Last week saw UCU members in FE on strike over pay, workload and national binding bargaining (i.e. a pay rise that is paid to every branch). The strikes were well supported with large, vibrant pickets – many members were out …
What is going on in the HE national negotiations?
Summary
- These talks concern ending the Marking and Assessment Boycott
- Pay, casualisation, workload and pay gaps are not on this table: at best, these talks may lead to restarting negotiations
- Employers are not making an improved pay offer, but have
In-person Congress returns: democracy, debate and catharsis
For the first time since 2019, UCU came together in-person, in its annual Congress: a three-day union policy conference with delegates from every branch. The meeting included two days of general union policy-making, ‘Congress’, and one day of sector conferences …
No more ‘pauses’ – no suspension of action! Strike to win!
Tuesday’s #UCURising reps briefing has caused a huge amount of confusion ahead of our six days of strike action.
No new information about progress in the talks materialised.
All we learned was that there ‘may’ be some progress on USS, …
For action that can win – shut down the campuses!
After weeks of silence and prevarication, the General Secretary has finally announced the decisions on industrial action taken by the Higher Education Committee (HEC).
We welcome the news that the marking and assessment boycott (MAB) is to be notified to …
How many times must members be surveyed before they are permitted to fight?
Branch reps in mandated UCU branches were astonished to read yet another email on Monday from HQ asking them whether or not members were ready to launch a marking and assessment boycott. They were asked to respond in 24 hours.…
Seize the Time, Don’t Abandon the Fight
We all know we are in the fight of our lives.
But the General Secretary’s ‘new plan of action for the four fights dispute’ is a radical-sounding document that abandons the Four Fights dispute until a year’s time, and pulls …
Democracy Now! How can members control our disputes?
The issue of union democracy has again become important in the context of UCU’s higher education disputes.
Many members are wondering how the Higher Education Committee (HEC) could blatantly ignore the views expressed at the previous Branch Delegate Meeting (BDM) …
Report on NEC Briefing on Section 44 and collective action
UCU’s National Executive Committee met for the first time this year on 22nd January for a “briefing” and discussion on the potential for collective action in colleges and universities in defence of members facing the risks of in person …
UCU Left ‘Four Fights’ Negotiators’ statement, 6/3/2020
Dear colleagues
We are writing as UCULeft ‘Four Fights’ negotiators who have been engaged in complex negotiations which are ongoing.
It is important to note that these negotiations have not yet resulted in an offer. Nothing is on the table …