pay increase over the next three years arguing that a proportion of extra funding into the higher education sector due to top-up fees should go into staff salaries. NUS is supporting the Unions calls for better pay. I believe that we absolutely should support the unions in this but we also have to be aware of the possible affect on students and support Students Unions during this difficult time.

The bottom line is that we need well-paid, valued, motivated and experienced teaching staff in our universities and colleges and by supporting their calls for better pay we can achieving this we can enhance the student experience for the future. We will be awaiting the results of the ballot with interest and will do everything we can to ensure the effect on students is minimal.

Please sign up to the coalition at www.coalition2010.org lets build a force for the future!

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