Solidarity for Justice for SOAS Cleaners- Stop Deportations, occupation.

Dear students, and staff of SOAS,

Today the University of Bradford Union meet to discuss the deportations of cleaners at the School of African and Oriental Studies, London. We want to send our solidarity greeting to you.

We were both shocked and appalled to hear last week that the University had been complicit in allowing members of their staff to be intimidated, detained and deported whilst working at SOAS.

The fact that the University targeted underpaid cleaners many of whom are active in working to fight for better widest is outrageous.

As students and researches at the University of Bradford we feel that our Universities has a duty to protect all members of its community. The fact that the your school not only refused to protect its staff but was complicit in deporting ill and pregnant staff is outrageous.

We fully support actions such as the present occupation to fight for the rights for these workers. Students and staff must unite to work together in creating a community that is safe and secure for each other.

We send our solidarity with those who have been part of the campaign to stop deportations while out thoughts are on those who are being deported and other staff who are being intimidated by these kind of actions. We wish the occupation all the success.

We want to make it clear to all Universities but particular to SOAS that the behaviour of senior management not acceptable and have called for them in a separate letter to support their staff and the occupation.

Yours, in solidarity and friendship.

For and on behalf of the University of Bradford Union

Lloyd Russell-Moyle

Union Secretary – Treasurer 2007-09

Vice President (Societies) 2009-10