The Friday email: 4 June 2021

USS: find out how proposed cuts will affect you

Over eighteen thousand people have now used our USS modeller which we launched last week to provide information for individuals on the impact of proposed changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). Thank you for participating and please continue to use and share the tool. Just input your date of birth and salary details then share how the cuts impact you by tweeting the results with #NotTodayUUK. Please also complete the survey at the end which will help inform our negotiations with employers and USS.
Read all the latest on USS here.

Support the prison education strike

Please show your support for Novus UCU prison education branch members who are on strike again next Thursday 10 June by downloading this poster, photographing yourself with it and posting it on social media (for social media please use #PrisonEdStrike). The dispute is about Covid-19 health and safety concerns and lack of consultation with union representatives. Two days of strike action have already taken place last month and there have been talks at ACAS.

UCU members fighting back

UCU branches across the UK are fighting to defend jobs and conditions and you can read our roundup of local disputes here including a new fight to save jobs at the University of Sussex and strike action at University of Liverpool and more on the boycott University of Leicester as the branch gear up for strike action. 

Save Evesham College - sign the petition

UCU are campaigning against severe cuts to local further education provision including the closing of campuses at Malvern and Evesham and you can sign the petition here.

G7: the world is watching

Trade union and environmental campaigners including UCU have signed a statement to the leaders of G7 countries meeting in Cornwall from 11-13 June, setting out the commitments needed to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown.

Love our academic-related, professional services staff: more than just a lecturers' union

UCU has organised a month of events focussing on the work of academic-related and professional services staff, with a launch event on Tuesday 15 June at 1pm. You can find out more about the events, and register to participate here.

Ask your MP to help end pregnancy and maternity discrimination 

Please support Maternity Action's email your MP campaign to call on MPs to sign an early day motion in support of the newly launched 'action for maternity rights action plan'. The plan consists of 8 key asks to end pregnancy and maternity discrimination and is supported by 25 national trade unions and charities, including UCU.

LGBT+ Pride

Pride is an important way for the LGBT+ community to come together to continue the fight for equality, challenge prejudice and celebrate LGBT+ lives in all their diversity. June is Pride month so check out our range of resources for members and branches, and take to social media to tell us what #PrideMeans to you!

'Academic Freedom in the Digital University'

Researchers at the University of Lincoln's School of Education have launched a new survey entitled 'Academic Freedom in the Digital University'. It looks at how metrics and the culture of continuous evaluation mediate power relations between academic staff and higher education institutions. The survey has been designed as part of an ongoing UCU initiative which is designed to provide improved help and guidance for UCU members in respect to their academic freedom rights and responsibilities. You can fill in the survey here.

EU settlement scheme: your questions answered

The 30 June deadline for applications to the EU settlement scheme (EUSS) is fast approaching. If you're an EU citizen and you haven't already applied, you can do so here. Got questions? Watch back our recent EUSS webinar with Bindmans lawyers you can view it here, or view our FAQ document.