Singer Billy Bragg gives surprise performance at Glasgow Caledonian University strike picket line

Singer Billy Bragg made a surprise appearance at the Glasgow Caledonian University picket line in support of workers striking over job cuts.

He performed for those on strike ahead of his gig at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on Thursday.

Staff at the university began strike action in a long-running dispute over job cuts in October, which has now continued into November.

The singer says said he was happy to support the action and that musicians can act as a “lightning rod for solidarity”.

“I’m here because the union contacted me to say they has a picket line and, you know, ever since I first started out back in 1984 during the miners’ strike, I’ve come to understand that if people are to have any opportunity, really, of a decent standard of living, they have to work together and organise and defend their jobs,” he said.

“So, the opportunity to come and play on the picket line is really important. In an aspect of what I do, I talk about a lot of this stuff on stage, and I think it would be wrong for me just to talk about it without actually being here to be part of it.

“So I’m very pleased to be here to be supporting the workers here at GCU.

“I’m not sure singers have a great influence in the strict sense of the term. Music can’t change the world. That’s my experience. But it can make you in the audience believe the world can be changed.

“Not because of what I particularly sing, but by the fact you see these other people here, drawn here in solidarity as well.

“And as a musician, you can kind of be like a lightning rod for that solidarity to send people away with their activism recharged and their cynicism temporarily kicked to the curb, because I think cynicism is a real enemy.

“If you’re trying to make a better world, or organise a strike or something like this, people have very cynical views, nothing’s going to change, nobody cares.

Bragg put on a surprise performance to the delight of the crowd STV News

“That’s not my experience. People do care. People do manage to change things. And that’s what I want to be part of by supporting these workers here.”

The cuts, according to Unite the Union, are in response to a £33m drop in income over the last two years, which the union said is due to a decline in the number of international students at the university.

Up to 40 roles are at risk, with reductions achieved through measures including vacancy reduction and a voluntary redundancy programme.

Last month, all four trade unions at the university walked out together for the first time in the institution’s three decades as a university, and they all walked out together again on Thursday.

“I think during the Thatcher years, and successive Tory governments have brought in rules and laws that have made it difficult for people to organise in the workplace,” Bragg added.

“Well, I would like to see the Labour government repeal some of those laws and make it statutory that workers are able to organise and have representation on boards as well.

“I think that’s the way you get into a situation where the economy can grow for everyone, rather than just money going to the people at the top.”

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.”