By Jack Poole

With less than 24 hours notice, around 200 people gathered on Sussex campus to protest management’s attempt to get a court injunction on the occupation. If granted, this injunction would likely lead to management attempting to evict the occupiers from the conference centre. For over a month, this conference centre has been the base for the anti-privatisation campaign at Sussex, organising dozens of demonstrations and marches, including Monday’s national demo which saw up to 2,000 students and workers angrily descend on management offices.
The demonstration today (Wednesday 27th), saw that anger continue, and was faced by a police presence on campus not seen before Monday’s demo. Riot vans waited in the car park and FIT teams were stationed on the roof of management’s building, which was locked down and closed again.
It is clear the huge demonstration on Monday has frightened management, weekly demonstrations and the formation of a rank-and-file union organisation is not going to look attractive for any of the private companies lining up to take the contracts of the privatised services. An attempted eviction now looks likely in the coming days – however this will not be easy, the occupation remains strong and today’s demonstration shows how quickly the campaign can mobilise. Riot police had to retreat from outside management’s building on Monday’s demo!
But even if they do manage to evict the occupation it is clear the campaign doesn’t end with it, occupation is only a tactic and others can now be explored. This must include strike action by workers on campus, which will be an essential component of a successful campaign. Students can strike as well, ideally joint action between workers and students would escalate the campaign going into the new term. Attempts to crush the movement through force will strengthen the resolve of students and workers to fight management’s brutal privatisation programme and defend education at Sussex for the future.