Education staff at breaking point, union leader will tell rally

Speaking at the People's Assembly rally in central London, UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, will say that massive cuts in public spending, the government's drive to privatise education and attacks on the professional status of staff are damaging an education system that should be the basis for a fairer society and a more just economy.

Sally Hunt will tell the rally in Parliament Square that education and lifelong learning must be at the core of our society and not on its periphery. She will argue that reducing family tax credits may help balance the books, but won't lift a single child out of poverty. And say that attacking the right to strike might play well with the right-wing press, but it won't create a single job.

Nigel Farage will come under attack for his efforts to turn the UK into 'fortress Britain'; something she will warn won't create the chance of a better life for our poorest families.

She will conclude with a challenge to the crowd to avoid hectoring or lecturing the people that voted for a Conservative government at the last election. She will say that those on the left need to listen and understand. And offer hope, not just criticism.

The People's Assembly march will assemble at 12pm outside the Bank of England, Queen Victoria Street and then march to Parliament Square.

Sally Hunt, will say: 'UCU members who work in further and higher education are at breaking point. They are at breaking point because of the massive cuts in public spending which already seen more than one million learners denied education since 2010.

'They are at breaking point because of the relentless drive under this government to privatise and monetise our education service. And they are at breaking point because of the attacks on the professional status of staff - the pay cuts, the endemic casualisation and infringements on academic freedom.

'If our country is to succeed, we must create a fairer society and a more just economy. And that society must have education and lifelong learning at its core not its periphery. Yet this government seems to want our country to become less learned, less tolerant and more insecure

'Reducing family tax credits may help balance the books but it won't lift a single child out of poverty.

Turning the UK into fortress Britain may please Nigel Farage but it won't create the chance of a better life for our poorest families. And attacking the right to strike may play well with the right-wing press but it won't create a single decent job.

'Finally I want to say that we are right to challenge the government every step of the way when it comes to their disastrous programme for Britain. But we who are gathered here today have a challenge too. We are here because many of those we represent voted against positive change at the election.

'We won't win back their support by hectoring or lecturing them. We need to listen, we need to understand. And if we want to win them back, we need to offer hope. '