The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan recently attacked individual academics on social media, making false and egregious accusations that she has since been forced to retract. She has failed to apologise to those she attacked and instead has sought to hide behind her department rather than taking personal responsibility for her phenomenal error of judgment. This situation has rightly caused deep concern across the academic community. The Secretary of State no…
Open petitions & letters
Defend jobs and education at Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University has announced plans to reduce academic staff numbers in Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Maths, leaving 48 jobs at risk of compulsory redundancy. Please read and share UCU’s open letter here and sign our petition to save jobs at Oxford Brookes University.
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Stop job cuts at Northumbria University: no compulsory redundancies!
2022’s ‘University of the Year’, Northumbria University, has announced huge budget cuts. In a message to staff, Northumbria University Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Long stated that having already saved £20million through voluntary severance and other measures, the university was looking to reduce staff costs by a further £12.5 million by 1 August. This will have a massive…
Open letter to the principal of Weston College: prison staff need a pay rise
Please sign this open letter to the principal of Weston College today if you work on the prison estate and want a pay rise as soon as possible. The number of staff signing the letter will be disclosed. Names will be publicised when at least 50 staff have signed the letter, and will be presented…
Open letter to the vice-chancellor: devalued degrees at the University of Bristol
Dear Professor Evelyn Welch cc Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) and Chair of the University Education Committee; Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Quality and Standards) and Chair of the University Academic and Standards Committee We are writing in response to the recently published temporary amendments to academic regulation for 2022/23, approved by yourself, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education…
Barnet & Southgate College staff demand fair pay and manageable workloads
Barnet and Southgate College UCU members demand a decent pay rise and concrete measures to reduce workload Barnet and Southgate College UCU call upon the College CEO, Darren Mepham, to pay a decent consolidated percentage pay rise and agree measures to reduce workload for his professional, hardworking and loyal staff. Over a decade of below-inflation…
Bradford College UCU members demand an inflation meeting pay rise
The UCU branch at Bradford College calls upon the Corporation and executive to pay us respect by awarding staff with a real pay rise that makes up for the last 12 years where we have had no significant increases. The value of our pay has not kept up with inflation and therefore the value of…
Help us save Kidlington Adult Education Centre from closure
Staff based at the Kidlington Adult Education Centre in Oxfordshire were told at the end of June 2022 that they must vacate the premises by the end of October. The Centre opened in 1959 and has provided courses and events for local residents for over sixty years.