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Reposted by Durham UCU

QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 2d

The VC of Leicester has been announced as the new Chair of UCEA.

He's been VC of Leicester since 2019. He's the one responsible for forcing out scholars in ways that employment tribunals showed was not permitted.

The the kind of guy UCEA values.
www.collectiveinkbooks.com/zer0-books/o... #UKHE

book cover of 'shaping for mediocrity': The cancellation of critical thinking at our universities.

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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 13d

We were there too! Hugely inspiring to see the city turn out to reject hate. Top speech by @newcastleucu.bsky.social's Matt Perry, too. #ourtoon

Ben Dickenson @benjitoon.bsky.social · 17d

Newcastle says no to fascism.

The far right brought a hundred or so with them, bussed from far and wide. This city turned out 1000s, from local communities, estates and streets. Geordies of all backgrounds coming together and outnumbering the purveyors of hate by some distance.

Newcastle united.

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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 13d

Solidarity!

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Sheffield UCU @sheffielducu.bsky.social · 14d

BREAKING: Our members at the University of Sheffield have voted overwhelmingly for strike action against the University Executive Board’s ongoing campaign of job cuts, and the threat to staff workload and wellbeing that they represent.

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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 20d

We'd also note that the university's clarification that "many" students did indeed appreciate the opportunity to live out-of-college doesn't actually address the issue of those students who didn't.

Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 20d

I guess it's technically true that "live out-of-college... or forfeit University accommodation" constitutes a choice, but only in the same way that "eat a meal you don't want or go hungry" constitutes a menu.

www.palatinate.org.uk/emails-revea...

Emails reveal freshers told to accept Ustinov rooms or lose college housing - Palatinate

Durham freshers have been told by the University that they must either live in out-of-college Ustinov accommodation or forfeit University accommodation.

www.palatinate.org.uk

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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 21d

This campaign against UCU's own staff is a moral obscenity. It's also profoundly undemocratic, going against the explicit wishes of multiple branches, and its *also* also demonstrably going to make it harder to fight for member's rights.

This needs to END. Solidarity to @uniteucu.bsky.social 2/2

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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 21d

We keep saying this - and keep being ignored by our own union's management - but if a university tried to treat its staff the way UCU is treating its people, we'd be discussing how best to burn the place to the ground. 1/2

QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 22d

Absolutely insulting that our own union is trying the dirties trick to get workers to declare participation in order to deduct 100% of their wages for Action Short of Strike.

Thanks for making it 100 times harder to challenge that if and when university managers implement those tricks.

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University of Nottingham UCU branch @uonucu.bsky.social · 22d

😍🐶

Kirsten the Librarian @librarykirsten.bsky.social · 22d

Lots and lots of home baking, sunshine and one lovely dog! #PupsOnPickets #DogsOnPickets

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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 22d

Solidarity to Nottingham UCU.

University of Nottingham UCU branch @uonucu.bsky.social · 22d

Strike starts TODAY!!!

Branch members will be picketing from 8 to 11 today, tomorrow, and Wednesday at UP's west, south, and north entrance and Jubilee's main entrance on Derby road.

Come show your support!

#StopTheCuts #SaveHE

University of Nottingham UCU branch @uonucu.bsky.social · 29d

Strike action is ON!!!

Next week will be the first of 4 weeks of striking from our members as we continue to say NO to the compulsory redundancies forced on us by the university for their poor financial choices.

#StopTheCuts #SaveHE

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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 25d

Bangor gets it.

University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 25d

UCU Bangor pass a motion of no confidence in the VC and CFO of @bangoruniversity.bsky.social over sweeping cuts

Members are now balloting for industrial action with staff at "breaking point" over 200 potential job losses

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Bangor University staff in vice chancellor vote of no confidence

UCU union members at Bangor University passed a motion of no confidence due to staff and budget cuts.

www.bbc.co.uk

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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 25d

In case anyone was still in any doubt about government’s complete lack of understanding about the realities of those working and studying in #UKHE.

And why we need to make sure they talk to someone who’s not in a thinktank of consultancy, for once.

Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 25d

Right. My students working two part time jobs and/or having an hour and a half commute to uni because they have to live at home due to the cost of student accommodation lack drive and vigour. Sure thing, Peter. The UK Govt still haven't a clue about the realities of universities today.

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Jo Edge 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 29d

Disastrous. Our @ucu.org.uk members in prison education do amazing work. What even is this government doing.

Cassia Rowland @cassiarowland.bsky.social · Sep 14

This is moving in exactly the wrong direction! Education & meaningful activity in prison is crucial to reducing violence and improving outcomes

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bangorucu.bsky.social @bangorucu.bsky.social · 26d

Our members have no confidence in the VC & CFO, as they pursue the same failed cuts they used against @leicesterucu.bsky.social

Spending £1.4 million of additional Welsh Gov funding on unplanned spend while making staff redundant was a disqualifying lack of judgement

nation.cymru/news/bangor-...

Bangor University staff pass no confidence vote against senior leadership

Union members at Bangor University have passed a vote of no confidence in vice-chancellor Prof Edmund Burke and chief finance officer Martyn Riddleston, as tensions mount over job cuts and budget redu...

nation.cymru

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 26d

NEW: Our members at the University of Bradford will begin 10 days of strike action on Monday in a fight to protect jobs.

Time for management to listen to staff, rethink the cuts and rule out compulsory redundancies.

www.ucu.org.uk/article/1418...

University of Bradford staff announce further strike dates job cuts row

University of Bradford staff will down tools for 10 days in a fight to save jobs, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today.

www.ucu.org.uk

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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · Sep 14

Every decent politician should be ‘disturbed’ by Tommy Robinson’s fascist march in London and Musk’s calls for violence on our streets.
Every decent politician should stop claiming this horror is an expression of ‘free speech’.
It’s vicious, racist incitement.
DO something about it.

Scale of 'Unite the Kingdom' march shows free speech 'alive and well' in UK, says minister - UK politics live
Peter Kyle said he was not 'disturbed' by huge Tommy Robinson-organised far-right protest but condemns violence against the police

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Prof. Liz Oakley-Brown @earlymodlancs.bsky.social · Sep 12

And now: an email in my inbox providing me with an update about te planned compulsory redundancies (1 in 4 employees btw) at my university

Join a union

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Unite UCU @uniteucu.bsky.social · Sep 12

Sometimes solutions are easy @drjogrady.bsky.social & @ucu.org.uk

Let’s sit down and talk without conditions or threats that damage everyone. It’s time to resolve this dispute.

Our statement, with support from the following branch committees:

We call on Jo Grady and UCU SMT to:
• Enter negotiations with Unite UCU without preconditions.
• Stop the threat of punitive deductions for ASOS - this breaches UCU and TUC policy and only serves to undermine all of us, not least those UCU members currently involved in legal test cases against punitive deductions after taking lawful industrial action.

Signed, 25 UCU branch committees (and counting)

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Jamie Callahan @profjamiec.bsky.social · Sep 10

The ballot is *NOT* just on pay. It is on:

1. A national agreement to protect jobs & subjects
2. Protect national T&Cs agreements
3. Pay uplift: at least RPI+3.5% or £2500 on all pay points

@ucu.org.uk @unitecommunity.bsky.social @unison.org.uk @gmb.org.uk @eisunion.bsky.social @ducu.bsky.social

University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · Sep 8

VCs don’t run universities.

We do.

After another real terms pay cut, UCU is launching a UK-wide strike ballot.

Ballot opens October.

Vote YES.

#WeAreTheUniversity

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UCU University of Kent branch @ucukent.bsky.social · Sep 10

This is the best thing anyone working in UK Higher Education can do today, particularly if you're at Kent or Greenwich.
As a union we're stronger together.
Support your local branch.

David P. Carey @dpcarey123.bsky.social · Sep 10

Join the Union ASAP.

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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · Sep 10

We are not the sum total of our productivity (something else management teams might want to occasionally remind themselves of), but if universities want to see us working at our best, not treating staff like ill-tempered herd animals to be corralled, placated and then ignored might be a step forward

Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · Sep 10

Appallingly damaging decisions, made with no consultation (or with "consultation" disgracefully redefined to mean "advanced confidential warning), repeated failures to answer concerns, promising the straight-up impossible rather than facing up to the havoc wreaked, on and on and on and on and on and

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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · Sep 10

This situation is an extreme case, of course - and full solidarity to Claire & every other colleague in Kent and Greenwich - but I feel Claire's post is a perfect encapsulation of a very broad problem: it's so hard to do your best work for people who regularly show they hold you in utter contempt.

Claire L Jones @claireljones.bsky.social · Sep 10

I'm trying to write this afternoon but honestly struggling to see the point

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GeraintUltimus @geraintultimus.bsky.social · Sep 10

Kentwich was an insult Marlowe used in one of his plays

QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · Sep 10

'Kentwich' is absolutely the superior couple portmanteau.

wendy copium @alicebennett.bsky.social · Sep 10

I am still really on board with the mortal engines universe of HEIs which would see Kentwich on wheels trundling around the south coast hunting down every last sixth form college with a university centre attached and then eating it

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Katrina Navickas @katrinanavickas.bsky.social · Sep 10

Absolutely astounded that the UCU and Unison branches at Kent and Greenwich were not consulted, and that staff only found out about the merger this morning via BBC news and Kent Online. Solidarity to all colleagues.

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