Published: 19th September, 2025
Monday 29 September – Friday 17 October
Donate to the branch fighting fund
Use the below template for your organisation to introduce a motion to enact a donation:
Donation to Leicester UCU Fighting Fund
This union branch notes:
• That Leicester UCU is in dispute with the University of Leicester over the Executive Board’s refusal to rule out programmes of collective compulsory redundancy in the 2025-2026 academic year.
• The University has now begun one such redundancy programme in the Division of Biomedical Services, and, on 15 October, University Council is due to meet and consider a far larger programme, which would be launched in November.
• In a statutory industrial action ballot held by Leicester UCU, 79.5% voted for strike action and 87.0% for action short of a strike, with a 62.0% turnout.
• National officials have authorised a three-week strike from 29 September.
• The Leicester UCU branch has established a Fighting Fund to supplement national UCU efforts to support its members struggling with the loss of income.
This union branch further notes:
• That the labour movement is built on traditions of solidarity.
• That many branches across the country are initiating or undertaking local strikes.
This union branch resolves:
• To make a donation of £_______ to the Leicester UCU Fighting Fund.
• To publicise the Fighting Fund and the industrial action of the Leicester branch among members, and to support the strike in any way possible.
• To send a message of support to Leicester UCU to be shared on its webpage and social media.
Template to be sent to individuals:
Dear X
I am reaching out because of your previous engagement with our branch/because of your email to the VC as alumni of X school/because of your previous experience with striking/as a friend of the Leicester UCU/as an emeritus professor/ associate.
The University of Leicester is currently threatening to launch a redundancy programme in November 2025 with the goal of cutting the staffing budget by £11m. Six academic areas have been targeted for potential redundancies — Chemistry; Geography, Geology & the Environment (GGE); Modern Languages; History; Film Studies; and the School of Education. Hundreds of professional services staff across the university have also been through a pre-change engagement process, which may also lead to redundancies. Leicester University executive has already announced the first compulsory redundancy programme for the new academic year—targeting a group of academic-related professional services staff in the Division of Biomedical Services (DBS).
In the ballot for industrial action, there was an impressive 62% turnout of which 79.5% voted in favour of strike action and 87.0% in favour of action short of a strike. In light of this result, we are calling members to go out on strike for 3 consecutive weeks starting the 29th of September. This will mean a considerable financial loss for hundreds of members, as well as being a morally challenging period for them. Therefore, we are asking for both your financial and moral support for our action.
We invite you to consider donating to the branch (this will be available first to the most in need, colleagues on temporary contracts, PGR students, colleagues on lower grades, etc.). Really, any donation matters. We also warmly invite you to send a message of solidarity to our branch members, and/or if you are able, come and visit our picket lines on the main University Road every day from the 29th of September 9 to 12.
There is a lot of information on our website, on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Bluesky accounts already, so give us a follow to receive all the latest, including what each day of strike will look like.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask me.
Follow us on social media and share your support: Facebook Instagram Bluesky X
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