Broken record here, but we cannot fix, save, improve, renew or whatever English universities if we only attend to taught students, DfE and OfS. Universities are major engines of research, innovation and civic good. Minimally DSIT must also be centrally in the frame. They're not big schools.

YESSS that's our VP-elect!

Will I get in trouble for this. "“Gender critical” is an inaccurate term for a movement which is anything but ‘critical,’ in the academic sense, in its approach. “Gender criticality” is marked, in fact, by a profound lack of intellectual inquiry."

Great to meet with @alisonbarnes.bsky.social and @nteunion.bsky.social colleagues to take some lessons from their governance campaigns back to @ucu.org.uk Plenty of opportunities for future cross-border collaboration too! Looking forward to hitting the ground running as #ucu VP next month.

Our reach isn’t huge but if you have done UCU news lemme know and we might be able to include it.

Your fortnightly update on what we've been doing in #UCU Commons

Nope, just one of the dedicated stars and trade union activists who make up @ucucommons.org So proud to be part of this grouping that actually gets stuff done!

I was proud to represent @ucu.org.uk at Westminster to provide evidence against the government's right-wing proposals on changes to settlement. Read about it and all the other fantastic work UCU Commons members are up to!

🥰🥰🥰

LOL. Yes. I suppose so 😂

A very news-filled newsletter from us today! #UCU

Feat @hagenilda.bsky.social & Ben Pope ACC win; @vthuppil.bsky.social in parliament; @choochod.bsky.social chairs UCUS congress; @cambiechoo.bsky.social & @matildaf.bsky.social at Northumbria; @markpendleton.bsky.social on Aus HE & @rotster.net usual dig at govt. #UCU ucucommons.org/ucu-commons-...

A bit late with today's Trans Day of Visibility post! Today is a fun merch-y one: 'Transphobia stinks' screen prints from Fox Fisher! Original artwork by an independent queer artist. 🎨 foxfisher.com/products/tra... 🏳️‍⚧️❤️

Excellent resource for trans culture!

I’ve been lucky enough to work with the Museum of Transology and see their remarkable work and collection first hand. Do take a look, especially at the beautiful hand-written labels that explain the significance of each object to the donor. There are many objects and stories to explore.

Today's Trans Day of Visibility post is about the Museum of Transology! This was founded in 2014 and collects objects donated by trans, non-binary & intersex people to form a record of trans culture, activism & every day life. And they're still collecting! museumoftransology.com 🏳️‍⚧️❤️

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Sending love and solidarity to all trans folks today. This looks like a really important national consultation on research gaps in transition-related healthcare.

Today is Trans Day of Visibility! To mark this, we will do a series of posts boosting trans solidarity, activism and research initiatives (plus cute merch for fundraising purposes). Today: the Trans, Non-Binary & Gender-Diverse Priority Setting Partnership survey: wp.lancs.ac.uk/transadultsp... ❤️🏳️‍⚧️

Excellent!!!

We our delighted that our members Jo Edge and Ben Pope have been elected co-chair and vice chair of UCU's Anticasualisation Committee! 🎉

GB trade union types: it's worth knowing that some important changes under the Employment Rights Act are already in effect, with more coming in on 6th April. This is a really handy breakdown from ACAS, worth sharing with your branches. #ucu www.acas.org.uk/employment-r...

Colleagues at the University of York tell me of increased mass recruitment in the hundreds to their programmes this year, with lecture halls unable to accommodate the number of students. Not sure that's the best "student experience".

Go go Chris 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Our very own @ucuscotpresident.bsky.social, Chris O'Donnell, chairing @ucuscotland.bsky.social congress today! #UCU

Here we go. Same management consultants ruining our universities one by one.

The Guardian (Australia) notes today that the new IOC rules fly in the face both of international law, including international human rights law, and the scientific evidence on sexed bodies.

Was great to make @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social 's dispute visible right in the heart of Newcastle yesterday. Good turnout too!

NOT NOW, NOT EVER! @ucea.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk @ucucommons.org @uculeft.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducu.bsky.social @newcastleucu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @timeshighered.bsky.social @theguardian.com @julietterowsell.bsky.social @danhollandnews.bsky.social @chroniclelive.co.uk

😍😍😍

Our @matildaf.bsky.social and @cambiechoo.bsky.social at @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social's rally yesterday! #UCU

Oof! Well said @drjogrady.bsky.social! www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...

UCU Commons Newsletter #13! Feat. @matthewbarnard.phd, @matildaf.bsky.social, @davehitchcock.bsky.social, @rotster.net, @covucu.bsky.social, @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social, reports on Prison Ed & Artificial Intelligence, & Equality Standing Committees rule change! #UCU ucucommons.org/ucu-commons-...

@ucucommons.org @sheffielducu.bsky.social @uculeft.bsky.social @ducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @umucu.bsky.social @beourhope.bsky.social @nasuwtnewcastle.bsky.social @ntyneside-nasuwt.bsky.social @neunion.bsky.social @unisoninhe.bsky.social

@ucu.org.uk @ucucommons.org @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social

Me slagging off Nick Clegg. Plus ça change.

Loads of great stuff in this issue of the newsletter!

UCU Commons Newsletter #13! Feat. @matthewbarnard.phd, @matildaf.bsky.social, @davehitchcock.bsky.social, @rotster.net, @covucu.bsky.social, @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social, reports on Prison Ed & Artificial Intelligence, & Equality Standing Committees rule change! #UCU ucucommons.org/ucu-commons-...

Just a little reminder - this is happening TOMORROW! See y'all there! @ucu.org.uk @ucucommons.org @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @umucu.bsky.social @uculeft.bsky.social @unisoninhe.bsky.social @nasuwtnewcastle.bsky.social @ntyneside-nasuwt.bsky.social

The gigification of university. Utter disgrace.

THIS IS THE ONE! @ucu.org.uk @ucucommons.org @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @tuc.org.uk @tucneyh.bsky.social @tucnorthwest.bsky.social @unisoninhe.bsky.social @unison.org.uk @unitetheunion.bsky.social @aslefunion.bsky.social @pcsunion.bsky.social @gmb.org.uk

1/3 Since I wrote this response to Nigel Biggar’s malicious and completely false attack on me and university colleagues in The Spectator he has re-published it on his subscribers-only substack with me as the poster boy for “bad” history teaching at Sussex. alanlester.co.uk/blog/smearin...

@ucea.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk @chroniclelive.co.uk @danhollandnews.bsky.social @chionwurah.bsky.social @alancampbellmp.bsky.social @teacherspensions.bsky.social @moneyontheleft.bsky.social @left-foot-forward.bsky.social @ucucommons.org @uculeft.bsky.social

@ucu.org.uk @unitetheunion.bsky.social @unison.org.uk @tuc.org.uk @tucneyh.bsky.social @chroniclelive.co.uk @danhollandnews.bsky.social @timeshighered.bsky.social @ucucommons.org @uculeft.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducu.bsky.social @newcastleucu.bsky.social @moneyontheleft.bsky.social

@ucu.org.uk @ucucommons.org @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @newcastleucu.bsky.social @nclgreenparty.bsky.social @labourunionsuk.bsky.social @chionwurah.bsky.social @alancampbellmp.bsky.social @chroniclelive.co.uk @tucneyh.bsky.social @unison.org.uk

💪🥁📣PLS SHARE! @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social ON STRIKE 16, 17, 25, 26, 27 March AND 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 April. 👉👉👉25 March = NATIONAL RALLY TO PROTECT PAY AND PENSIONS 1PM at Monument in NEWCASTLE with UCU GS Jo Grady and President Elect Dyfrig Jones. All welcome.

UCU Commons newsletter #12 just landed! Election results, ARPS & Anticas conference reports, Women’s TUC, opposing the Iran war, Equality Research conference, @alanlester.bsky.social on defamatory attacks & Adam Tickell punching down on tuition fees #UCU #UKHE ucucommons.org/ucu-commons-...

I've been missing in action due to unexpected illness in the packing area, but I am so delighted that the good people #UCUCommons stood in the elections swept the board!

Proud of this. Packed with stuff we’ve been doing.

UCU Commons newsletter #12 just landed! Election results, ARPS & Anticas conference reports, Women’s TUC, opposing the Iran war, Equality Research conference, @alanlester.bsky.social on defamatory attacks & Adam Tickell punching down on tuition fees #UCU #UKHE ucucommons.org/ucu-commons-...