twitter facebook

Article

Leicester UCU statement on NZ terrorist attack

Published: 15th March, 2019

Leicester UCU is appalled and horrified to hear of the fascist attack on the Muslim community of Christchurch, New Zealand. We would like to extend our love to those affected by the horrific attack in which 49 people have lost their lives. We are disturbed to hear increasing incidents of Islamophobia, throughout the world. The…

Read more


Into the University of Leicester’s second century

Published: 4th March, 2019

Given today’s news of Paul Boyle’s resignation as VC, we reflect on his five years as helmsman of University of Leicester, consider the broader failures of governance at our institution, and propose a way forward. Paul Boyle, President and Vice-Chancellor, 2014–2019 It began, in September 2014, with the news that the Bob Burgess’s successor as…

Read more


Students’ union elections – candidates respond

Published: 19th February, 2019

Elections for students’ union officers are now open – closing on Friday afternoon – and also for a ‘Pro-Chancellor (Students)’. Many PhD students at University of Leicester are members of both UCU and the students’ union – and hence able to vote in these elections. Yesterday afternoon we sent the following questions (suggested by PhD…

Read more


Get Out the Vodka! – not yet…

Published: 17th February, 2019

Unfortunately there’s been an electrical fault at the venue – this means we have to postpone our party. We’re looking for a new date… To commemorate one-anniversary of our USS pensions strike, we – along with our sibling UCU branch at De Montford University – invite you to GET OUT THE VODKA. A social evening…

Read more


DMU renewed…

Published: 11th February, 2019

Our comrades at De Montford University have today published two documents. First a press release responding to Friday’s announcement that Ian Blatchford had resigned as chair of the institution’s governors. Last week many rumours circulated that VC Dominic Shellard was on his way out – confirmed today. The Office for Students has launched an investigation…

Read more


Get Out the Vodka!

Published: 1st February, 2019

To commemorate one-anniversary of our USS pensions strike, we – along with our sibling UCU branch at De Montford University – invite you to GET OUT THE VODKA. A social evening in the Function Room of the Criterion Freehttps://www.facebook.com/thecriterionleicester/ House. There will be live music, a DJ, a photo exhibition, a short pantomime (subject to…

Read more


You vis-à-vis the VC: how much are you worth?

Published: 28th January, 2019

Have you ever wondered how long it takes the University of Leicester’s president and vice-chancellor to earn your annual salary? Now you can use our quick and easy calculator to find out. Select your pay spinal-point from the list below to find out. (If you know your salary but don’t know what spine point this…

Read more


Vote YES for a Fairer University (of Leicester)!

Published: 15th January, 2019

Voting is now open to decide whether UCU members will take strike action (and action short of strike) in support of our claim (vis-a-vis our employers) regarding pay, equality, workloads and precarious contracts. The ballot closes on 22 February – so you must send off your ballot paper by 20 February to make sure your…

Read more


Strike ballots to open at Leicester’s universities – Press release

Published: 14th January, 2019

More than 1000 members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Leicester University and De Montfort University are to be balloted for strike action in a row over pay and conditions. The ballot opens tomorrow (Tuesday) and closes on Friday 22 February. The pay row is a national dispute which covers 143 UK universities,…

Read more


Where did all our wages go…?

Published: 14th January, 2019

You may recall that we took 14 days of strike action last February and March. You will almost certainly have noticed that in the subsequent months your pay was reduced, with our employer docking 2 days every month until October. Did you ever wonder what happened to that money – £650k, more or less –…

Read more