The largest education union in Europe, the National Education Union (NEU), has voted to support the International Youth Strike taking place in Britain and all across Europe on November 20.
The motion to support the International Youth Strike, which was passed by the NEU’s national executive yesterday, included resolutions 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.”
- “Oppose disciplinary action against students participating in peaceful protest activity, including detentions or other sanctions, and to support campaigns defending students’ rights where required.”
- “To provide members with information about the N20 International Youth Strike through NEU communications channels, providing members with how they can safely and responsibly support participating students’ rights in line with safeguarding requirements and legal obligations.”
! Socialist Students enthusiastically welcomes the support of the NEU.
As students, we stand united with workers organising against attacks on our education. From Albania to France, India to Argentina, the fight for high-quality, free education has been a central part of the international youth movements that have spread globally this year.
For us, a major aspect of the International Youth Strike slogan – ‘fight for our future, not their wars’ – is the fight against education cuts, student debt, tuition fees, and for fully funded public services. Socialist Students says that means building a movement to take wealth, resources and technology out the hands of the billionaires – towards a socialist society based on meeting the needs of all, not the profits of a tiny few and their wars.
We also warmly welcome the initiative of the NEU to offer practical solidarity to students choosing to protest on November 20, such as stewarding peaceful protests on the day, and backing any campaigns against disciplinary action that students might face.
