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News Archives

Strike FAQs

Published: 16th June, 2023

Why are we going on strike? At 136 of the 140 universities, UCU members will strike for five consecutive days from Monday 25 to Friday 29 September. The dispute centres on low pay and working conditions. Employer body, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) has imposed a pay award for 23/24 worth just 5% for most UCU…

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‘Rogue’ marks: What to do?

Published: 14th June, 2023

With the ongoing Marking and Assessment Boycott, some parts of the University will have their processes of progression and graduation delayed. The current Senate regulations allow managers in the University to appoint alternative markers to undermine the MAB, by producing ‘rogue’ marks. We consider rogue marks to be problematic, because they are usually not awarded…

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Leicester UCU to Strike: No to Wage Theft

Published: 7th June, 2023

Leicester UCU branch will take strike action as part of the ongoing industrial action over pay and conditions in UK universities. Strike action will occur on these dates: We regret that we have been forced to escalate our action. This reflects the punitive response to our Marking & Assessment Boycott (MAB) by university management and…

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Trade Union Law & Industrial Action

Published: 4th April, 2022

Our current mandate for industrial action in the name of the Four Fights and in defence of USS Pensions expires on 3 May. As you know, we are reballoting members in order to prolong the action. This is necessary due to the restrictions imposed by the Trade Union Act 2016. The law places UCU (and…

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Picket Post: What We Can Do

Published: 23rd March, 2022

In this next edition of the Picket Post, one Leicester UCU member explores why we are striking, why it matters to them, to all of us, and how we can help make a difference. If you would like to contribute to this ongoing series, please forward any pieces to Cara Dobbing, Communications Officer (cara@uculeicester.org.uk). This…

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Picket Post: Manageable Workloads

Published: 21st March, 2022

One of the four fights concerns workload, and the rising pressures on staff in recent years. In this next edition of Picket blog posts, we focus on what manageable workloads look like, and why they are important to the Four Fights dispute. If you would like to contribute to this ongoing series, please forward any…

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Picket Post: Casualisation

Published: 28th February, 2022

In this next edition of our new series of Picket blog posts, one Leicester UCU member reflects on their experience of casualisation. If you would like to contribute to this ongoing series, please forward any pieces to Cara Dobbing, Communications Officer (cara@uculeicester.org.uk). This may be a reflection of a particular day’s picketing, or a wider…

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Picket Post: At Breaking Point

Published: 22nd February, 2022

In this next edition of our new series of Picket blog posts, one Leicester UCU member reflects on why they feel so devalued, demotivated, and have been pushed to breaking point. If you would like to contribute to this ongoing series, please forward any pieces to Cara Dobbing, Communications Officer (cara@uculeicester.org.uk). This may be a…

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Picket Post: Why I’m Striking

Published: 16th February, 2022

In this first edition of our new series of Picket blog posts, one Leicester UCU member reflects on why they’re striking. If you would like to contribute to this ongoing series, please forward any pieces to Cara Dobbing, Communications Officer (cara@uculeicester.org.uk). This may be a reflection of a particular day’s picketing, or a wider reflection…

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Strike Action

Published: 31st January, 2022

Leicester UCU and its members will be on strike for 5 days, 21-25 March. This is in defence of the four fights (working conditions, equality pay gaps, pay increases and casualisation), and to defend members’ USS pensions. Information about the two disputes can be found here. This action follows strikes at the beginning of December…

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