Students at UCD to stage anti-fees strike on March 30th

THOUSANDS OF students at University College Dublin are to stage a one-day strike on March 30th against the re-introduction of fees.

The action will consist of a lunchtime rally at the Belfield campus as well as talks and social activities.

The “education shutdown” is being organised by the college’s students’ union. The union was mandated to organise strike action in a referendum passed by students earlier this month. The proposal was put forward by anti-fee activists from the Free Education for Everyone (Fee) campaign.

Staff at the university look set to take part in the Irish Congress of Trade Unions strike on the same day. This means that students will not be boycotting classes because there will not be any taking place. Julian Brophy of Fee said March 30th was the best day to hold the strike to ensure there was a successful shutdown of the university.

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) does not yet have plans to stage an all-Ireland student strike on the same day. However it will make an announcement in the next few days, a spokeswoman said yesterday.

Some 20,000 undergraduate and postgraduate UCD students will be affected by the action.

Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe indicated this week that no new system of fees would be brought in until 2010. He said this would not affect students currently in the system.