Ready for the Fight in 2014

Sisters/brothers,

Just two pictures with which to sign off for 2013, and to reflect a year virulent with protest, resistance and defiance. Whether it was the phenomenal 100 million workers on general strike in India in Feb, or the wave of strike action by fast food workers across the US, this year proved more than ever that the future of organised labour is alive and strong.

Although the year ends with the sad death of Nelson Mandela it takes us the start of events to mark the 30th anniversary of the UK miners' strike. I look forward to reporting on these, and the many other events, activities, protests act which will (to nick a phrase from those fine trade unionists at Labor Notes) be putting the movement back into the labour movement.

Take care and my very best wishes for 2014.

In Solidarity

Ian

RIP Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

Colleagues,

The text below has been written by my colleague Peter Dwyer in respect of the impact and legacy of Nelson Mandela in South Africa and globally. As a new student at Ruskin in October 1989 events in South Africa were presaging a new political era and so by February 1990 Mandela was released. I remember disctinctly watching Mandela's release - that famous walk hand-in-hand with Winnie Mandela - and asking our South African colleagues what this moment meant for them. Ruskin still proudly retains its links with the South African labour movement and Pete's words speak for College staff and students in recognising our historical past and future relationship.

Ruskin College mourns the death of Nelson Mandela

Ruskin College pays tribute to former South African President Nelson Mandela and the liberation movement he came to symbolise.

The whole world is mourning the loss of one of the most inspirational public figures of modern times. Much will be said about Nelson Mandela in the coming days and years but he was without doubt a political activist, a tireless campaigner for equality and justice.

As a College that was founded in 1895 to provide further and higher education for those to whom it was originally denied, Ruskin is proud to have become a home and a refuge for those who were exiled from South Africa during the years of apartheid. Many of our past and present students and staff played an active role in the anti-apartheid movement and built genuine links with the South African liberation movement.

Today, primarily through our trade union based courses, we still maintain links with a range of progressive organisations and campaigners in South Africa. In 2014 we will provide a scholarship to a woman trade unionist from South Africa to fund her study at the College. Consequently, we can think of no better tribute to Nelson Mandela and all that he stood for than to carry on our work of providing educational programmes based on the principles of equality and social justice.

In the near future the College will celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela and the achievements of the anti-apartheid movement

In Solidarity

Ian