The Friday email: 12 July 2019

Get ready for autumn ballots

As the union gears up for important national ballots in the autumn we are calling on all members to check that the personal information we hold on you is correct. In particular please make sure that your preferred postal address is up to date to ensure you receive ballot paperwork. As always we will need your help getting the vote out so please get in touch with your branch to help and look out for details of activities at your institution.

Ballots of members in higher education institutions will take place simultaneously on USS pensions and on pay, workload, equality and job security between 9 September and 30 October 2019. 

Save Stourbridge College campaigners step up the fight

Staff and students were out in force this week to greet BMet governors and call on them to Save Stourbridge College currently threatened with closure. Please continue to sign and share the petition to keep the college open and defend education in the town.

Climate emergency: stand with our students on 20 September

Please show solidarity with the global student strike called for 20 September by adding your name to the list of supporters here. We're building support for a TUC motion calling for a 30 minute workday solidarity stoppage on that day. Please note it is not a strike against the employers and we are not calling on members to breach their contracts. We're asking college and university employers to declare a climate emergency and to allow staff and students the opportunity to join the global protest on 20 September. Our school students are fighting for a better future for all of us. Let's make sure they are not fighting alone.

Ruskin College: say no to cuts and trade union victimisation

Ruskin College boasts of its working class, trade union and social justice history, but in reality UCU's reps are being harassed and victimised. Management have announced plans to close the majority of HE courses, including the MA in Global Labour and Social Change, a proposal which puts five lecturers at risk of redundancy, including most of UCU's branch officers. This comes after UCU rep Lee Humber was suspended following a vote of no confidence in management, and the college has also announced plans to discipline more branch reps for their trade union activities. Please sign the petition calling for Lee's reinstatement. Please also email principal Paul Di Felice and board chair Doug Nicholls calling for Lee to be reinstated and trade union victimisation at Ruskin College to end immediately. Messages of support can be sent to Ruskin UCU here.