Strike action is ON!!! Next week will be the first of 4 weeks of striking from our members as we continue to say NO to the compulsory redundancies forced on us by the university for their poor financial choices. #StopTheCuts #SaveHE

Unclear why we need external recruiters for these things. Those searches are expensive. Surely, those with an actual interest in universities can be reached via connections through the staff body? The only people recruiters like these reach are the floating board-sitters.

"We recruited some elites with little actual understanding of education or universities, were paid well to do it and this is a good thing." University governance is just dire. @newcastleucu.bsky.social www.peridotpartners.co.uk/case-study-c...

“Strike action is always a last resort, but staff at the University of Dundee have proven that they will take action to protect jobs and the future of the university.”

“It’s wrong that uncertainty and the threat of job cuts continue to loom over staff at a time when the university’s finances have been stabilised and all efforts should be directed towards co-creating a credible and sustainable path to recovery that includes staff and students’ voices. 2/

Our ballot to renew our ability to take industrial action at the University of Dundee opens today. Melissa D’Ascenzio, Dundee University UCU branch co-president, said: “The university’s students and staff have been badly let down. 1/

2/ On 22 July, offer holders for the MA Black British History were told the programme would not run. They were advised to defer to 2026/27, transfer to another course, or withdraw. The convenor was not informed in advance and only learned of the decision via social media.

🧵1/ Our branch just passed a motion condemning the stealth closure of the MA in Black British History. We did this to demand accountability — for the future of the MA and for the College’s promises on racial justice and equality. shorturl.at/gIUVG

Since our Vice Chancellor was appointed, we have seen a systemic programme of destabilising change management, with 1000s of staff being placed at risk of losing their jobs. This has created a demoralising cycle of stress and uncertainty for all staff at the University. thetab.com/2024/12/03/r...

More and more ballots open - solidarity to @sheffielducu.bsky.social

Payday coming up, and many of our members will receive a lot less pay than normal due to taking strike action in June. Please donate to our strike fund if you can, or apply for support if you need it! ncl.web.ucu.org.uk/newcastle-uc...

This is where it would be nice if NOUS did... contracts? Apparently one of largest Higher Education consultancies doesn't do contracts? They did the benchmarking advising for our entire university Strategy 2030, and we didn't draw up a contract...

Solidarity!

But guess which aspects of #UKHE the Office for Students is obsessing over... The whole 'free speech' 'crisis' on campuses is manufactured and that our regulator feeds into it is truly troublesome. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/organis...

'“The eye-watering pay and perks for those at the top are really a massive distraction from the underfunding of the sector, and it makes it harder for us to make the case to government to bring in the funding that the sector actually needs.” (Mary Senior, UCU Scotland). 1/3

Solidarity! Great news!

🪧Megapicket II🪧 5 sites. One day! Friday 25 July from 6am 🔥Be a part of it: bit.ly/RSVPMegapicketII 📍 Atlas Depot, B11 2AS 📍 Lifford Lane Depot, B30 3JJ 📍 Perry Barr Depot, B42 2TU 📍 Veolia Incinerator, B11 2BA 📍 Ryton site, CV8 3EJ #StrikeMap 1/2

Great news - after our VC (also the chair of the Russel Group) removed this threat at Newcastle it is now also off the table at Dundee. Strike Action works! Solidarity to all

A massive win indeed brought about by amazing solidarity, strikes, ad negotiations by members of UCU Newcastle.

Solidarity with university workers at Newcastle ✊️

Collective Action Works! ✊ Congratulations to those working across the sector to resist the senseless slash and burn management style that’s being rolled out in U.K. higher ed.

Let’s go!!!

Congratulations, @newcastleucu.bsky.social !

When our own voluntary severance scheme was announced, @newcastleucu.bsky.social were one of the first branches to get in touch with a message of support. We returned the favour with a donation to their strike fund. Thrilled to now see this monumental win! ✊🏻

We won!

Congratulations to staff at Newcastle University!

Congratulations to Newcastle; may their victory Inspire all who face similar fights ✊✊✊

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

This is an an amazing win. Well done to you all, comrades. ✊

A magnificent victory after a grim and protracted struggle. Truly inspirational. Newcastle UCU will be received in triumph in the halls of Valhalla, etc.

A fantastic win and a fantastic demonstration of what a strong, coordinated and sustained fightback can achieve. You are an inspiration to us all @newcastleucu.bsky.social

Absolutely amazing - it CAN be done!

I am so proud of my branch right now, and I want everyone to remember that NOTHING is ever over until you decide to roll over. It is always in your power to keep a fight going and to win.

A MASSIVE WIN AT NEWCASTLE UNI ICU

The Education Training Collective (ETC) must urgently reverse its decision to close the Skills Academy in Billingham. Send solidarity and support by signing this www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/sa...

Rhianwen Roberts, @ucu.org.uk FE policy officer, opens her keynote at the BCU FE conference with a message of solidarity for @bcu-ucu.bsky.social & all affected by the 340 potential redundancies announced. Calls on leadership to take them off the table & to negotiate with the branch.

UCU have called on BCU leadership to take redundancies off the table, as part of our ongoing dispute demands to protect jobs & negotiate on performance targets. With 340 jobs at risk & a live strike ballot, join our branch meeting on Monday to set a position to empower our negotiators.

NO REDUNDANCIES at the University of Dundee. Fantastic news in our fight to save jobs, as interim Principal Prof Nigel Seaton confirms that there will be no redundancies. A massive victory for everyone who has supported us. Looking forward to receiving the removal of Section 188 in writing.

STRIKE ACTION WORKS! Massive congratulations and continuing solidarity to @newcastleucu.bsky.social.

AN AMAZING WIN INDEED. Whilst we had this massive win, our dispute is not over! Negotiations will follow, and we hope we can come to a meaningful agreement, but for now strikes are on! Members voted overwhelmingly for Open Day Action next Friday and Saturday!

Received an email from the university - apparently genuine - offering financial compensation for "disruption caused by industrial action". No mention of the disruption caused by making staff redundant, of course. Seems I'm entitled to £100. That'll be a £100 donation to @newcastleucu.bsky.social.

MLK has joined the GTVO team. (Feel free to download and use the photo...) ✊

I've just stood down as external examiner for Newcastle University's BA Education. This excellent degree, its hard-working students and talented staff deserve so much more than the behaviour of the University management to date. Solidarity with all striking @newcastleucu.bsky.social colleagues.

Tomorrow, Thursday 19th June @ 12:30 Reps from BUCU and our on campus sister union, Unison, will be launching our Joint Equality Network. Details in Graphic. *Guest speaker*: Dr Kay Crosby, UCU member, legal scholar and activist from Newcastle University @newcastleucu.bsky.social

WEDNESDAY = JOIN the picket day! And post your ballot day! And consultation day - you are doing an amazing job at keeping the pressure up