Mackney hits out at privatisation

Louise Nousratpour in Blackpool
Monday May 29, 2006
The Morning Star

NATFHE general secretary Paul Mackney condemned the "idiot wind" of government privatisation at the weekend when he addressed the lecturers' union's final conference.

"We've seen privatised FE before and more of it is about as welcome as snakes in a pram," Mr Mackney warned delegates during his address on Saturday.

"The new adult education is wide open to greed and sleaze with its emphasis on privatisation.

"Urging colleges to seek funding from philanthropic millionaires is like recommending oral sex with a shark," he said amid roars of laughter.

Mr Mackney, who will be retiring this year due to a heart condition, stressed that "what we want is solid state funding from a progressive taxation system, not charity from the rich who maintain their wealth in tax havens."

He also attacked university bosses' refusal to meet their workforce's demand for a 23 per cent pay rise over three years - to compensate for a 40 per cent pay decline in the past two decades compared with average earnings - which lies at the heart of the current pay dispute.

"The lethal combination of hypocrisy accompanies 'feline obesity,' with many vice-chancellors awarding themselves substantial pay rises whilst denying such increases to their front-line staff," he noted.

Mr Mackney rejected "offensive" suggestions that lecturers who are refusing to mark final exams as part of their action over pay have no regard for their students.

Earlier in the day, during her address to conference, National Union of Students president Kat Fletcher insisted that her members "stand by you every step of the way."

The NATFHE leader also took a strong line on the illegal occupation of Palestine by Israeli forces, noting that he had been sent over 5,000 emails, many of which accused him of anti-semitism and ordered him to stop a proposed motion on a boycott of Israeli goods, which will be debated today.

"The Palestinian people need support and solidarity as never before and I will not be bullied into silence," he insisted, launching a scathing attack on the international community for imposing sanctions on Palestine.

Finally, Mr Mackney called on members to take their fighting spirit against low pay, the illegal Iraq war and racism into the new union UCU, which will be formed by a merger of NATFHE and AUT on Thursday.