The Friday email: 1 May 2026

International Workers' Day and International Workers' Memorial Day

May Day, also known as International Workers' Day, is a chance for the labour movement across the world to celebrate the core values that trade unionists stand for. One hundred years ago, on 3 May 1926, millions of workers across the UK took part in the 1926 General Strike. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has brought together resources marking the centenary of the General Strike.

On 28 April 2026, UCU also commemorated the International Workers' Memorial Day, to remember those who were injured or tragically lost their lives due to work. This year's focus is on psychosocial hazards including work-related stress, insecurity, harassment and the abuse of technology and surveillance.

News from universities across the UK

University of Aberdeen: Aberdeen UCU have been on strike after management rejected an offer made by the university's UCU branch. UCU's offer, which could have meant the action being suspended, would have seen management not place any staff at risk of redundancy for six months and instead seek savings by voluntary means or from non-staff budgets.

Southampton Solent University: Solent UCU are taking a further five days of strike action in the fight to protect their Teachers' Pensions (30 April, 5-8 May). Solent 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 TPS. Staff who refuse to be transferred will be sacked with no notice pay or compensation. You can support Solent UCU by signing this petition.

University of Nottingham: Following their strong ballot result Nottingham UCU have given notice to begin significant action. A marking and assessment boycott begins on 20 May along with other ASOS and strike action on 22 May. This is in response to the reported 600+ at risk of redundancy that may be confirmed on 6 May as part of phase 2 restructuring. Last year 350 staff left by voluntary means. The UCU branch won a commitment of no compulsory redundancies up to October 2026. However the University are refusing to commit to anything beyond this date. Instead they are coming in with swathes of potential job losses, as well as increasing SSR and reducing research time. The branch suspect 41 'suspended' courses will be permanently closed; this will see the East Midlands being bereft of language and music courses as well as many other areas including some in nursing. The chief executive on the local NHS hospital trust has written to the University to say that the course closures could be a potential risk to children's health. The University are making these cuts with the aim of having a bigger surplus. The branch have been calling on the University to halt these plans and to get round the table. You can donate to Nottingham UCU's hardship fund here.

Ulster University: Ulster is set to make up to 450 staff redundant. Staff were told that the university needed to make savings of about £25m, and were moved by the number of students who reached out to express their shock, anger, and solidarity. Click here for coverage on BBC News and UCU's statement. You can sign the petition opposing the cuts.

London South Bank University: UCU is holding an industrial action ballot over management's plans to divide the workforce into two different 'pathways' with different contracts, to make staff redundant, and to undermine of collective bargaining. The ballot opens on 1 May and closes on 22 May. UCU's key objective is to get the employer to halt their damaging proposals. Given the issues at stake, LSBU members are urged to vote early and in numbers.

Queen Margaret University: QMU UCU members are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over jobs, working conditions and changes to working practices. The ballot will run until 21 May. Management have announced their intention to seek savings of £4m from staff costs across 2026-27 and 2027-28.

Glasgow Caledonian University: GCU UCU members have backed possible strikes over jobs cuts and compulsory redundancies. On a turnout of 69%, 79% backed strike action and 93% backed action short of a strike (ASOS). The campus has also seen well-attended demonstrations by staff and students opposing the cuts. Management is planning to cut up to 100 posts as they predict a deficit of £10m, despite the fact that the university is not currently in deficit.

University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh UCU members begin a marking and assessment boycott as part of a dispute over cuts, hidden redundancies and the lack of meaningful consultation. The decision to move to a boycott was backed in a vote by members after managers refused to rule out using compulsory redundancies. Members also backed industrial action over the coming year as they are determined to defend jobs and protect the future of Edinburgh.

University of Dundee: Dundee UCU members are being re-balloted for industrial action in a long running dispute over cuts and the threat of compulsory redundancies. The dispute started in November 2024 and is now in its eighteenth month. Since that announcement over 600 staff have left the university and a voluntary redundancy scheme recently closed which will take the number to over 750. Management are still refusing to rule out using compulsory redundancies.

Northumbria University: UCU members at Northumbria University were on strike over their 'pension theft'. 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 are very much appreciated.

University of Chichester: New Chichester staff are no longer allowed onto the industry standard pension schemes, leaving them much poorer in retirement. Without any meaningful consultation, from 15 April, Chichester stopped employing all new staff directly. Instead, it has created a company to employ them through, which prevents access to the industry standard Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS).  

University of Leicester: Leicester UCU 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. Details of how to donate to the Leicester fighting fund can be found here.

University of Essex: Essex UCU have been on strike in a fight to save jobs, protect course provision and keep the university's Southend campus open. The strike and protest come after more than 400 staff overwhelmingly passed a motion of no confidence in the vice-chancellor and university's senior leadership team.

London Metropolitan University: the dispute over job cuts and redundancies continued at London Met and members were on strike on 21-23, 27-29 April.

England further education pay claim 2026-27 and parliamentary lobby

This joint England FE trade unions' pay claim (2026/27) has been submitted by UCU and sister unions to the employers' representative Association of Colleges (AoC). You can read the full pay claim here. Talks will take place in June and July 2026.

In addition, UCU held a UK parliamentary lobby last 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.

Windsor Forest Colleges Group strike action

UCU members across all four college sites (Langley College, Windsor College, Berkshire College of Agriculture, Strode's College) will take a further day of strike action on 6 May in the fight for better pay and conditions. 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

UCU's Anti-casualisation committee (ACC) 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 ACC meeting in February 2027. To express your interest or request more information, please write to the equalities mailbox. The nomination deadline is Wednesday 3 June.

Webinar on 'open-ended' contracts with an end date

On Wednesday 13 May (12:00-13:00), the UCU anti-casualisation committee (ACC) will host a webinar on so-called 'open-ended' contracts that in practice include end dates. Many higher education institutions use such contracts--often labelled 'open-ended with an at-risk or review date' or 'subject to funding'--which typically offer little more security than fixed-term roles. Ian Higham will discuss the LSE UCU branch's work challenging their use, including how employers report them as 'permanent' to obscure casualisation. He will also explore their expansion to research and teaching staff, share issues raised by other branches, and invite participants to contribute experiences and ideas for further analysis. You can register for this online webinar here.

Contracted out of the Additional State Pension

We have recently had a number of queries from members who have pre-2016 pension benefits but who have been adversely impacted by Contracted out of the Additional State Pension. Please click here for more information.

UCU statement on Golders Green attack

UCU stands in solidarity with Jewish communities following the horrific attack in Golders Green in London. UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Our union is horrified by the attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green and our thoughts go out to them and their families'. Click here for the full statement.

Sussex ruling shows why OfS has lost sector's trust

UCU welcomed a High Court ruling that overturns the Office for Students' (OfS) £585k fine imposed on the University of Sussex for breaching free speech regulations.

The union said the judgment raises serious questions about the role of OfS and the way it has intervened in institutional decision-making on contested issues in higher education. Click here for statement from UCU general secretary Jo Grady.