The Friday email: 27 March 2026

Northumbria University: strike action in dispute over pensions

Northumbria University UCU members held a rally this week, which attracted over 200 members and supporters in Newcastle. Northumbria UCU have also been on strike for three days as members protested management's attempt to rob them of their pension. They have already taken twelve days of action since February and will strike for five more in April if management refuses to enter meaningful negotiations to resolve the dispute.

The dispute is over management's decision to force staff out of the post-92 university standard pension, the Teacher's Pension Scheme, by freezing the pay of any staff member who tries to stay in it. Click here for the full story.

UCU demands urgent government action to protect university pensions

This week UCU called on ministers to take urgent action to safeguard pensions in higher education, warning that failure to act risks 'irreparable damage' to the sector. The call comes as universities including Southampton Solent, Northumbria, Sheffield Hallam, Staffordshire and London South Bank have all looked to downgrade staff pension benefits. UCU demands the government to:  

• rule out any legislative changes that would allow universities to opt out of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), which employers are lobbying for
• stop institutions using fire-and-rehire tactics to force staff out of TPS, and consider sanctioning employers for this anti-worker behaviour
• provide an emergency financial support package to help universities meet TPS contribution costs, similar to support already provided to schools and colleges.  

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.

News from institutions across the UK

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU): a ballot for industrial action opened this week at GCU over job cuts. The dispute is over management's plans announced to cut up to 100 posts through a targeted voluntary redundancy scheme in response to a predicted deficit of £10m.  The university is not currently in deficit. A joint union rally saw staff and students join together to voice their opposition to the cuts. NUS Scotland also issued a statement of support with university staff across Scotland.

London Metropolitan University: the dispute over job cuts and redundancies continues at London Met. Strike action will take place on 15-16, 21-23, 27-29 April, and action short of strike (ASOS) will commence on 6 April. The employer has not changed position substantially, so UCU members are moving to demonstrate their anger through industrial action.

Heriot-Watt University: Heriot-Watt UCU have been on strike this week (25-27 March), and will continue next week (30 March-1 April) in the dispute over job cuts. In connection to the wider dispute, Heriot-Watt UCU have also launched a campaign over the closure of German and Chinese undergraduate programmes in the department of Languages and Intercultural Studies (LINCS).  Please sign their petition here and find out more about the campaign here. The joint Heriot-Watt unions have also been gathering support for Scholar, a national digital learning service for Scotland, which is threatened with closure. Please add your voice here.

University of Sheffield International College (USIC): Staff have been on strike this week at USIC in a fight against a pay freeze; action will resume on 30 March and 1 April. Management told staff their cost of living pay increase, which had already been delayed by six months, would by 0% for the second year in a row. Despite freezing staff pay, Study Group CEO Ian Crichton took home over £600k in 2024, including a bonus of over £195k.

University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh UCU members will take strike action next week (30 March and 1 April) in a long running dispute over £140m cuts and up to 1,800 job losses. The union will be holding a rally on Wednesday 1 April at 12 noon at Bristo Square. Click here for the full story.

London South Bank University (LSBU): LSBU has threatened to put all its academic staff at risk of redundancy in a restructure that would divide the workforce into teaching or research streams. The threatened changes would degrade the terms and conditions of all staff and prevent new starters from accessing the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS). The university has also threatened to withdraw UCU's current bargaining rights for 'teaching only' academics at the university.

University of Sheffield: Sheffield UCU members have backed strike action after management refused to rule out further compulsory redundancies. The university is reviewing several academic departments and UCU believes this will lead to restructures and redundancies. Management now needs to begin negotiating meaningfully with the union over how it will protect jobs and student provision.

Sheffield Hallam University (SHU): SHU UCU members will begin voting to take strike action in a fight to protect their pensions. The ballot will run until Tuesday 5 May. Management's rationale for attacking jobs, terms, learning and working conditions is a supposed need to make £26.6m of cuts next year. Only teaching staff with significant responsibility for research would be left in TPS.

University of Leicester: UCU condemned plans to cut courses and accused Leicester management of significantly reducing the university's arts and humanities offering. Speaking to the BBC, UCU flagged potential job losses and said 'the decision to cut all programmes in these areas, in the middle of the UCAS admissions cycle, means Leicester will be rescinding offers to almost 300 students planning to start university in September 2026'.

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.

Survey of members' experience of racism

UCU is committed to ensuring that all members work in an environment that is free from discrimination and racism. This survey is designed to understand your experiences with racism in the union and your workplace. Your feedback will help us address these issues and work toward a more inclusive and equitable environment for everyone. Participation is voluntary, and your responses will be kept confidential. The survey will close on Thursday 30 April (17:00).

UCU responds to the Justice Committee Inquiry

The House of Commons Justice Committee recently launched a new Inquiry into Children and Young Adults in the Secure Estate, in both England and Wales (justice is not a devolved matter). We submitted a written response to this inquiry, which is embargoed by the Committee until they publish their report. We will upload UCU's response on our website when permitted.

March to stop the far right, Saturday 28 March

Together Alliance has organised a major national demonstration against the far right this 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.

The Friday email will return

Please note that there is no Friday email on Friday 3 April, which is a public holiday in the UK. We will return on Friday 10 April, and wish everyone a restful Easter break.