Strikes across four of Scotland’s Universities

UCU Scotland members took taking strike action this week across four of Scotland’s universities, reported BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio Scotland, ITV News and multiple local TV and radio stations. The industrial action impacted Aberdeen, Dundee, Heriot-Watt and Strathclyde universities.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady told The National: “The jobs crisis in Scotland’s universities is a result of a decade of underfunding. Poor management decisions, changing immigration rules and fluctuations in international student recruitment have all played their part, but the key contributor to the current crisis is ongoing government underfunding. Jobs are now under threat as fixed-term contracts end without renewal and universities threaten hundreds of redundancies.”

Jo told the Daily Record: “There has never been a time when so many jobs are on the line. In turn this is leading to staff being forced to strike and join picket lines to defend their jobs and to oppose cuts.”

UCU Scotland Official Mary Senior was interviewed by ITV News and said that we would be looking for political parties to commit to funding the sector as we begin to enter election period.

Email blunder plunges university into new row over job cuts

18 Health and Social Care lecturers at the Southend campus believing their positions were secure, only to learn days later they remained under threat of redundancy, reported GB News, MSN UK and ITV Lunchtime and Morning News.

Jo Grady told the Southend Echo: “It is outrageous that staff were wrongly told their jobs are safe. It shows how chaotic and badly managed this whole redundancy process has been. Management needs to stop trying to rush through these disastrous cuts and work with us to protect the university’s future.”

Jo told Essex Live: “Our members are on picket lines again this week because they refuse to let management axe jobs, decimate provision, and shut down the only higher education institution in the city of Southend. It’s time for a drastic change of heart before the reputation of the university as a reputable institution is lost forever.”

Four colleges take strike action over pay

Staff from the Windsor Forest Colleges Group – which includes Strode’s College, Windsor College, Langley College, and the Berkshire College of Agriculture – have taken part in a two-day strike after rejecting a pay offer of 1.7%, reported BBC News.

Jo Grady told the outlet: ” Our members are struggling to make ends meet…and we will be forced to escalate the dispute and strike later this month, unless management comes back to the table with an improved offer that recognises the excellent education and training their staff provide to students across Berkshire and Surrey.”

UCU backs home working during meningitis outbreak.

As the number of people affected by a meningitis outbreak in Kent rose to 27, UCU called on the University of Canterbury Christ Church to allow staff to work remotely, reported the Morning Star.

Jo Grady told The Telegraph: “As the union representing university staff, we have told every one of our members at CCCU we will back their decision to work remotely if they do not feel safe. We are calling on university management to take a precautionary approach and reassure staff and students in writing that they will face no disciplinary action whatsoever if they choose to stay off campus.”

Jo told Times Higher: “All universities across the UK need to work with union health and safety reps and reassure their staff and student bodies they are monitoring the situation closely and taking every precaution to ensure campuses remain safe.”

Almost half of prison teachers ‘at risk of depression’, study finds

Prison teachers have such stressful jobs that 45 per cent “are at risk of probable clinical depression”, a survey has found. Nearly nine in ten report high levels of stress, while more than a third have taken time off for work-related mental health issues in the past three years. The study, titled ‘The Mental Health and Wellbeing of Prison Educators Working in the UK’, was commissioned by UCU, reported Inside Time.

Rachael Maskell MP raised the report in 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.”

University of Essex strikes escalate over campus closure & job cuts
UCU members at the University of Essex were on picket lines this week in a fight to save Southend Campus and hundreds of jobs, reported BBC Breakfast, BBC News at One, ITV News and local TV and radio stations.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady told the Gazette, the Echo and the Standard: “University staff are back out on strike in an attempt to rescue the University of Essex from the ruinous path management is taking. We won’t allow senior managers at the university to decimate the staff body, harm student learning, and shut down the only higher education provision in the city of Southend.”

Spring Statement ‘betrayed the millions of graduates drowning in debt’
UCU accused Labour of “betraying” graduates after Chancellor Rachel Reeves declined to make any changes to student loan repayments in her Spring Statement, reported GB News.
Jo Grady told the channel, Times Higher and the Morning Star: Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer have betrayed the millions of graduates drowning in debt by refusing to lift a finger to help them. “Decades of enforced pay deductions cause real harm, undermine the social contract between a government and its citizens, and inflict lasting damage on the country’s growth,” she continued. “Labour needs to fix this mess by ending the debt burden and addressing the root cause of the crisis: an outdated and under-resourced higher education funding model.”

UCU condemns strikes on Iran
UCU general secretary Jo Grady signed a joint statement opposing the “illegal war” against Iran, reported the Morning Star:
“Reports of Iranian civilian casualties, including students and schoolchildren, are deeply disturbing and require urgent, independent investigation. We oppose any attacks on civilians and stand against all unlawful wars. We fear that an attack on Iran will have devastating global consequences, from regional instability to surging oil prices that will hurt working people everywhere. We oppose any direct or indirect participation by the UK in this conflict and call for an immediate return to diplomacy.”

More than 2,000 oppose Heriot-Watt University cuts
More than 2,000 people have signed a petition opposing cuts to a Scottish university’s language programme, reported The Herald.
Jo Grady told the outlet and the Morning Star: “The attack on languages in our universities is wrong. To cut back on the teaching of German and Chinese makes no sense educationally, culturally or economically. Members at Heriot-Watt are deciding the next steps in this dispute but I’m clear that saving jobs will be a major part of the union’s action.”

Glasgow Caledonian University to axe 100 jobs
Glasgow Caledonian University is planning to axe 100 jobs in a bid to close a £10m black hole, reported Yahoo News.
Jo Grady told the outlet and the Daily Record: “Today’s news will be deeply worrying for staff at the university and for students too. Equally worrying is that the principal is already suggesting that there might be compulsory redundancies. The union will support the branch at GCU in whatever steps they take, but we’re clear that the use of compulsory redundancies is unacceptable.”

UCU slams government for ‘immoral’ ban on study visas from four countries
Responding to the government’s decision to halt study visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, Jo Grady told Left Foot Forward: “This attack on international students isn’t really about reducing asylum claims, it’s about aping Reform to try and win back votes. The Green’s destruction of Labour in the Gorton and Denton by-election should have been a wakeup call – these tactics aren’t just immoral; they’re political suicide. Labour needs to stop trying to outflank Reform on division and bigotry. It should instead make the case for a welcoming and economically strong Britain, of which international students and a world-leading higher education sector are an integral part.”

University of South Wales to cut hundreds of jobs
The University of South Wales (USW) says it is cutting a further 200 jobs in response to problems facing the higher education sector, reported BBC News.
USW UCU chair Estelle Hart told the outlet the announcement had “caused considerable shock and worry for staff at USW who have been given a matter of weeks to make life-changing decisions or find themselves at risk of redundancy”.
UCU Cymru support official Peter Hill told Wales Online: “University of South Wales staff will be shocked by the scale of this announcement. UCU Cymru will work closely with the branch to defend jobs, quality, and the student interest.”

Northumbria University staff announce 10 more days of strike action in pensions row
UCU members at Northumbria University have confirmed that they will take another 10 days of strike action, as a dispute over a “pension grab” continues, reported The Chronicle.
UCU Northumbria chair Adam Hansen told the paper the strike was a “last resort” and that union members “are saying they want to carry on the action, reluctantly but necessarily”.

Thank you to all members who attended the general meeting of 4th March to give an update on various matters, including TCP, Hybrid Working Policy, and Pay Deferral.

Slides for that meeting can be viewed here.

The branch held a General Meeting to update members on progress in the Transformational Change Programme, as well as concerning developments over the closure of courses announced immediately after the Christmas and New Year break, despite assurances from management made just prior to the break.

You can view presentation slides here.

Members were updated on the outcome of the recent national ballot. Whilst there was a strong vote for industrial action, the mandatory participation threshold wasn’t reached. The vote therefore will not lead to industrial action. UCU now intend to consult on next steps.

The Actinng Vice President also apprised members of the current status of TCP and the plans to launch online learning with an external provider.

Members also passed a motion authorising the payment of £500 into the University of Sheffield Hardship Fund in solidarity.

Slides from the meeting can be viewed here.

HQ have recently fielded a number of queries from branch oficials asking for help in answering member queries about their USS pension in relation to job threats and the risk of redundancy at their institution.

The pension officer has circulated the following Q&A’s commonly asked about in this regard; they are published here for your information and guidance.

Can I access my USS pension if made redundant?

Normal USS rules for accessing your pension apply whether you resign, accept voluntary redundancy or are made compulsory redundant. You must be over age 55 (increasing to 57 in 2028) to access your pension and if you are under normal pension age – 60 for pre-2011 service, 60 or 63.5 for service between 2011 and 2020, 65 from 2020 to 2022 and 66 from 2022- early retirement factors will apply where your pension is reduced for claiming it early.

Exception – If a member has a Protected Pension Age (PPA) they may be eligible to access their pension from age 50.

Protected Pension Age Criteria for eligibility

If you are aged 50 or more, with five years’ service, are made redundant and you have been paying into USS continuously since 5 April 2006, you will be entitled to access your pension from age 50. Source – https://www.uss.co.uk/financial-advisers

Can I get redundancy and ill-health retirement?

In order to get ill-health retirement as an active member, you must be under normal pension age (66), be paying into USS for at least two years and suffer from a long-term illness in the view of your employer and USS. You will not be considered for ill-health retirement if you have left your job for any reason other than your illness. Redundancy is not normally considered as a reason for leaving other than your illness.

Active & Proportionate Indexation

Under Rule 10 of the USS Scheme Rules, your pension is increased each year by inflation under what we know as the Soft Cap. When you retire on a date other than 31 March, USS must apply a scheme rule to calculate your pension entitlement. This date can have a negative or positive impact on your pension.

Essentially, if you are made redundant on 30 March 2026 or before, USS will apply an inflation rate of 1.7% (CPI value at Sept. 2024) to your pension entitlement up to the date of leaving. If you are made redundant on 31 March 2026 or after, USS will apply an inflation rate of 3.8% (CPI value at Sept. 2025) to your pension entitlement.

Is it better to leave at the start or end of the month?

Members can get a small benefit if they leave early in a month rather than at the end. If a redundancy date is in the first part of the month, their pension indexation prior to leaving will be estimated as if they left at the end of that month. So a member leaving on 31 March 2026 will have pension indexation up to date of leaving calculated until 31 March 2026 while a member leaving on 01 April will have pension calculated until 30 April 2026.

Pre-2011 Service and 60th Birthday

There is a group of members known as ‘exempt members’ who retain age 63 ½ (or earlier Contracted Pension Age) in respect of service from 1 April 1995 onwards. Exempt members are final salary members who were members on 30 September 2011 and aged 55 or over at 1 October 2011, and were exempt from the changes to Normal Pension Age – to broadly align with state pension age from 01 October 2011.

Basically, if you are an exempt member, have this pre-2011 service and access your pension before age 60, early retirement factors apply. These reductions are significant and can reduce your pre-2011 service by up to 18%.

For further advice

You can read more on UCU website by following this link, or alternatively email any questions you have to pensions@ucu.org.uk.

China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research

UCU said it was incredibly worrying that Sheffield Hallam appeared to have attempted to silence its own professor, reported BBC News 24.

The union commented after documents seen by the BBC showed China waged a campaign of harassment and intimidation directed at the university to get it to shut down sensitive research into alleged human rights abuses.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady told BBC News: “It is incredibly worrying that Sheffield Hallam appears to have attempted to silence its own professor on behalf of a foreign government. Given the censorship Hallam has seemingly engaged in, it now needs to set out how it will ensure its academics will be supported to research freely and protected from overreach by foreign powers.”

Modern languages, music and nursing among course cuts at Nottingham

All modern language and music courses are being suspended for new students at the University of Nottingham, reported BBC News.

UCU Nottingham vice president Andreas Bieler told the outlet and The Times that the union ” will contest the closures of these programmes” through industrial action.

He added “If you suspend undergraduate programmes, then redundancies are on the cards very clearly. Our university prides itself as a global institution, but by cutting all modern language programmes it’s turning into the University of Little England.”

Staff are on strike next week.

Dundee University staff to strike for five days over job cuts

Staff at Dundee University will strike for five days next week over the institution’s plan to cut jobs, reported BBC News.

UCU Dundee branch co-president Melissa D’Ascenzio told the outlet: “News that further job cuts are coming is just another shocking revelation in a year when staff have been told one thing only to be then told something different over the number of jobs to be cut and the need for compulsory redundancies.”

Jo Grady told The Standard: It’s galling that, once again, staff hear about more job cuts in the Parliament and in the media.”

Lancaster University staff work to rule over job cuts

Lancaster University staff will begin action short of a strike on Monday over plans to axe one in four staff.

Jo Grady told The Lancashire Telegraph and Lancaster Guardian: “Staff are working to rule in a battle to protect Lancaster University from the devastating cuts management is attempting to inflict. It is completely unacceptable to embark upon such a destructive programme of cuts, all while directing money to vanity projects abroad. Management must now open the books, tell us how many millions it has earmarked for a new campus halfway around the world, and work with us to protect jobs and student provision here in Lancaster.”

Northumbria to freeze pay if staff refuse TPS-USS pension switch

Northumbria University is threatening to move existing academic employees from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme to the Universities Superannuation Scheme in an attempt to save up to £11 million annually. Any staff member refusing to move schemes will have their pay frozen.

UCU regional support official Jon Bryan told Times Higher: “Our position is clear, members’ pensions are deferred and hard-earned pay, and an integral part of members’ terms and conditions. UCU will not allow management to impose changes that will rip staff off, either by reducing pensions or by reducing pay. Any changes must be negotiated and agreed with us. Our members will be meeting as a matter of urgency to discuss next steps.”

At a well attended meeting, members were apprised of developments in respect of the Transformational Change Programme.

The slides of the meeting can be viewed here.

The branch have particular concerns over the potential impact of the Technicians review. Whilst UCU is not directly represented in the group, it is recognised that there may be fall out that affects UCU members working in labs and workshops as levels of support will be impacted.

Members were encouraged to attend the open launch meeting for technicians immediately after the EGM to show support and perhaps challenge aspects of the review from an academic perspective.

The next major phases will be Estates and IT Services, the latter where UCU is well represented. Current expectation is that those phases will start early 2026.

Motion
The UCU Bradford LA calls upon management to:

• Reconsider its damaging decision to defer this years’ pay award for 11
  months
• Provide assurances that pay deferral will not be employed again during
  the period of the 5-year plan.
• Provide assurances over commitment to Real Living Wage awards
  The UCU Bradford LA calls upon the branch committee to start the
  process of launching a dispute with the employer on the above terms

The motion was passed overwhelmingly.

With the ‘We ARE the University’ national ballot underway, all members are urged to make their voice heard by participating; not to do so damages your union both at national and local level.

UCU urges you to vote YES as it fights on your behalf not just on pay, but also a range of national agreements that are now under threat and could have a direct and detrimental impact on your terms and conditions of employment.

UCU also calls upon the employer to reach a national agreement to avoid redundancies, course closures, and cuts to academic disciplines.

Whatever your views, you owe it to yourself and your colleagues to participate in the ballot to ensure that it is valid, whatever the outcome.

At a well attended EGM members were brought further up to date with movement in respect of Transformational Change Programme.

You can see the slide presentation via this link.

Motion 1 called for a pause in the development of a partnership arrangement for the delivery of on-line learning programmes, arguing that there is potential to save jobs by building capacity within the institution and using existing expertise.

The motion was passed with no objections.

In addition, committee member Colins Imoh was nominated by show of hands as branch delegate at the upcoming Black Members Standing Committee meeting.