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ucuaberdeen.bsky.social @ucuaberdeen.bsky.social · 1d

Solidarity from Aberdeen UCU to colleagues at Leicester UCU. It is shocking to see yet another example of academic and professional services staff being targeted through no fault of their own.

Leicester UCU @leicesterucu.bsky.social · Sep 12

Leicester UCU will be on strike from Monday 29 September until Friday 17 October.

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Steph Paton @stephpaton.bsky.social · Mar 26

Labour's idea of 'free speech' is freedom to make trans people feel unsafe on campus, but not the freedom to criticise Israel.

Bridget Phillipson arguing that universities must be not censor people, after fining a university for its anti discrimination policy for trans people

Phillipson also arguing that criticism of Israel should be shut down on campuses

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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · Mar 27

Our branch just passed a motion in solidarity with Unite UCU. It's not just the right thing to do to treat those working for UCU with the same respect we demand from our own employers, it's a matter of maintaining the moral authority of the union itself.

Sheffield UCU @sheffielducu.bsky.social · Mar 27

Our branch offers full solidarity to Unite UCU 💪.

UCU's senior management need to engage meaningully and settle this dispute.

We encourage members of our union to consider donating to the Unite UCU strike fund 👉 unite-ucu-strike-fund.raiselysite.com

bsky.app/profile/unit...

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Carsten Timmermann @ctimmermann.bsky.social · Mar 26

Haven’t we been there a few years ago? Academic salaries in the UK are not particularly generous compared to other countries, and a reasonably good pension scheme (already way less generous than when I started) provided some degree of compensation.

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Mar 26

'UK universities have got to address their “sacred cows” such as expensive pension schemes as they seek ways to pursue the “far-reaching change” needed to come through the current financial crisis, a parliamentary reception has heard.' 1/3

Transform by addressing ‘sacred cows’, UK universities told

Expensive pension schemes among issues highlighted as institutions look for ways out of current turmoil

www.timeshighereducation.com

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Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · Mar 26

The same answer that has been attempted again and again, grind staff harder and reduce working conditions and you'll have profitable universities. Doesn't account for the fact the the limited pool of skilled labour running degree level courses won't accept being treated in this way. Try again.

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Mar 26

'UK universities have got to address their “sacred cows” such as expensive pension schemes as they seek ways to pursue the “far-reaching change” needed to come through the current financial crisis, a parliamentary reception has heard.' 1/3

Transform by addressing ‘sacred cows’, UK universities told

Expensive pension schemes among issues highlighted as institutions look for ways out of current turmoil

www.timeshighereducation.com

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Dr Dave Hitchcock @davehitchcock.bsky.social · Mar 28

Entirely correct move. More of this please and stay available to journalists to describe just how *bad* the whole process of arrival at this judgement was. Don't let it settle as accepted narrative.

University of Sussex taking legal action over £585,000 free speech fine

Vice-chancellor Sasha Roseneil accuses Office for Students of seeking to ‘persecute’ rather than solve problems

www.theguardian.com

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ucuaberdeen.bsky.social @ucuaberdeen.bsky.social · Mar 28

Solidarity with striking staff at Unite UCU. It's shameful that the dispute is still not resolved. Please consider donating to their strike fund, here: unite-ucu-strike-fund.raiselysite.com

Unite UCU @uniteucu.bsky.social · Mar 27

We deeply regret our strike action which begins today in our Campaign for A Safe and Professional Workplace. With our dispute now a year old we remain resolute that the toxic bullying culture, racism and victimisation that our members and officers are experiencing must end.
uniteucu.wordpress.com

Unite UCU

Unite branch (LE127) for employees of the University and College Union

uniteucu.wordpress.com

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Unite UCU @uniteucu.bsky.social · Mar 27

We deeply regret our strike action which begins today in our Campaign for A Safe and Professional Workplace. With our dispute now a year old we remain resolute that the toxic bullying culture, racism and victimisation that our members and officers are experiencing must end.
uniteucu.wordpress.com

Unite UCU

Unite branch (LE127) for employees of the University and College Union

uniteucu.wordpress.com

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Sheffield UCU @sheffielducu.bsky.social · Mar 27

Our branch offers full solidarity to Unite UCU 💪.

UCU's senior management need to engage meaningully and settle this dispute.

We encourage members of our union to consider donating to the Unite UCU strike fund 👉 unite-ucu-strike-fund.raiselysite.com

bsky.app/profile/unit...

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Lucy Burke @lucyburkemcr.bsky.social · Mar 27

Solidarity to @uniteucu.bsky.social - standing up for its members in the face of huge pressure. As everyone who has ever taken IA knows, those with power often control the narrative & this makes it even harder but I know that every member of the Unite Committee wants to resolve this dispute.

Unite UCU @uniteucu.bsky.social · Mar 27

We deeply regret our strike action which begins today in our Campaign for A Safe and Professional Workplace. With our dispute now a year old we remain resolute that the toxic bullying culture, racism and victimisation that our members and officers are experiencing must end.
uniteucu.wordpress.com

Unite UCU

Unite branch (LE127) for employees of the University and College Union

uniteucu.wordpress.com

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Laura Loyola-Hernández @wawisloyola.bsky.social · Mar 27

Solidarity @uniteucu.bsky.social who are starting 20+ strikes given ongoing dispute with employer (UCU). Our union (UCU) is in an ongoing dispute with their own staff.
Embarrassing to say the least. Awful to see same tone & messaging VCs use vs us when we strike used to undermine striking UCU staff

QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · Mar 27

All solidarity with the brilliant people workers from @uniteucu.bsky.social! They are vital to our union and the union and the way their well-concerns are being dismissed is utterly unconscionable.

HQ, sort this. How are we going to “ReclaimHE” without the organisers making that possible?

Unite UCU @uniteucu.bsky.social · Mar 27

We deeply regret our strike action which begins today in our Campaign for A Safe and Professional Workplace. With our dispute now a year old we remain resolute that the toxic bullying culture, racism and victimisation that our members and officers are experiencing must end.
uniteucu.wordpress.com

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Dundee UCU @ducuuo.bsky.social · Mar 28

In this exchange last week, the interim Principal at Dundee University can’t recall if anyone on UEG or Court thought that the idea of a £200k Transformation Director was a bad idea.

Douglas Ross MSP

“You’re saying that we got rid of the incompetent ones, and the ones that are left are fine.”

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Dundee UCU @ducuuo.bsky.social · Mar 27

For the first time ever, the Scottish Parliament is considering compelling witnesses to attend a meeting of one of its committees.

These are clearly unprecedented times, caused by the executive leadership at the University of Dundee.

www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...

EXCLUSIVE: Dundee University chiefs could be FORCED to attend Holyrood grilling

Holyrood’s powerful education committee is taking advice on using a legal power for the first time to compel people to attend in person.

www.thecourier.co.uk

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ucuaberdeen.bsky.social @ucuaberdeen.bsky.social · Mar 12

Solidarity to striking staff at Dundee! This is a tragedy on a massive scale

Dundee UCU @ducuuo.bsky.social · Mar 11

Today, Shane O’Neill, our interim Principal announced the University of Dundee needs to cut 632 jobs to be financially sustainable.

Also there are 237 vacancies (in part due to the recruitment freeze since Nov).

That’s 870 colleagues from 3200. OVER A QUARTER!

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

Dundee University to cut 632 jobs to plug £35m deficit

The University and College Union condemned the

www.bbc.co.uk

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Joss @josstified.bsky.social · Mar 12

The staff that they plan to sack are in no way at fault for the mess the exec has created.

There needs to be accountability.

And Scot gov should step in to make sure staff, students and the city of Dundee are not ruined by the (criminal?) Financial mismanagement of others

Dundee UCU @ducuuo.bsky.social · Mar 11

Today, Shane O’Neill, our interim Principal announced the University of Dundee needs to cut 632 jobs to be financially sustainable.

Also there are 237 vacancies (in part due to the recruitment freeze since Nov).

That’s 870 colleagues from 3200. OVER A QUARTER!

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

Dundee University to cut 632 jobs to plug £35m deficit

The University and College Union condemned the

www.bbc.co.uk

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Dundee UCU @ducuuo.bsky.social · Mar 11

Today, Shane O’Neill, our interim Principal announced the University of Dundee needs to cut 632 jobs to be financially sustainable.

Also there are 237 vacancies (in part due to the recruitment freeze since Nov).

That’s 870 colleagues from 3200. OVER A QUARTER!

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

Dundee University to cut 632 jobs to plug £35m deficit

The University and College Union condemned the

www.bbc.co.uk

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Doctor Logic @saraluckelman.bsky.social · Mar 4

Solidarity to @newcastleucu.bsky.social as their strike to protect jobs starts today. We at @ducu.bsky.social stand with you in the fight to protect our universities and our communities from the impact of these devastating cuts.

A woman in a black coat stands in front of a UCU banner in front of Grey's Monument in Newcastle.

Two men stand on either side of a UCU banner.

A banner saying Newcastle Student Staff Solidarity.

A view of a crowd, focusing in on a sign that says "shake your chains to earth".

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Jan Machielsen @janmachielsen.bsky.social · Mar 5

Spotted on campus this morning. Thanks to the person who posted this.

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Vicky Blake UCU (she/her) @vickyblake.bsky.social · Mar 3

Resolution of the dispute between @uniteucu.bsky.social and UCU (as employer) is now far beyond urgent. Reading these testimonials (linked in post⬇️) from UCU staff is heartbreaking & reading the recent 'management instruction' excerpt v unnerving, esp in the wake of the Hon Treasurer's resignation.

Lucy Burke @lucyburkemcr.bsky.social · Mar 3

This dispute needs to be resolved - we cannot function as a union when the internal culture is so broken. It is in everybody’s interest to find a way through that restores trust & achieving this in a constructive way requires properly listening to staff voices uniteucu.wordpress.com/unite-voices/

Unite voices

In their own words: the lived experiences of UCU staff.

uniteucu.wordpress.com

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Grant Buttars @gbuttars.bsky.social · Feb 27

Statement signed by 15 HEC members listing all the resolutions passed at our meeting last week in context. UCU members wishing to know the totality of what was decided at HEC last week, please read. drive.google.com/file/d/1tfVJ...

Feel free to share with others.

Statement HEC Feb 2025.pdf

drive.google.com

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Lucy Burke @lucyburkemcr.bsky.social · Feb 28

For info. This 👇 is the full text of one of the motions that was carried at last week’s HEC (text in Alt text). Note that it is clear that the union is not now balloting on this year’s pay & that it uses words such as “prepare for” and “potential” in relation to any future decision to ballot 1/4

Written text of a motion that was carried by the HEC of UCU last week:

HEC notes:
• Extensive programme of support for branches in dispute agreed at
HEC December 2024 albeit balloting before Easter no longer
possible (M1)
• Multiple branches balloting over redundancy
• JNCHES 2025/6 round imminent
• HE9 from SHESC, May 2024: “UK-wide action”
HEC believes:
• Widespread threats to job security, pay and conditions
• Branches facing redundancy urgently require collective, coordinated
support
• Current crisis necessitates robust political and industrial responses
HEC resolves to:
1. Execute a strong campaign addressing destruction of UKHE,
including:
a. Emergency job protection measures in joint unions’ claim
b. Undertake pre-emptive planning for potential IA ballot (for IA early
in Semester 1, 2025/6), for consideration at a BDM, informing
decisions at a special HEC called at appropriate point to take final
decision on balloting
c. Call sectoral days of action to align with branches taking local strike
action.
2. Implement actions agreed in M1&2 (December 2024 HEC), ensuring connected political-industrial strategy. (148 words)

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leedsucu.bsky.social @leedsucu.bsky.social · Nov 25

Today we have added Ocxford Brooke’s #UCU - @brookesucu.bsky.social - to the #UCU branches + committees starter pack.🦋🦋

Please let us know if your branch or other formal committee joins and we will keep adding them!

go.bsky.app/H8xiSXj

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UCU Scotland @ucuscotland.bsky.social · Jan 23

'Simply obscene'. UCU comment on Stirling Principal's 40% £119k pay rise over 2 years making him highest paid VC in Scotland on £414,000 plus benefits. Salaries like this when we're facing funding challenges and redundancies across HE are unconscionable www.scotsman.com/education/th...

The 'staggering' £119,000 salary rise for best paid university principal in Scotland

‘Simply obscene’ hike in pay for Scottish vice chancellor who now earns more than double the UK prime minister

www.scotsman.com

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · Jan 23

Join the @PSCupdates Trade Union Solidarity Webinar 🚨

⏰ 29 Jan, 6pm
🔗Register: palestinecampaign.org/events/psc-webinar-trade-unions-taking-action-for-palestine-in-2025/

Hear from trade unionists and find out how you can support Palestine at work.

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Sol Gamsu @solgamsu.bsky.social · Jan 23

Academics need to see how their own labour relies on exploiting others.

International fees, violently accumulated endowments, & closest to home on the suppressed/precarious wages & cut pensions of the low paid staff who keep uni's running.

We can't accept that contradiction - we have to fight it.

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