UCU Left is committed to building a democratic, accountable campaigning union which aims to mobilise and involve members in defending and improving our pay and conditions and defending progressive principles of education.
Elections
NEC Elections 2026:
Vote for a fighting, member-led union:
We need action, solidarity and equality!
It is vital that members vote in the upcoming NEC elections.
Across post-16 education sectors, jobs are threatened, pay is being cut, workload is mounting and there are continuing attacks on equality. Our basic terms and conditions and human rights are under attack.
This is no time for “business as usual”. We need action and accountability. Members want UCU national structures to listen to them and act on their decisions. They are calling out for support from their national union — we need to elect candidates to the NEC who will follow through.
In order for UCU to take action to ensure pay and conditions are protected, but also to challenge attacks on equality, the suppression of academic freedom, promote internationalism and social justice goals — UCU members need to vote left.
Our candidates and what they stand for
Posts
- Conditional Indexation: An introduction to a sugar-coated bitter pill
Carlo Morelli, member of the UCU Superannuation Working Group USS has produced its second report into changing our pension scheme into a Conditional Indexation (CI) scheme, Conditional Indexation: second report (December 2025). They and our employers claim they are just exploring the feasibility of CI, and have yet to make any decision. While the final decision …Continue reading “Conditional Indexation: An introduction to a sugar-coated bitter pill”
- Venezuela to Palestine – Trump’s New World Order
Thursday 15th January, 6.30pm Register: https://tinyurl.com/uculeft-venezuela-mtg Trump’s military seizure of Venezuela has shocked the world. Trump boasts openly about his naked imperial goals. He says Venezuela’s oil is “America’s”. Previously Chavez sought to use them to raise workers and peasants’ living standards. Now they are in the hands of extractive climate-destroying US corporations. Trump cites a new Monroe …Continue reading “Venezuela to Palestine – Trump’s New World Order”
- Together Against the Far Right
The threat from racism and fascism is all too clear. Therefore, UCU nationally and UCU Left are supporting the launch of the TOGETHER alliance against the far right, which launched yesterday (https://www.togetheralliance.org.uk/) This new alliance includes most unions, Palestine Solidarity, Stand Up To Racism, Show Racism the Red Card plus high profile celebrities, including Lenny Henry and David Harewood. … - After the HE ballot results – what next?The Higher Education ballot results are out. Despite hard and consistent work by reps and activists in branches, and a campaign from HQ, unfortunately we failed to get over the 50% threshold. The right in the union are already arguing that it was a mistake to ballot members. Their constant refrain is that it’s the wrong …
- FE: the case for escalationA Special Further Education Committee (FEC) was held last Friday to discuss the results of the recent ballot and to plan the next steps in the campaign. It was a frustrating meeting which failed to build on the excellent ballot results. It exposed a deep pessimism among some members of the FEC and a failure to …
- Conditional Indexation FAQs
1. What is Conditional Indexation (CI)? Indexation is the amount your pension is increased each year to take account of inflation. In conditional indexation this is not guaranteed, but depends on market forces and possibly other factors, such as governance structures and who makes the decisions. 2. How would this affect our current USS pension scheme? … - Organising to Win in Post-16 Education and Beyond: Unity & Solidarity not Warfare & Division.
Sunday 2nd November11 – 12.30 public meeting, followed by UCU Left AGM 12.30 – 1pm Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/o-uI_I2ATJmXe8_l90KlNA Speakers:Maria Chondrogianni, UCU PresidentSerafeim Rizos, Greek trade unionists and teacher involved in the recent General Strike around PalestineWilf Sullivan, former TUC Race Equality OfficerLaura Miles, author of Transgender ResistanceSpeakers from HE (Donna Brown) and FE (Regi Pilling) From October, members in … - Book Launch: Why Boycott Israeli Universities?
The British Campaign for the Universities of Palestine (BRICUP), to which UCU is affiliated, has called a public meeting to launch the newly-revised Second Edition of the pamphlet, Why Boycott Israeli Universities, at the NEU Headquarters, Hamilton House in Camden on the evening of 21 October. The meeting will also discuss how to build support for the Academic Commitment for Palestine. Please …Continue reading “Book Launch: Why Boycott Israeli Universities?”
- Unite against the far right
Speakers include Diane Abbott MP and Jo Grady 6.30pm tonight – https://bit.ly/UniteAgainstTheFarRight On 13 September over 100,000 people joined fascist Tommy Robinson on the biggest Far Right protest in British history. The protest was backed by the world’s richest man, Elon Musk. The marched followed a summer of violent Far Right led protests at asylum seeker … - FEC report back and how to build your GTVO campaign
At the Further Education Committee last week (26th September), there was a clear agreement that UCU must use its collective strength to campaign for FE, Adult Education and Prisons. At the end of this message are the text of all 3 motions that were all overwhelmingly carried. At the recent National Joint Forum, the Association of College …Continue reading “FEC report back and how to build your GTVO campaign”