Delighted to announce that myself and Pat Roche from the FE sector have been elected as co-chairs of @ucu.org.uk's Anticasualisation Committee, with the amazing Ben Pope as vice chair. We have work to do.

www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/... #StopTheCuts

Our #SaveHE #StopTheCuts call on the front of today’s Herald

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-n... @stirlingucu.bsky.social #StopTheCuts

Ah, surprise, surprise. Our VC's second job at a UoE spin-off *is* paid after all. We'd like to know since when, and why his SFC declaration of interests has only recently been updated. www.theferret.scot/edinburgh-jo...

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...

New from me: a *free* short version of my Political Quarterly piece on universities... The issue is settled now: the massified and accessible Higher Education system we have spent tens of billions building since the 1970s is coming to an end. (1/2) politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/where-n...

“If an expert is somebody who knows a lot about very little, AI is the opposite, engaging with academic literature only superficially while falling over itself to show you the breadth of its knowledge. The result is 1,500 words of grammatically impeccable mediocrity” #AcademicSky #EduSky #AI

UCU Commons ucucommons.org

UCU Solidarity Movement ucusolidaritymovement.org/about/

We are out picketing this week to fight the threat of redundancies. Come find us on the picket line Monday, Wednesday and Friday!

“Happy” anniversary to The List. A year of this webpage mapping, watching managers cut jobs & departments to meet local KPIs while transforming the shape of higher education & research across the country. And government enabling this.

Area of Park Campus to be sold for development. Sign petition: www.change.org/p/prevent-th...

I’ve had quite a few conversations with colleagues from other UK universities recently, and they all start ‘how is the redundancy situation at your institution?’ without fail. We are all just waiting for the inevitable & everyone is anxious

A statement from Durham UCU on the University refusing to allow us to nominate an external expert to review (under appropriate non-disclosure guarantees) the financial circumstances which we are told necessitate twenty million pound's worth of cuts to staffing. durhamucu.org.uk/durham-ucu-s...

A Decade of Crisis www.historyworkshop.org.uk/education/a-....

Spotted on campus this morning. Thanks to the person who posted this.

Incredible sights on the @newcastleucu.bsky.social picket line this morning. We will fight tooth and nail to protect jobs. The whole union is behind you. Solidarity ✊

A very helpful thread pulling together what the crisis in #UKHE looks like. Redundancies are the tip of the iceberg. #SaveHE

Solidarity with our Brunel University members on strike today. Brilliant to see everyone out in force fighting against job cuts ✊ The whole union is behind you.

University leaders have pushed the sector to the brink Our members can help rebuild it but universities need to start making decisions democratically & transparently Excellent piece from @uea-ucu.bsky.social who have won their largest ever mandate for strike action.

This afternoon, @ucu.org.uk informed the Vice Chancellor that we will be formally balloting for local industrial action at @sheffielduni.bsky.social in relation to proposed cuts to the staffing budget and the threats to staff jobs due to restructuring.

I've locked myself out of Commons Bsky, but in the meantime, here's an open letter for UCU members in HE to sign in support of a motion we're bringing to the meeting on Weds 19th which calls for a focus on defending jobs, reforming HE, & calling off a national ballot. ucucommons.org/2025/02/13/m...

📢 @newcastleucu.bsky.social vote YES to strike action🚨 "Our members have overwhelmingly backed strike action because they refuse to allow their colleagues to pay the price for management's failure to budget effectively." 🗣️ @drjogrady.bsky.social ✊

A recording of Wednesday's hustings for UCU VP and Treasurer candidates are now up online. I'd recommend watching, especially if you are undecided: www.ucu.org.uk/article/1389...

🚨 Our interview with Skills Minister, Jacqui Smith is now live 🚨 Don't miss hearing your questions answered ✊ Watch here 👇 Find out more about our campaign 👉 www.ucu.org.uk/ReclaimHE#JS youtu.be/zLDL4YDE47M

"A different approach is possible." The lack of creativity & unwillingness to consider other ways of organising #UKHE in places like UUK has been as damaging as the 'Tory legacy' everything gets blamed on. Good to see @the-tuc.bsky.social call for better.

Strike ballot at Newcastle University 🚨 £35m of cuts have left our members suffering. Staff should not pay the price for management’s financial mismanagement.

New dispute at Canterbury Christ Church UCU 👇 "a ballot for strike action is an option we may reluctantly be forced to consider, if the employer is not prepared to resolve the current industrial dispute through collective consultation"

Keir Starmer must stop pandering to the hard-right on immigration. Our statement 👇

We're supporting the 16 days in 16 ways campaign for 16 days of activism against gender based violence. We will be using this period to focus on our priorities and suggest 16 ways in which branches and members can get involved. Find our more 👇

By refusing to understand the gravity of the situation in UK Higher education, politicians are encouraging it to continue, at speed. Expect multiple big cuts and redundancy announcements per week in the run up to Christmas.

😕 Here we go again. timeshighereducation.com/news/deeply-... 📢 Follow us for updates about the ongoing situation at UEA. #SaveUEA #UCU 🦋 Please share this post with followers, to let them we're now also on Bluesky. 💪 UEA UCU Branch Meeting this morning at 10am. Check your inboxes for full details.

A new Substack post from us, encouraging all eligible UCU members to vote in the consultative ballot that opened on Tuesday. Have your say on the final offer from UCEA in respect of the 2024/25 HE pay negotiation round. Please share with your friends & colleagues! open.substack.com/pub/ucucommo...