UCU Commons
LightNews LightNews
ucucommons.bsky.social
UCU Commons
@ucucommons.bsky.social
1.1K followers 500 following 160 posts
UCU Commons is a broad activist community working within and alongside the University and College Union (UCU). We are also on http://UCUCommons.org #UCUCommons

Substack: https://ucucommons.substack.com/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
ucucommons.bsky.social
UCU Commons @ucucommons.bsky.social · 5d
New on our Substack: newsletter #4, which includes a link to our report of #UCU NEC on 7 November. Also feat. @matthewbarnard.phd @drgillhistory.bsky.social @hagenilda.bsky.social @matildaf.bsky.social @bparsia.bsky.social @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social

ucucommons.substack.com/p/ucu-common...
UCU Commons newsletter #4, 19 November 2025
Our fortnightly round-up of union and sector specific news
ucucommons.substack.com
Reposted by UCU Commons
markpendleton.bsky.social
Into week 2 of our strike action @sheffielducu.bsky.social as we fight for no compulsory redundancies and a pause to the programme of unjustified reviews and restructure. Donations from branches/orgs/individuals very welcome as we financially support members to stay out: tinyurl.com/yxrz3p5d
Donate to the Sheffield UCU Industrial Action Solidarity Fund
What is the Sheffield UCU Industrial Action Solidarity Fund, and how to contribute.
tinyurl.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by UCU Commons
hagenilda.bsky.social
This is @ucucommons.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Reposted by UCU Commons
rotster.bsky.social
Who did you spend yesterday evening with, Rob?
November 21, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Reposted by UCU Commons
rullsenberg.bsky.social
This newsletter is really helpful for keeping up on all things UCU. 🎉🎉🎉 (Not sure why I find it more digestible than the Friday emails from UCU, but I do 🤷🏼‍♀️ go figure!)
November 19, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by UCU Commons
hannahjlewis.bsky.social
Day 3 Sheffield Uni UCU strike against threat of extensive redundancies. 400 academic staff gone. Nearly 100 more now confirmed. They want another £10m staff saving this year, despite being in a strong position financially. #SheffieldUCU @sheffielducu.bsky.social www.ucu.org.uk/article/1423...
November 19, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Reposted by UCU Commons
matildaf.bsky.social
Our latest fortnightly newsletter is out! We're so proud of these. Please give us a read, a share and a subscribe!
November 19, 2025 at 9:28 AM
ucucommons.bsky.social
New on our Substack: newsletter #4, which includes a link to our report of #UCU NEC on 7 November. Also feat. @matthewbarnard.phd @drgillhistory.bsky.social @hagenilda.bsky.social @matildaf.bsky.social @bparsia.bsky.social @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social

ucucommons.substack.com/p/ucu-common...
UCU Commons newsletter #4, 19 November 2025
Our fortnightly round-up of union and sector specific news
ucucommons.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Reposted by UCU Commons
matildaf.bsky.social
Petition for a vote of no confidence in Coventry University's vice-chancellor! Please sign!

speakout.web.ucu.org.uk/vote-of-no-c...
Vote of no confidence in the vice-chancellor at Coventry University
Why sign this petition? An unhealthy workplace The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has demanded answers from CU about workload and stress management. A recent UCU workload survey revealed that 74%...
speakout.web.ucu.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Reposted by UCU Commons
markpendleton.bsky.social
Been a while since the pink beanie came out. Sheffield pickets here we come.

Our message to management is simple: No redundancies. Stop the incessant restructures. Listen to your staff. There is no University of Sheffield without us.
Mark Pendleton wears a pink UCU beanie, while standing on a train platform in the dawn light
November 17, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Reposted by UCU Commons
suzitoole.bsky.social
All set up ready for the UCU Women's Conference. Looking forward to welcoming you all.
November 14, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Reposted by UCU Commons
matildaf.bsky.social
Dons #UCU HEC member hat. UK academics on teaching-focused/teaching-only contracts: how, if at all, does your employer support you in doing research? Are there any good local policies on this I should be aware of? My DMs are open and confidentiality assured. #UKHE #academicsky
November 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
ucucommons.bsky.social
ICYMI: our report from HEC, Friday 10 October 2025, which went out in yesterday's newsletter. #UKHE #UCU

ucucommons.org/2025/10/31/r...
Report from HEC, Friday 10th October 2025
Key takeaways –  Two excellent discussion papers addressing sectoral concerns presented rare opportunities for HEC to engage with what to do about the HE crisis beyond industrial action.…
ucucommons.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:36 PM
ucucommons.bsky.social
The latest issue of our fortnightly newsletter includes a report from the HEC held on 10 October. Also featuring @davehitchcock.bsky.social, @matildaf.bsky.social, @hagenilda.bsky.social and more! #UKHE #UCU

ucucommons.substack.com/p/ucu-common...
UCU Commons newsletter #3, 5 November 2025
Our fortnightly round-up of union and sector specific news
ucucommons.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Reposted by UCU Commons
uoydigacc.bsky.social
Keeping to time is an accessibility issue! People need breaks between sessions in conferences for all sorts of accessibility reasons - whether for cognitive load, to take medication, needing bathroom breaks, check blood sugar or anything else! Making an effort to keep to time is inclusive.
seismatters.bsky.social Prof Chris Jackson @seismatters.bsky.social · 26d
Nobody makes enemies by finishing their talk early…
October 29, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by UCU Commons
ucucommons.bsky.social
Hey #UKHE, #UCU: our members at Brunel have set up a petition against compulsory redundancies, please sign and share!
October 28, 2025 at 3:46 PM
ucucommons.bsky.social
Hey #UKHE, #UCU: our members at Brunel have set up a petition against compulsory redundancies, please sign and share!
October 28, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by UCU Commons
pcsunion.bsky.social
Thank you so much for your support!
ucucommons.bsky.social UCU Commons @ucucommons.bsky.social · 29d
We are in full solidarity with the @pcsunion.bsky.social members at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social who will be on strike for the next two weeks. Let's get out to their pickets and rallies to show our support, @ucu.org.uk members! Details below. @pcspress.bsky.social
ceebarnacles.bsky.social Christian @ceebarnacles.bsky.social · 29d
The risible wages are well-known in the wider field of the library, museum, gallery and archive world. I’d like to think public opinion is with the people who make the place click day-in-day-out; they deserve better.
Knowledge may be free but labour isn’t: spread the wealth and pay the workers!
October 26, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Reposted by UCU Commons
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
It's worth adding that while the hack of 2+ years ago has been dreadful for British Library users, it is also been awful for BL staff, who cannot fulfil readers' requests and are then confronted by their consequent frustration. With no end in sight.
ceebarnacles.bsky.social Christian @ceebarnacles.bsky.social · 29d
The risible wages are well-known in the wider field of the library, museum, gallery and archive world. I’d like to think public opinion is with the people who make the place click day-in-day-out; they deserve better.
Knowledge may be free but labour isn’t: spread the wealth and pay the workers!
PCS union poster showing the calendar for the pickets and rallies at the upcoming strike for decent wages by library workers at the British Library.
October 26, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Reposted by UCU Commons
matildaf.bsky.social
@pcsunion.bsky.social staff at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social are on strike for the next two weeks. As a @ucu.org.uk member who loves to spend time at the BL whenever I'm in London, I'm in full solidarity with the staff.
ceebarnacles.bsky.social Christian @ceebarnacles.bsky.social · 29d
The risible wages are well-known in the wider field of the library, museum, gallery and archive world. I’d like to think public opinion is with the people who make the place click day-in-day-out; they deserve better.
Knowledge may be free but labour isn’t: spread the wealth and pay the workers!
PCS union poster showing the calendar for the pickets and rallies at the upcoming strike for decent wages by library workers at the British Library.
October 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by UCU Commons
hagenilda.bsky.social
Remember guys, @pcsunion.bsky.social staff at the BL are on strike for the next two weeks. Please don't cross the picket line to go to reading rooms, attend exhibitions or anything else. They've endured so much on low pay since the cyberattack in 2023 and the least we can do is have their backs now.
britishlibrary.bsky.social British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · Oct 24
Secret Maps opens today! 🤫 🗺️

From medieval manuscripts to Cold War espionage, our new exhibition explores how maps have hidden as much as they revealed for over 600 years.

Book now: bit.ly/BLSecretMaps
October 26, 2025 at 9:49 AM
ucucommons.bsky.social
We are in full solidarity with the @pcsunion.bsky.social members at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social who will be on strike for the next two weeks. Let's get out to their pickets and rallies to show our support, @ucu.org.uk members! Details below. @pcspress.bsky.social
ceebarnacles.bsky.social Christian @ceebarnacles.bsky.social · 29d
The risible wages are well-known in the wider field of the library, museum, gallery and archive world. I’d like to think public opinion is with the people who make the place click day-in-day-out; they deserve better.
Knowledge may be free but labour isn’t: spread the wealth and pay the workers!
PCS union poster showing the calendar for the pickets and rallies at the upcoming strike for decent wages by library workers at the British Library.
October 26, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Reposted by UCU Commons
dudleymarianna.bsky.social
It shouldn't take an FOI request to see grant success rates. UKRI has a duty of care to researchers to supply this from the outset. We are judged, compared, promoted (or not) according to unbelievably bad odds.
anavaldi.bsky.social ana valdivia @anavaldi.bsky.social · Oct 22
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results:

- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
October 23, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by UCU Commons
scottalexander.bsky.social
Unprecedented, potentially unlawful retrograde proposals made by @solentuniversity.bsky.social

If you have a vested interest in HE, this concerns you.

We must stand together to resist these outrageous proposals.

#HE #TPS #LGPS #Pension #post-92

www.ucu.org.uk/article/1423...
Solent University threatens P&O-style 'Fire & Rehire' with pension cuts
UCU today announced that it has entered a formal trade dispute with Southampton Solent University over plans to force all its staff onto inferior pension schemes, paving the way for a strike ballot if...
www.ucu.org.uk
October 22, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Reposted by UCU Commons
matildaf.bsky.social
I missed posting about this yesterday but the second issue of our newsletter is out! Please subscribe to receive updates every second Wednesday. #UCU #UKHE
October 23, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Reposted by UCU Commons
ucucommons.bsky.social
Commons newsletter #2 just dropped, feat. info on Commons, UCU & sector-wide matters. Subscribe to receive updates! #UCU #UKHE

With @matildaf.bsky.social, @markpendleton.bsky.social, @choochod.bsky.social, @ucu-uws.bsky.social, @iwgbunion.bsky.social & more!

ucucommons.substack.com/p/ucu-common...
UCU Commons newsletter #2
Our fortnightly round-up of union and sector specific news
ucucommons.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:14 AM