PCTE warns against private universities

The party said that in a very short time, these universities have gone from practically non-existence to becoming one of the key economic initiatives of the city councils of the main cities and the government of the Principality of Asturias. The statement continued:

“In previous statements we have already highlighted the aggression that this measure would bring to the public university, something we have conveyed in joint actions with the class organizations with which we have been intervening these months.

There are two other issues that we will briefly address and that we consider important to point out:

The significant involvement of local councils in these influxes stems from the "revitalization"—a covert revaluation—of certain neighbourhoods and areas: more construction, more residents, more business. The result will be the displacement of a significant portion of the working class, who will be replaced by temporary residents who can afford the rising prices. A textbook case of gentrification.
Both the University of Oviedo and the Principality of Asturias argue that these new arrivals will not represent competition or harm to the public institution. However, there is one question they are neglecting to mention, and of course, failing to find an alternative or solution: Where will the faculty come from? Given that being a university professor requires a series of qualifications that are not attainable in short periods of time, it is easy to foresee that these faculty members will come from the public university, some of whom will hold both positions (with all the implications that entails at various levels), while others will ultimately leave. Once again, this represents a transfer of resources (in this case, labour) into private hands, which will soon reap substantial profits to fuel a business that will eventually encroach upon an institution already in serious danger of decline.

At this critical juncture, it is now necessary to point out those political organizations that support the majority partner in the Government of the Principality and whose stances are limited to simply opposing these projects without lifting a finger to mount an effective opposition. This self-proclaimed progressive government has, in these three years of its term, significantly worsened its anti-worker policies in multiple areas (in addition to countless environmental, economic, and social blunders), including complicity in workplace accidents, such as the one in Cerredo, among others, which have resulted in the deaths of seven workers. Continuing to be allies of those who perpetuate these practices places all parties at odds with the working class, and as such, they must be confronted. The time for excuses is over.

On the other hand, we call upon all class-based trade unions (excluding those that have already openly celebrated these educational policies) to build a vigorous opposition against this attack on all the sons and daughters of the working class. The legal proceedings initiated by an institution that has consistently demonstrated its role is to defend the State and its leadership, almost always against the interests of the workers, are insufficient and will not, on their own, halt a policy that serves the needs of capital to survive in times of open crisis. In this sense, we emphasize the urgent need to forge a united front against these measures, using all available means and accepting whatever consequences may arise for those who attack the interests of the working majority.”