2 million students at 290 colleges were hit by the action. Lecturers had voted to strike in a ballot which was made more difficult by anti-union laws. The AUT move parallels action being taken by schoolteachers.
People are just sick and tired of the way they are being treated.
The last thing we want to do is harm the students we teach. At the end of the day, they'll get a better deal if they are taught by lecturers who feel valued. We hope this message will be heard, not only in colleges but also on the election campaign trail. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers did not see the point of highlighting the state of education funding in the run up to an election. The Association of Colleges branded the strike as irresponsible.