Students occupy Sussex University in protest against privatisation

Around 40-60 students have occupied a conference centre and top floor of a University of Sussex building as "a last recourse" to prevent the privatisation of campus services.

The occupation follows a demonstration on Thursday when 300 staff and students marched through campus to oppose the outsourcing of catering and estate management services at Sussex.


The university provoked anger when it announced in May that it was to sell off some campus services, meaning 235 workers will be transferred to private companies from August 2013.

Since then it has held meetings with trade unions, staff and students but pressed ahead with the bidding process to find a private partner. Sussex Against Privatisation says the opposition to outsourcing services is strong and that its actions are a "last recourse... in order to ensure that student and staff voices are heard".

- Guardian.co.uk