51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Malcolm Deas rejects my first-hand impressions of Bolivarian 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Venezuela (UBV) as representing "genuine widening participation" with "high standards" (Features, December 1) and has resigned from the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ and College Union, arguing that "a serious academic union" should not support Hugo Ch¨¢vez. The UBV is "100 per cent Chavista", he goes on. I would point out that UBV is also nearly 100 per cent working class - hence support at UBV for Ch¨¢vez's programmes of economic and social justice for that class, and, indeed, hence the Ch¨¢vez landslide election victory. As far as trade union backing is concerned, unions, academic and otherwise, have a long history of supporting movements that represent the class interests of their members.

Mike Cole
Research professor in education and equality, Bishop Grosseteste 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ
College Lincoln