Published: 5th March, 2018
We have received some reports of members of University of Leicester security staff threatening physical violence and actually using physical violence against people in the process of peaceably leaving the Fielding Johnson building – which is currently being occupied by University of Leicester students in solidarity with our USS pensions strike. Leicester UCU condemns any…
Published: 5th March, 2018
On Monday morning students began an occupation of the Fielding Johnson Building, the University of Leicester’s main administration building at the centre of campus, in solidarity with striking university staff and in protest at the proposed appointment of David Willetts as Chancellor. Leicester UCU would like to extend a message of gratitude and reciprocal solidarity…
Published: 3rd March, 2018
Where have we come from and where are we going? A reflective thread from one of our members. On Wednesday of last week, Universities UK told us there was nothing to negotiate over. USS was in ‘deficit’ and needed reform. A serious minority of UUK members had pressed this point, and as a whole UUK…
Published: 2nd March, 2018
Sent to all Leicester UCU members and supporters [Friday 2 March] Also available as a pdf AS NEGOTIATIONS RECOMMENCE, MAKE MONDAY MEMORABLE Each day there have been between 100 and 200 members picketing. This Monday we need to redouble our efforts to send a clear message to UUK that we are not just maintaining the…
Published: 2nd March, 2018
We began the day knowing that UUK and UCU had agreed to go into arbitration talks with ACAS: a very positive step that shows our action is getting results. Some people may wonder why we’re still striking now that talks are due to recommence. The answer is very simple: we cannot countenance dropping the pressure…
Published: 2nd March, 2018
Despite the snow starting to fall and below freezing temperatures, day 4 saw our biggest turn-out of protesting staff and students yet. Has to have been more than 200. The Socialist Students society joined us early on the picket line to gather signatures on a petition in support of striking staff. We marched around…
Published: 2nd March, 2018
As the second week of strike action began, it was freezing, but that didn’t dampen our spirits and there was an even bigger turn out of staff on the picket lines, making much noise and garnering lots of supportive honks from passing traffic. As promised, we returned to Fielding Johnson Building in the expectation…
Published: 26th February, 2018
Up and down the country there’s been an amazing outpouring of creativity around this pensions dispute. Here in Leicester our Free University of Leicester got off to a great start on Monday with a session on strike art, which invited students, staff… anyone… to create. Here are some of the results.
Published: 23rd February, 2018
The second day of strike action is often the first test of a union’s resolve, and our members as always did not let us down. In bitterly cold temperatures members and our supporters turned out. Today we estimated that we had around 80-100 staff and supporters on our picket lines which started bright and breezy…
Published: 22nd February, 2018
A fantastic start in Leicester to UCU’s 14 days of strike action. We estimate 850 lecturers, researchers and professional services staff struck; 120 UCU members stood – and chatted and sang and danced – on picket lines all around the campus; and 400 students, staff and other supporters rallied outside the VC’s office in the…