University of Leeds staff to join climate change protests on Friday

University of Leeds Vice Chancellor, Sir Alan Langlands, has agreed staff can have a 30 minute stoppage, in addition to their normal lunch break, to show their support for the action against climate change by joining the protest.

Protesters will meet at Millennium Square at 11am before marching through the city centre.  University of Leeds staff will leave the campus at 12pm to join the main demonstration at around 12.15pm.

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

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 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 Leeds can be added to the growing number of colleges and universities that are encouraging their staff to get involved with Friday's protests.'