Joint statement of solidarity from UMUCU and the Fallowfield Labour Councillors to students in Fallowfield halls:

To the students of HMP Fallowfield

UMUCU, the union for lecturers and support staff at the University of Manchester, and the Fallowfield Labour councillors send 1/7

our full solidarity, and love, to the students of Fallowfield.

Instead of treating you like prisoners, or children who can't be trusted, the University should start from a position of empathy and understanding. Many of you are young and away from home for the first time. 2/7

Many of you are also particularly vulnerable to the impact of isolation, including on your mental health.

Instead of standing with unions to demand proper funding for universities in this crisis, the university has moved you from across the country, with unworkable promises 3/7

of face-to-face teaching, just to get your fees and hall fees. This quickly led to a major covid outbreak in fallowfield halls, and contributed to accelerating its spread across the community. Instead of taking responsibility for that, they want to shift the blame onto you 4/7

and your behaviour. This is unacceptable and immoral.

Instead of spending money building fences to corral you, they should be throwing money at ways to make your experience of lockdown as bearable as possible, and to develop creative ways to ensure no-one feels isolated. 5/7

Fallowfield Labour councillors have so far secured a local UoM-specific testing programme, and are working with the UCU to secure a safe exit/return for students over Christmas. 6/7

Keep organising and putting demands on the university. UMUCU and your councillors will do everything we can to support you.

UMUCU and the Fallowfield Labour Councillors 7/7
@rentstrikeUoM @ManchesterSU @ucu