Created on: 12 Nov 2026
Striking lecturers at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) were boosted by a visit from renowned singer-songwriter Billy Bragg to their picket line at GCU’s campus in Glasgow city centre.
Billy, who was in the city ahead of his performance at the OVO Hydro, joined striking staff on the picket line, as a dispute against the University’s plans to sack up to 100 staff through compulsory redundancies continues.
Billy spoke with strikers, and then went on to borrow a guitar from EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley to entertain all those in attendance with renditions of pro-trade union songs such as “Which Side Are You On?”, “Solidarity Forever”, and his legendary anthem, “There is Power in a Union.”
Speaking from the picket line, Billy Bragg said, “I’m here today to support the workers who are on strike here at GCU. If ordinary working people are to have any hope of a decent standard of living, they have to organise and they have to stand up for their rights.
GCU are trying to fire people, get rid of people, unnecessarily, and I hope this event here today shows solidarity with those people whose jobs are under threat, and also sends a message that working people won’t be pushed around, they will organise.”
EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “We are honoured and very grateful that Billy Bragg has taken time out of his very busy schedule to demonstrate his support for strikers at Glasgow Caledonian University.
"With all four unions representing staff at GCU out on strike today, with strong student solidarity, and with Billy’s amazing support, we are truly demonstrating to GCU management that There is Power in a Union.”
EIS members at GCU have now been on strike for 32 days, as they continue to seek an end to the threat of compulsory redundancies at a university that holds around £91Million in cash reserves, with total reserves upwards of £300Million, and a projected operating surplus of £5.6Million for the year.