The National Union of Students is taking part in the strike, and UNISON has voted to join UCU’s national day of action in universities on the same day, as students in more than 50 towns and cities prepare to walk out

Press release from Socialist Students

The national executive of the National Education Union (NEU), the largest education union in Europe, voted unanimously last week to back the International Youth Strike on Friday 20 November, when students in more than 50 towns and cities across Britain will walk out of schools, colleges and universities under the slogan “fight for our future, not their wars”.

In its motion, “Support the International Youth Strike: ‘Fight for our future, not their wars’”, the executive resolved to “express support for the right of young people to peacefully organise, protest and make their voices heard, including those taking part in the N20 day of action”, and to “oppose disciplinary action against students participating in peaceful protest activity, including detentions or other sanctions, and to support campaigns defending students’ rights where required”.

The union will also tell members about the strike through NEU communications channels, including how they can “safely and responsibly support participating students’ rights in line with safeguarding requirements and legal obligations”, and will advise members who wish to volunteer as stewards at local student demonstrations. Bristol NEU has already passed its own motion offering practical support for the students’ 1pm protest on College Green, such as hi-viz jackets or the cost of hiring a sound system, and backing members who volunteer as stewards where organisers ask for them and safeguarding arrangements are in place.

The National Union of Students (NUS), which represents over 7 million students, announced on 28 October, in its response to the chancellor’s autumn budget, that it is taking part in the youth strike. NUS said the budget “does nothing for students”: the chancellor had done nothing about unfair student loans in England, had slowed the growth of the minimum wage for people aged 18 to 20, breaking a manifesto promise, and had given no detail on funding universities and colleges. Students had been left out of the conversation, NUS said, and “that’s why NUS is taking part in the youth strike”. It is asking students to sign up to take part on the day.

The University and College Union (UCU) has called a national day of action over the crisis in higher education on the same day, and wants to see rallies, protests and events in every university. UNISON, which organises support staff in universities, has now voted to join it. “Every university in the UK protesting on the same day,” the two unions said.

Socialist Students national chair Adam Powell-Davies said: “We warmly welcome the NEU’s support. No student should be punished for peacefully standing up for their future, and when students walk out on 20 November they will know that Europe’s largest education union is on their side. Teachers see every day what years of cuts have done to our schools and colleges, and through their union they are standing with the students who are fighting back.

“With the NUS taking part, and UCU and UNISON calling for protests in every university on the same day, 20 November will be a day of action right across education. As the NUS says, the budget did nothing for students. Labour has cut university teaching grants two years running while planning to raise military spending to close to £80 billion a year by 2029. That is why we say: 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. Students in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and other countries will also take action on 20 November, and in Italy the CGIL, the country’s largest trade union confederation, has called a 24-hour general strike on the same day.

Walkouts are planned at more than 100 schools, colleges and universities, and the main London protest is at 12pm in Parliament Square. Friday 20 November is also World Children’s Day, the anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which gives young people the right to express their views on matters that affect them and the right to peaceful assembly. Teachers, lecturers, support staff and parents are invited to join students on the day.