The Friday email: 24 April 2026

A New Deal for FE hits Westminster

UCU held a great UK parliamentary lobby this week, which focussed on UCU's central demands in the New Deal for FE campaign: pay parity with schoolteachers, workload agreements, and binding national bargaining. Reps from colleges all over England met a dozen MPs, all supportive of our campaign and they will now be taking up UCU's case in parliament.

As a reminder, the joint union national claim has been submitted to the employer body, the Association of Colleges.

Pay talks start in June and we will keep you updated.

Stop 450 redundancies at Ulster University

Staff at Ulster University have been moved by the number of students who have reached out to express their shock, anger, and solidarity following last week's announcement that the university is seeking to make up to 450 staff redundant. Find out more here and sign the petition opposing the cuts.

Northumbria UCU reaches 20 days of strike action

This week UCU members at Northumbria University took five further days of strike action over their 'pension theft', bringing the total number of strike days to twenty. The branch continues to show strength in taking action and is gaining support and solidarity. The union is correcting the narrative about 'choice' and 'debate' through articles such as this one: 'Jumping from the TPS to USS is not a choice we should be asked to make'. Donations to the local hardship fund (however small) are very much appreciated.

Resounding ballot result at University of Nottingham

Members at University of Nottingham have sent a clear message to senior leaders in response to plans to sack potentially hundreds of staff, after 76% of members voted for strike action on an incredible 64% turnout. After more than 350 employees left in a previous redundancy exercise, UCU is yet to find out how many will leave in the latest cull, but fear it could reach well over 500.

The university is refusing to rule out compulsory redundancies past October 2026. Closing multiple courses and some disciplines will leave the East Midlands bereft of any language provision. Details of swift and significant action will be confirmed soon.  

More walkouts at Southampton Solent in defence of pensions

UCU members will be taking a further five days of strike action in the fight to protect their TPS pensions. Members will be standing on picket lines on 30 April, 5, 6, 7 and 8 May. The university is proposing to move all academic staff to employment through a sham subsidiary company, Solent University Services Ltd, on 1 July 2026, which will force them out of the TPS pension scheme. Staff who refuse to be transferred will be sacked with no notice pay or compensation.

University of Leicester fighting fund

Following sustained action short of a strike (ASOS), 28 strike days in the first semester and a successful re-ballot in February 2026, members at Leicester will recommence ASOS on 27 April and will be taking strike action on 5, 11 and 18 May to stop cuts associated with the merger of Chemistry with Geography, Geology and the Environment, as well as cuts and downgrading of professional services in College Operations and Technical and Research Infrastructure Support. An announcement of further cuts in other areas of professional services are anticipated over the summer, while all academic schools have been tasked with preparing a plan to increase their 'contribution rate'. Details of how to donate to the Leicester fighting fund can be found here.

Further walkout over derisory pay award at Windsor Forest Colleges Group 

UCU members across all four college sites (Langley College, Windsor College, Berkshire College of Agriculture and Strode's College) will take a further day of strike action on 6 May in the fight for better pay and conditions as part of the New Deal for FE campaign. The college has refused to improve its derisory pay award of 1.7% +£500 for the current year, despite repeated attempts by the UCU branch to re-engage in meaningful negotiations.   

Calling all casualised members 

The Anti-Casualisation Committee is seeking members to co-opt for 2026/27. If you are a casualised member (especially ACE, ARPs, PGR, Prison, FE) and would like to help shape the union's approach to challenging and resisting casualisation, we encourage you to get involved.

We are also keen to encourage participation from members across different regions and nations, to ensure the committee reflects the full breadth of experiences within the union.

The committee is mindful of ensuring representation across UCU's equality strands, and we especially welcome expressions of interest from members from underrepresented groups. Please note that no one is required to disclose any protected characteristics as part of this process.

The position runs until the annual meeting in February 2027. To express your interest or request more information, please email: eqadmin@ucu.org.uk. The nomination deadline is 3 June 2026

Last chance: UCU survey of members' experience of racism

UCU is committed to putting equality at the heart of everything we do. We have a proud history of challenging racism across further and higher education, and of reflecting critically on our own structures and practices to ensure that our anti-racist work is meaningful, effective and accountable.

Working alongside the national executive committee (NEC) and the Black members' standing committee (BMSC), UCU have developed a survey to better understand members' experiences of UCU and of their working lives. You can complete the survey here. The survey will close on Thursday 30 April at 17:00. All responses will be confidential, and participation is entirely voluntary.