The Friday email: 20 March 2026

Industrial action at four universities in Scotland

UCU members have taken industrial action this week across four Scottish universities: Dundee, Aberdeen, Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt (shown in above photo) were on strike on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 March, as part of separate disputes with their employers. See coverage in STV.

Heriot-Watt UCU will be on strike for seven more days in March and April, while at Aberdeen  UCU took two days of strike action earlier in March. NUS Scotland have issued a solidarity message expressing support for striking staff.

In addition, UCU's call for universities to get emergency funding led the front page of The Herald in Scotland last week.

Meningitis outbreak in Kent

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the meningitis outbreak in Kent, especially the family and friends of two young people--a student at University of Kent and a sixth-form pupil--who lost their lives.

University of Kent has tried to minimise campus working, but Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) has refused to do so. This is despite a confirmed case at CCCU, and the anxiety caused to staff and students. UCU has written to members at CCCU to tell them it will back every member who wants to work remotely as meningitis cases continue to rise.

FE updates: Windsor Forest Colleges Group strike

UCU members at Windsor Forest Colleges Group took two days of strike action on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 March in their ongoing dispute regarding pay, as part of the New Deal for FE campaign. Windsor Forest Colleges Group includes Strode's College, Windsor College, Langley College, and the Berkshire College of Agriculture. Despite attempts by UCU to try to resolve the dispute, management are refusing to increase the 1.7% + £500 pay offer. See also coverage in BBC News.

New UCU reports on prison education

Earlier this month, UCU presented two new important reports on prison education at UK Parliament:

• The career experiences of Black prison educators
• The mental health and wellbeing of prison educators working in the UK

You can also watch UCU's short film accompanying the Black prison educators report. This week, Rachael Maskell MP took UCU's findings to UK Parliament and pushed the government to carry out 'a complete review of the prison education service to ensure it is fit for purpose and able to do the job it was designed for'.

News from universities across the UK

University of Essex: Essex UCU members have backed escalating strike action as they fight to save jobs, student provision and the Southend Campus. The vote comes after the university emailed dozens of staff to tell them their jobs were now safe, only for them to be emailed again three days later and told this was a mistake, and they are still in fact, at risk of redundancy. UCU is pressing the university to confirm how many staff are at risk, as numbers management has set out vary by more than 700 people.

Swansea University: Swansea UCU are balloting on industrial action over proposed redundancies that have placed over 200 staff at risk. Management has implemented a £30m savings plan with over £25m in staff savings. UCU is seeking a commitment to no compulsory redundancies which to date the university has refused to give.

London Metropolitan University: Industrial action ballot over job cuts and the threat of redundancies closed last week at a London Met. On a turnout of 51%, 90% voted for strike action and 94% voted for action short of a strike (ASOS).

Industrial action ballots are also ongoing at Sheffield, Edinburgh, Nottingham, and Goldsmiths. You can click here for developments at institutions across the UK, and click here to see recent wins and resolutions.

UCU rally in Newcastle, Wednesday 25 March

On Wednesday 25 March there will be a rally in Newcastle to support the fightbacks in higher education. Northumbria University UCU are currently taking part in strike action over attacks to their pension.

March meets up at Newcastle Civic Centre at 12:30, and leaves for Grey's Monument at 12:45 where there will be rally and speeches. Speakers include UCU general secretary Jo Grady, UCU president elect Dyfrig Jones, reps from Northumbria UCU, sister UCU branches also under attack and other trade unions. If local, or if your UCU branch can support, please do come along.

Ten principles for the use of AI in Post-16 education

We have launched ten principles for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in post-16 education. These principles set out how the introduction of AI technologies in education and research must be subject to consultation and agreement through recognised collective bargaining processes prior to implementation, due to their potential impact on working conditions, academic practice and staff roles. Click here for more information on UCU's Future of Work working group.

UCU's financial information statement

You can read a statement on the union's annual return for the year ended 31 August 2025 here, as required by Section 32A of Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. 

The statement also contains a notice to members in Great Britain who joined UCU on or after 1 March 2018 in respect of the union's political fund. More information about the political fund can be found here.

UCU anti-casualisation webinar: inequalities and unpaid work in academia

This webinar will take place on Wednesday 25 March (12:00). Two University of Edinburgh researchers will present findings from their recent project, In Their Own Time. The project explores the systemic expectations of unpaid labour that sustain ableist and gendered cultures within academia. We encourage all members to attend and you can register here.

UCU equality research conference

The UCU equality research conference will take place on Friday 15 May in a hybrid format (in-person at University of Manchester or Zoom). Registration to attend the conference is open until Wednesday 22 April.

UCU Scotland manifesto and elections hustings, Wednesday 1 April

UCU Scotland's manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections is available here. The manifesto highlights five key themes including: cuts and jobs crisis; governance reform; fair work; equality and inclusion to be at the heart of education; and ensuring professional autonomy and academic freedom. Branches and members are encouraged to use the document to question candidates locally.

All the main parties' higher education spokespersons will be attending our online hustings on Wednesday 1 April, 14:00. To attend and find out how to ask a question register here.

Demonstration in London, Saturday 21 March

The Stop the War coalition has organised a demonstration in central London, to take place on Saturday 21 March noon, regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran, Lebanon and Palestine. Click here for more information.

March to stop the far right, Saturday 28 March

Together Alliance has organised a major national demonstration against the far right on Saturday 28 March in central London, assembling in Park Lane. UCU will have a bloc on the demo, with flags and banners, so we can march together. For more details, to order publicity material and get details of transport from your area, please visit the Together Alliance website.