The Friday email: 18 February 2022

HE strikes: USS pension and Four Fights disputes

Strike action began at 44 universities on Monday 14 February over the USS pension dispute; they will be joined by UCU branches in the Four Fights dispute on Monday 21 February. In total 68 universities will be on strike. Here is a list of some of the things that you can do:

• click here for the institutions involved and the strike dates
• follow plenty of action here
• read the general secretary Jo Grady's daily dispatches from the picket lines
• contact your local UCU branch and help get organised
• pay attention to weather warnings from the Met Office and follow your branch's guidance
• support 'teach out' events and rallies in your area. UCU Scotland and NUS are holding a 'Rally for Education' in Edinburgh on Tuesday 22 February; NUS is organising a student strike in London on Wednesday 2 March.
• if your university is in the USS dispute, use UCU's 'email your VC about USS' tool and share this with your students (an 'email your VC about Four Fights' tool is currently being tested)
• you can also share this video made by SOAS UCU with your students
• read the general secretary's email on Universities UK's (UUK) claims and UCU's rebuttal
• keep supporting our action short of a strike (ASOS) if your branch is taking part
• read UCU's legal advice and guidance on ASOS salary deductions (login required)
• read updated guidance for migrant workers and for members on casualised contracts
• check the HE disputes FAQ which is continually updated with new information
• share the videos explaining why we are taking action on the USS dispute and the Four Fights
• donate to the UCU fighting fund if you are in a non-striking branch
• buy the classic CWU 'Direct Action' mug: UCU's fighting fund will receive £2 for every mug sold.

FE pay campaign launch

Following the general secretary's announcement of a new strategy for further education in England, we are inviting you to this virtual FE pay campaign launch.

The session aims will be twofold: Firstly, to tell you more about the pay campaign, and why it is more important than ever that members are actively involved. Secondly, to discuss some of the work branches have done locally to organise and win in the workplace.

This will take place on Wednesday 23 February 18:30-20:00 and you can register here. The event will be recorded.

Teach-out series

Our teach-out series is open to all UCU members and students. If your local branch is participating in strike action and is running teach-outs or afternoon rallies, we encourage you to attend those as the priority.

Democratising education - UCU Green New Deal
Monday 21 February, online, 12:00-13:30

Challenging casualisation in education webinars
Monday 28 February, online, 14:00-15:30
Monday 28 February, online, 16:00-17:30
Tuesday 1 March, online, 16:00-17:30

Joint UCU/People & Planet climate emergency teach out: fossil free careers
Tuesday 22 February, online, 13:30-15:30

Don't forget to vote in the NEC elections 2022

Information about the current UCU trustee, officer and national executive committee (NEC) elections is available here. 

You can watch a video of the vice-president (further education) election hustings.

The ballot opened on Thursday 27 January and will close at noon on Tuesday 1 March. If you have not received the postal ballot pack (marked UCU and Civica Election Services), please request a replacement ballot using this online form before Tuesday 22 February.

Fighting racism in the workplace 

As part of UCU's annual week of action against workplace racism you are invited to an online panel discussion on the theme of identifying and challenging racism in the workplace on Tuesday 22 February, 17:00-18:00 and there are more details and registration here.

Survey on the UK government's sustainability and climate change draft strategy

At COP26, the UN Climate Conference held in Glasgow in November 2021, the UK government Department for Education launched their sustainability and climate change draft strategy. They are currently running an anonymous survey to gather feedback.

As a key stakeholder group, we strongly encourage UCU members to review the strategy and complete the feedback survey. Closing date for the feedback survey is 23:59 on Sunday 20 February.

With best wishes

UCU campaigns team