University of Manchester students have occupied three campus buildings - with reports that security are unable to get inside.
It comes amid a rent strike staged by students who are calling for university bosses to agree to their demands, as well as the demands of the current industrial action by the UCU.
Last month, hundreds of students announced they would be withholding rent amid claims they've been forced to use food banks and get full-time jobs to make ends meet.
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The students are calling for the university to offer a 30 per cent cut on monthly payments, and refund some fees already paid to help with the affordability of rent for the rest of the year.
It's understood the three buildings that have been occupied are the Engineering building, the Samuel Alexander building, and the 'high security' senior management John Owens buildings - where the Vice Chancellor is located.
The students occupying the John Owens building say they have locked or barricaded every entrance with furniture, stopping security from entering the building. The occupations have been coordinated to coincide with the UCU strikes which begin on the morning of the 9th and will see more than 70,000 university staff walk out.
Pictures from the occupied buildings show signs which have been erected outside, which say: "We demand affordable rent. Nancy earns £260k," referring to the university president and vice chancellor, Nancy Rothwell.
Another sign reads: "This building is occupied. Students are not cash cows." Another says: "University puts profits over students and workers."
A University of Manchester spokesperson said: "We are aware of a small number of individuals gaining unauthorised access to three University-owned buildings overnight. Our primary concern is the health and safety of those people who are currently occupying the buildings.
"We are aware of some doors and entrances being barricaded and locked and are emphasising our concerns for their safety in the event of an emergency incident. The normal working of the University is continuing. We continue to monitor the situation carefully."
We will be bringing you all the latest updates from the scene.
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Key Events
End of live coverage
We're going to end our live coverage of this incident at this point. We'll bring you any updates later this afternoon.
Food parcels being delivered to students
Food package to John Owens secured pic.twitter.com/shqLqCd2O7
— UoM Rent Strike 2023 (@rentstrikeUoM) February 9, 2023
"It does not seem to be affecting students too much" - report
Despite the takeover of the buildings, life on-campus seems to be carrying on as normal. That is according to Tom Grant, a journalist for the student outlet Manchester Media Group.
"This morning they were at the engineering and Samuel Alexander buildings, and it does not seem to be affecting students too much. It’s not causing disruption for students, but it is causing disruption for uni admin staff, who are having to reschedule classes," he told the MEN. "The engineering building was like a normal day, it’s really busy. There’s security out in the quad. Apart from that, there’s only one banner out there. Unless you were in the courtyard, [you wouldn’t know]."
However, there is talk of the action by students. He added: "I have heard a few people chatting about it on the bus. The occasional person did take an interest. Some people have been replying on social media and are broadly supportive."
More pictures from the university
Occupation is still ongoing
The M.E.N understands that the occupation is still ongoing, but there are no major updates at this time.
Students in Sheffield showing solidarity
Tee hee https://t.co/BPoaZjWTK8
— Sheffield Action Group (@sheffaction) February 9, 2023
Pictures from the occupation
University staff also staging protest
University staff in the University and College Union are staging a strike today over pay and pensions again today as well @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/F4OdkL6pqj
— Lyell Tweed (@lyell_tweed) February 9, 2023
'We have the entire building on lockdown'
A student occupying one of the buildings has told the M.E.N they plan to stay for as long as they 'feasibly can.'
"We came in yesterday, in the early evening. We will stay as long as we feasibly can," they said. "We have security trying to break into the building. We have other buildings occupied and we will hold on as long as possible. We will have action ongoing."
When asked why they are occupying university buildings, the student said: "One is the way the uni is treating staff and students like courses of income. For students it’s the rent. The uni has always been increasing the Halls’ rent above inflation.
"That’s why the uni partly has a £120 million surplus. We have a cost of living crisis and inflation [yet they have] increased rent by £450 per year without the grant going up. I have to work two jobs to afford uni. (This affects my studies)
"Across the three buildings we have 50 people occupying. We are able to secure the entrances and exits and the windows. We have barricades made out of cabinets and tables and chairs.
"We currently have the entire building on lockdown. No person is able to get access to the building. The security have been trying very hard to get in. We can definitely stay for 24 hours. Security are trying to force entry — it’s only by people pushing back on the barriers they’ve stopped."
University of Manchester statement
A spokesperson for the University of Manchester said:
We are aware of a small number of individuals gaining unauthorised access to three University-owned buildings overnight. Our primary concern is the health and safety of those people who are currently occupying the buildings.
We are aware of some doors and entrances being barricaded and locked and are emphasising our concerns for their safety in the event of an emergency incident.
The normal working of the University is continuing. We continue to monitor the situation carefully."
Security fully close building occupied by students
The John Owens building has also been taken over, with security fully closing this building @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/wqJN7myyqi
— Lyell Tweed (@lyell_tweed) February 9, 2023
The view from Samuel Alexander building this morning
University of Manchester students are occupying three buildings on campus as part of a rent strike - one is the Samuel Alexander, where some UCU members are also striking outside @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/enPFCkpXpg
— Lyell Tweed (@lyell_tweed) February 9, 2023
Reports that security are trying to enter building
UoM students have occupied the John Owens senior management building and have barricaded the entrances to stop security gaining access to the building
— UoM Rent Strike 2023 (@rentstrikeUoM) February 9, 2023
Security are currently trying to smash down the barricades pic.twitter.com/pmfkcvjEHq
Occupations continuing to 'hold strong' this morning
the occupations in Engineering building and Samuel Alexander building are continuing to hold out strong #ucuRISING #RentStrike2023 pic.twitter.com/KpuKhcP5sB
— UoM Rent Strike 2023 (@rentstrikeUoM) February 9, 2023
Students have 'fully taken over' John Owens building
BREAKING: We have fully taken John Owens building (home to uni senior management)!! Security are currently unable to get into the building.
— UoM Rent Strike 2023 (@rentstrikeUoM) February 9, 2023
Our demands are clear: affordable rent, support the UCU and genuine cost of living support #UCURising #RentStrike2023 pic.twitter.com/xy3jmIYjhj
