📢 Leaders of 77 colleges have been threatened with trade disputes unless they agree to a 10% pay rise for staff and actions to tackle teacher workloads by next week feweek.co.uk/ucu-puts-77-...

An inspiring first day of picketing to kick off our 4 weeks of strike action! Faculty, students, AND a dog or two made an appearance.

New higher education minister for Scotland www.timeshighereducation.com/news/new-hig...

Universities ‘overlooked’ in UK’s wartime readiness planning www.timeshighereducation.com/news/univers...

Union passes motion of no confidence in Bangor v-c over cuts www.timeshighereducation.com/news/union-p...

Between them, politicians and employers are destroying our great higher education sector. We won't sit back and let it happen. #WeAreTheUniversity

UCU is holding a webinar on Zoom entitled 'Visa holders and redundancies' on Thursday 2 October (13:00-14:00). To register use link below us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... Immigration lawyers Bindmans LLP will deliver a webinar on the implications of redundancy for migrant members on a visa.

Our members at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social have voted for industrial action in a dispute over pay and conditions Imperial can afford to pay its staff a fair wage and must do the right thing www.ucu.org.uk/article/1418...

New on the blog: a post before tomorrow's Emergency General Meeting, outlining plans for a discussion about how to seek to engage with SMT over the coming term, and a motion for the Equalities Conference:

UCU - Imperial staff vote for strike action in pay and conditions row www.ucu.org.uk/article/1418...

Staff at @uniofleicester.bsky.social to strike for three weeks over plans to slash hundreds of jobs www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicest...

“Unfortunately, we have a Labour government seemingly determined to outflank Reform on immigration . . .These attacks are having a severe impact on the financial health of the sector” - @drjogrady.bsky.social in the @theipaper.com today inews.co.uk/news/flag-wa...

Universities are under attack. By defending ourselves, we are defending the whole sector. Vote YES. #WeAreTheUniversity

UCU - 2 days of strikes called at Manchester international student college over low pay www.ucu.org.uk/article/1417...

Get ready to ballot. ⚠️ Job security 📉 Falling pay 🔨 Attacks on T&Cs Every uni across is at risk; it’s time to stand up and fightback. #WeAreTheUniversity

More universities could join new Kent-Greenwich group, says v-c www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-un...

NEW on Wonkhe: Mature student numbers have seen more than a decade of decline. For Rachel Hewitt, it’s high time this was turned around buff.ly/xbSH3Ne

What they said! 👇 We are stronger together (but in a 'solidarity' way, of course) - so have a coffee and a chat with colleagues & invite them to join UCU if they haven't already www.ucu.org.uk/join

This is the best thing anyone working in UK Higher Education can do today, particularly if you're at Kent or Greenwich. As a union we're stronger together. Support your local branch.

Today is the first day of our annual Staff Conference at Kent. It's opening with an address from our acting VC about the future and is expected to be followed by a Q&A session. I don't think anyone has any idea how it'll go - but we all want to know what's coming and we all want a good outcome.

And that’s a wrap on #TUC2025 ✨ Our delegates moved motions on wages and jobs, defended the right to protest, tackled injustice, and stood in solidarity with our trade union family. Thank you to everyone who stood with us this week. Together, we are the university.

At #TUC2025, UCU President Maria Chondragianni challenged Labour on higher education: “The Tories introduced a failed, marketised model across education. This has been disastrous.” ✊ We will keep holding Labour to account. #ucu #WeAreTheUniversity

🚨 Greenwich & Kent staff + students woke up to hear from the news their universities will merge. This isn’t innovation, it’s crisis management. 👉 Members ignored. Students left in the dark. #ucu #WeAreTheUniversity

We've had a staff briefing at Kent from our acting VC and we don't really know any further than has been reported. This is the beginning of a process that we've been told will be transparent. There were lots of questions but no answers yet. Talk to your colleagues. We are stronger together.

UCU - TUC calls on Labour to stop 'serious escalation in authoritarianism' www.ucu.org.uk/article/1417...

Members: your branch committee is about where you are in terms of info so far, but we'll be working hard to get as much as we can and making sure you get as much clarity as possible. We'll have a social Thursday 18th September, 5pm at the Gypsy Moth: non-members welcome www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

UCU - UCU response to University of Greenwich "takeover" of University of Kent www.ucu.org.uk/article/1417...

UCU - UCU condemns new Ofsted report card system www.ucu.org.uk/article/1416...

UCU GS @drjogrady.bsky.social putting an end to weapons over wages at #TUC2025: “Our country is broken… yet billions for bombs. Cash found for weapons. No cash found for wages.” ✊ #WagesNotWeapons

🚨BREAKING: TUC Congress has voted to oppose increases in defence spending. The trade union movement is clear: Labour must prioritise investment in working people, not endless wars abroad. Wages, not weapons ✊

UCU - TUC votes to oppose defence spending and support investment in public services www.ucu.org.uk/article/1416...

💸✊ Wages not Weapons. “Investing the £75bn slated for defence spending on a green new deal, healthcare and education would create jobs and rebuild communities far more than weapons spending.” @drjogrady.bsky.social morningstaronline.co.uk/article/wage...

We will be balloting in October! Remember, our dispute with the employers is three-fold: pay, protection of agreements and defence of jobs. Any ballot paper will have all three. We all know these three issues are intrinsically linked. We know we need to fight them together. #WeAreTheUniversity

At #TUC2025 @drjogrady.bsky.social told Congress: 💥 “Cash found for weapons. No cash found for wages.” It’s an anti-worker agenda and an attack on our class, our communities, and our movement. #WagesNotWeapons #FreePalestine

At #TUC2025 this morning, Congress will vote on Wages not Weapons. As @zackpolanski.bsky.social said: “You need to vote for security, not the arms trade to invest in people and planet, not destruction.” ✊🌍 #UCU #WagesNotWeapons

Universities left as ‘piggy in the middle’ after skills reshuffle www.timeshighereducation.com/news/univers...

VCs don’t run universities. We do. After another real terms pay cut, UCU is launching a UK-wide strike ballot. Ballot opens October. Vote YES. #WeAreTheUniversity

UCU to hold nationwide strike ballot after ‘insulting’ pay offer www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ucu-hol...

Day 2 of #TUC2025 and our delegates are ready ✊ Our shirts say it all: wages not weapons. Come see us at the UCU stand and pick up your own t-shirt 👕

At #TUC2025, staff and students are standing together ✊ UCU general secretary @drjogrady.bsky.social and NUS UK president Amira Campbell, joining the call for wages not weapons.

At #TUC2025, UCU GS @drjogrady.bsky.social spoke at the Palestine solidarity campaign fringe. 🇵🇸 “Every one of Palestine’s 12 universities have been destroyed.” UCU stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people and with unions worldwide demanding: Wages not weapons.

“We’re not asking for a lot, just basic dignity at work. Trade unions aren’t the problem. We’re part of the solution.” UCU’s Brian Hamilton demanding dignity at work and safety for prison staff. Solidarity with POA and all those supporting the motion.

UCU - UK wide ballot paves way for national strike action across university campuses www.ucu.org.uk/article/1416...

UCU - TUC calls on government to abolish tuition fees www.ucu.org.uk/article/1416...

UCU - UCU joins other teacher unions to demand a review of TPS pension age www.ucu.org.uk/article/1416...

UCU member Will Nelson and his partner Kayleigh were among those who tragically lost their lives in Lisbon this week. Will was popular and much loved by all who knew him. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this awful time.

✊ “It’s time to build an education service for the many, not the few, not just the privileged.” - UCU president Maria Chondrogianni at #TUC2025, moving our motion for a fully funded national education service. ✅ Delegates backed the motion unanimously.