Goldsmiths staff to join climate change protests on Friday

Goldsmiths University has agreed to a 30 minute stoppage for staff to show their support for the action against climate change.

UCU welcomed the move and called for more colleges and universities to make allowances for their staff to get involved in Friday's protests.

Staff will be meeting outside the Richard Hoggart Building at 12pm for a rally where protesters will hear from representatives of the University and College Union (UCU), National Education Union (NEU), and local Labour party.

Protesters will meet at the Richard Hoggart Building again at 4.30pm for a march along New Cross Road to the LeSoCo building in Deptford.

Last week the trade union movement officially backed UCU's call to support Friday's school strikes and urged workers to join in the action for 30 minutes. The University and College Union (UCU) has written to the national representatives of universities and colleges asking them to allow staff to participate.

Other institutions that have confirmed support for the climate protests include the University of Edinburgh, Bristol University, the University of Leicester, the University of Leeds and Capital City College Group.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'The trade union movement is fully behind the actions against the climate crisis. The work done by Greta Thunberg and school students around the world has been inspirational and now it's time for the rest of us to make our voices heard. We are pleased Goldsmiths can be added to the growing number of colleges and universities that are encouraging their staff to get involved with Friday's protests.'