Young people at schools, colleges and universities to join mass walkout opposing defence budget increase
Walkouts are already planned at more than 200 education institutions across Britain
Students at Sheffield universities and colleges will join a mass walkout on November 20 in opposition to the defence budget increase.
The day of action has been called by youth political group Socialist Students, which is calling on young people at schools, colleges and universities across the country to take part.
Walkouts are already planned at more than 200 education institutions across Britain - with students joining the International Youth Strike under the slogan “fight for our future, not their wars” on the day.
In Sheffield students at The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield College’s City and Hillsborough campuses will down pens in protest.
Students in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and other countries will also take action on November 20 and in Italy the CGIL, the country’s largest trade union confederation, has called a 24-hour general strike on the same day.
Socialist Students, which is leading the campaign in Britain, has published the full list of walkouts on its website, with walkouts planned in 100-plus towns and cities and the main London protest at 12pm in Parliament Square.
Socialist Students national chair Adam Powell-Davies said: “With less than two weeks to go students at more than 200 schools, colleges and universities are getting ready to walk out and more are signing up every day.
“Young people are told there is no money for our education, for mental health services or for decent jobs and homes.
“But Labour has cut university teaching grants two years running while planning to raise military spending to close to £80 billion a year by 2029. We refuse to pay for their wars and their crisis.
“On November 20 we will be walking out alongside young people in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and across Europe.
“Any student who wants to walk out should sign up on our website, and we will help them organise it. This is a fight for our future, not their wars.”
The International Youth Strike was called by youth and student organisations from across Europe at a meeting in Cologne in June, where Socialist Students was present from Britain.
In Britain, the National Education Union has backed the strike, the National Union of Students is taking part and UCU and UNISON have called for protests in every university on the same day.
The Sheffield timetable in November 20 follows:
- University of Sheffield - 11.30am, Students’ Union concourse, then the Sheffield protest at 1pm, City Hall
- The Sheffield College, City Campus and Hillsborough Campus - joining the Sheffield protest at 1pm, City Hall
- Sheffield Hallam University - 11.30am, Hallam Square (City Campus) and Heart of the Campus (Collegiate Campus) then the Sheffield protest at 1pm, City Hall.