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News Archives

Day One #ucuRISING Strike Action

Published: 24th November, 2022

Thank you to everyone who joined our picket lines today. We even had a visit from Nishan Canagarajah and Henrietta O’Connor. Here are a selection of pictures of our action. Please do join us if you can. Full strike schedule here.

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Strike Dates: November 2022

Published: 11th November, 2022

When we are striking: Why we are striking: The UK university sector generated a record income of £41.1bn last year with vice chancellors collectively earning an estimated £45million. The sector can more than afford to meet staff demands. Industrial action, and a strong mandate for action from 70000 members in the UK, is the leverage needed to bring employers…

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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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Reballot FAQs

Published: 11th March, 2022

What are the reballots about? UCU members are being reballoted on the Four Fights, and USS Pensions as the current mandate ends on 3 May. FOUR FIGHTS:  1. Wages of University staff have fallen in real terms by over 20%. 2. Workloads have increased to unprecedented levels with University staff performing an average of two days’ unpaid work every…

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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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