March 2009

• Union frustrations at employers' failings over pay deal
  31 March 2009

  UCU said today that it was amazed the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association (UCEA) chose not to make a pay offer to the higher education unions at yesterday's pay talks.
• Increase in female professors welcome, but rise in gender pay gap real problem for the sector, says UCU
  30 March 2009

  UCU has welcomed new figures that show an increase in the proportion of female professors. However, the union warned that the higher education sector still had much to do to develop real gender equality.
• World leaders urged to invest in education to end financial crisis
  28 March 2009

  UCU has called on world leaders to show their support for workers during the current economic downturn, by not cutting back on vital education and training.
• Rising debts make it harder for students to do 'work experience'
  26 March 2009

  Responding to today's report on student employability by the Confederation of British Industry and Universities UK, UCU agreed that students getting work experience was important for their future and the UK economy, but warned that many are forced in to working just to pay back soaring debts.
• UCU clarifies staff pay rises as vice-chancellors go on defensive over their exorbitant rises
  26 March 2009

  UCU said today that it was important to clarify any confusion surrounding HE staff pay rises.
• UCU calls for fairer student bursary system
  26 March 2009

  UCU has today called for better financial assistance for students.
• Job threat to thousands leads to rally call to defend jobs and defend education
  25 March 2009

  With thousands of jobs and dozens of departments under threat across UK higher and further education, UCU general secretary Sally Hunt has this week written to all members to announce the launch of an urgent major campaign: 'defend jobs, defend education'.
• College protests as Assembly warned to act now to avoid 'meltdown'
  25 March 2009

  Staff will be protesting at Welsh further education colleges on 25 March over budget cuts that they warn will seriously hamper the recovery of the Welsh economy.
• UCU urges government to rethink 'over reliance' on Train to Gain
  24 March 2009

  UCU today said it was disappointed that the government, in responding to a key report on 're-skilling' the UK population, had continued its reliance on the employer led Train to Gain programme.
• Lecturers condemn Heriot-Watt redundancy threat
  24 March 2009

  UCU today condemned the actions of Heriot-Watt University's outgoing principal, Professor Anton Muscatelli, in summoning staff to be warned individually of compulsory redundancy, without union representation, to make room for his ambitious plans for expansion.