Tuition fees protest 'rehearsal' for 30 November strike

STUDENTS demonstrating in London today made it clear that their campaign is no longer just about tuition fees – but about a partnership with trade unionists fighting public sector cuts.

Manoj Kumar, president of Middlesex students' union, told The Week: "This is about making education available for the working class again - and the best way to do that is as a movement. We were there for the [trade-union organised] demonstration on 26 March, and we'll be there on 30 November."

He was referring to the nationwide public sector strike planned for the last Wednesday of the month. As was Adrian, an organiser for the RMT (the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union). "This is practice for 30 November", he said. "This is a chance for us to have the strongest labour movement since the 1960s".

Another advocate of such a coalition was Steve Sweeney from the Cambridge branch of the Unison trade union. "The students and trade unions are the key alliance," he said. "These are the bodies that can call on millions. There is a great deal of dialogue; the Cambridge students union is supporting the walkout on the 30th. The National Union of Students is becoming strong again; we're looking to build a long-term partnership now."

One danger is that the trade unions' agenda swamps the student issues of the tuition fee hike and restoration of education maintenance grants. Another risk is that the movement becomes too diffuse.

Manoj Kumar was not impressed by the masked anarchist contingent who told The Week to "fuck off" and chanted violent threats at passersby. "This has to be peaceful", Kumar said, "without violent people who waste our time".

One onlooker, Mark, who works in advertising, agreed. "I respect their right to protest an issue but they have no right to push their values on people". ·