A rank and file conference is needed to bring together leftwing activists to develop a fighting policy

Goldsmith's lecturers are fighting cuts of up to 25% of academic staff.

Vote 'No' to consultation and 'Yes' to action.

By Dara O’Cogaidhin THE UCU strike has been called off following a campaign of anti-democratic, bureaucratic manoeuvring by General Secretary Jo Grady. After negotiations with the employers’ organisation UCEA, Grady informed members via Twitter that a ‘two week period of calm’ was agreed which would enable ‘intensive negotiations with the aim of reaching a final […]

The UCU took action in 150 universities in November.

Universities bulletin for 30 November 2022

Nurses, refuse collectors, youth workers, teachers, lecturers and civil servants are being balloted.

Political bulletin for 27 July 2022

UCU members at 33 further education (FE) colleges are taking part in a ballot for industrial action.

The Higher Education strike has seen vibrant picket lines and a fighting mood up and down the country.

THE UNIVERSITY and College Union (UCU) has confirmed a new wave of strike action at 68 universities in February and March. This follows the three-day strike last December in defence of their USS pension scheme and for better pay and working conditions. Since then, twelve further branches have beaten the anti-union legal threshold of 50% […]

The University and College Union (UCU) has confirmed a new wave of strike action at 68 universities in February and March.

University managers have resorted to the tried and tested tactic of divide and rule, attempting to whip up student hostility against staff.

Students and staff unite - for decent conditions on campus

Universities bulletin for 1 December 2021

By Urte March HIGHER EDUCATION workers in the University and College Union (UCU) are on strike from 1–3 December in a dispute over proposed pension cuts, pay and working conditions. Workers were balloted in October over cuts to the USS pension scheme for pre-1992 universities, and a sector-wide campaign over the ‘Four Fights’ – pay, […]

Universities bulletin for 16 November 2021

For parents', students' and teachers' control of health and safety in our schools.

Lectures and higher education workers are starting 14 days of strike action to defend pensions, pay and working conditions

University and College Union (UCU) Higher Education members have voted for industrial action in two ballots over pensions and over pay, casualisation, equality and workloads. In the ballots 53 per cent of members voted, winning 79 per cent and 74 per cent majorities respectively for action. The 43 universities that met the 50 per cent […]

Over the past seven years cleaners and security guards at London’s most prestigious universities have been fighting a relentless and courageous struggle for basic rights: the London Living Wage, sickness, holiday and maternity pay, workplace conditions, and end to contracting out and union recognition.

Recent victories show what is possible. Now activists should link up with other unions and build for joint strike action across the sector.

By Rebecca Anderson DELEGATES TO UCU’s 2018 congress witnessed an unprecedented attack on their democratic rights by the union leadership. Officials repeatedly suspended conference when delegates refused to withdraw motions critical of the union leadership’s behaviour during the recent 14-day pensions strike.  The strike ended with members voting to accept a deal, which puts off […]

Up and down the country university workers are holding meetings and rallies to reject the proposed deal proposed between the UCU and university employers. Dozens of branches have already voted to reject the deal before a meeting of the union’s Higher Education Committee this afternoon. The proposed deal agreed between the UCU and UUK is […]

MEMBERS OF the University College Union (UCU) have smashed through the government’s strike ballot threshold to declare their support for industrial action over devastating cuts to their pension scheme. Eighty-eight per cent voted to strike after the government announced cuts that would cost the average lecturer £200,000 in retirement. Strikes After the result, announced on […]

By Jeremy Dewar TORY CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond is a modern man. He believes that driving a train is so easy that “even a woman could do it”. He also believes that 5 million public sector workers are “overpaid”. And he certainly believes that the 1 per cent public sector pay cap should be retained. He’s […]

  By KD Tait The ritual central London march for free education, a staple of the student activist’s Autumn calendar for 15 years, has been called for 19 November by a coalition of student campaigns under the slogan ‘no to debt, no to fees – yes to free education’. The defeat of the 2010 student […]

By Jeremy Dewar Like many further education establishments, Lambeth College is facing devastating cuts. Unlike most, however, its workforce has come out fighting – in an all-out indefinite strike. Teachers in the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) have been on strike since 3 June, demanding the withdrawal of new contracts which will, with no extra […]

THE 28 MARCH strike by London schools and colleges showed just how impressive a nation-wide strike could have been. Around 1,500 schools were shut down or severely disrupted, while almost all colleges and most ‘new’ universities faced chaos or closure. Ten thousand marched in central London, bringing traffic to a halt and cheers from passers-by. […]

University lecturers are preparing to strike against a massive attack on their pensions. Across the public sector, the Con-Dem government are tearing up existing pension agreements (see article on Hutton Report). But so far it’s only the lecturers who have balloted for action. Over 60% voted to strike, with just over 50% also voting to […]