Don’t ban the Hare Krishna free food

STUDENTS at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), part of the University of London, are protesting at a ban by the college authorities on the Hare Krishna free food provision for students – because it undermines the profits of the official franchised college eating places.

The Hare Krishna people have been providing plates of free vegetable curry to students and people in the Bloomsbury area for the past 15 years.

They also turn up on progressive demonstration in cold weather to provide free, good quality hot food for protesters.

They come to SOAS 6 days per week and serve nearly 700 people with a heart-warming smile. It is very disappointing that SOAS and the University of London prioritise their business interests over free and healthy Hare Krishna food, which many students and others rely on.

The alternative food options at SOAS are very expensive and not particularly healthy. The students want the Hare Krishnas to stay on the SOAS campus, where they have always been.

SOAS cleaners in new battle with ISS

by New Worker

 correspondent

CLEANERS at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas) last year won a long battle for decent wages and terms and conditions.

Last week they were out on strike again, supported by their union Unison, as ISS broke the terms of that agreement by announcing that new vacancies will not be given to cleaning staff already employed in Soas.

ISS also demands that new staff must be fluent in English. Most of the Soas cleaners are immigrants and are not fluent in English but have worked there for many years, some for 18 years.

The cleaners are calling for lessons in English and insisting that new workers should not be employed on worse terms and conditions than those agreed by ISS last year.

They are angry that ISS has begun trying to recruit new workers on worse terms and conditions, which is a breach of the agreement secured last year, and which will create a two-tier workforce.