UNISON members glowing mad over tuition fee hike join protest

UNISON members will be among those waving 9,000 glow sticks to symbolise

government plans to hike up university tuition fees to £9,000, as part of

student protests across the country tomorrow and Thursday.

University staff, student nurses and other public sector workers, will join

students in taking a stand against the savage plans during a series of

regional rallies on the 8 December.

On Thursday (9 December), UNISON members will be lobbying their MPs at

Parliament, before a rally at the Victoria Embankment at 3pm. As it turns

dark, the protestors will be waving the glow sticks.

Christina McAnea, UNISONÕs Head of Education, said:

ÒIt is a disgrace that poorer children will be put off from going to university,

as higher education becomes the preserve of the rich.

ÒLib Dem MPs voting on the tuition fees on Thursday must dig deep into their

consciences and stand by their pre-election pledge to vote against increasing

tuition fees.

ÒAt the same time as hiking up fees, the government is cutting university jobs

and services, withdrawing education loans, axing means-tested grants and

making huge cuts to further education. The government is dealing out blows

to students from all angles, but we will be backing them in their fightback.Ó