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.

Labour announces new international student levy at conference
BBC Westminster Hour opened its coverage of Labour Conference on Sunday evening by interviewing UCU general secretary Jo Grady. Jo said people are calling on Starmer to step down because he hasn’t done enough to help working-class communities.
On Monday, Jo spent the hour with Iain Dale on LBC Cross Question reacting to the Education Secretary’s speech and going toe-to-toe with minister Jacqui Smith. Jo told LBC “The funding system is completely unfit for purpose.”
In response to Bridget Phillipson’s speech, Jo told The Guardian and The Times “Treating international students as cash cows to fund maintenance grants amounts to robbing Peter to pay Paul. Instead of attacking foreign students, the Labour government should be fixing our colleges and universities through huge public investment.”
On Tuesday, Jo reacted to Keir Starmer’s keynote address with Sophy Ridge on Sky News. She told Ridge “50% of FE lecturers leave within three years. In HE, thousands of redundancies are looming. If Labour are serious, we need commitments: close the pay gap, stop the cuts, and invest in education. Otherwise, today’s speech is hollow.”

UCU to ballot 10,000 college staff for strikes at 68 colleges in England
Around 10,000 staff at colleges in England will be balloted for strike action, reported The Independent.
Jo Grady told the outlet, MSN, Yahoo and The Evening Standard “It is unacceptable that following years of pay degradation, college staff are expected to stomach further real-terms pay cuts, while at the same time dealing with ever-higher workloads. The Prime Minister said this week that Labour wants to put further education on an equal footing with higher education, but this will be impossible unless the Government tackles the issues causing half of college teachers to leave the sector within three years.”

Third of women report facing sexual harassment at university
One in three female students say they have endured sexual harassment during their time at university or college, with most of it taking place around campus, according to data published by England’s higher education regulator.
Jo Grady told The Guardian “These shocking figures expose just how widespread sexual harassment and assault are in our universities, with one in four students reporting harassment and one in seven experiencing assault. No one should have to fear abuse, yet institutions are still failing to protect them. It is a national scandal, and vice-chancellors cannot keep turning a blind eye. This demands urgent, sector-wide reform and accountability. Students and staff deserve safe campuses, not excuses.”

New analysis shows Scottish universities facing funding crisis
The horrendous financial position of Scotland’s universities and colleges has been laid bare in incredibly stark new analysis from Scotland’s funding authority, reported The Scotsman.
UCU Scotland official Mary Senior told the paper “The Scottish Government needs to do something significant in the Scottish budget this year…It is clear the marketised approach, which has to rely on commercial income and international tuition fees to prop up is just not working.”
Mary also sounded the alarm on BBC Radio Scotland, telling the station “University staff are living this crisis day to day. It’s unsustainable. We need more public funding, not hidden redundancies and derisory pay awards.”

Teesside told to rethink plans to cut research-focused roles
Teesside University has been warned that it risks losing “years of experience” if it follows through with plans to cut senior academic roles. A planned restructure at the university will see it remove 39 principal lecturer posts across four different schools, reported Times Higher.
Jo Grady told the outlet “Teesside University must urgently rethink these plans and work with us to find an alternative to job losses. Management needs to allow time for genuine negotiations or risk serious disruption on campus at a crucial time of year.”
A university spokesperson said that its review of principal lecturer roles has been “carefully developed to align with the university’s strategy and objectives and to provide leadership roles in the most appropriate areas.”

Leicester staff & students ‘fight for future of university’ amid threat to degrees
Striking staff at the University of Leicester say they are not just fighting for their jobs but for the very future of the institution as entire degrees face the axe, reported The Leicester Mercury.
UCU member James Pickering told the paper he and his colleagues are “upset” and “disappointed” by the threat to their area. He added: “It just feels to me like they’re sort of forgetting what the university is. I’m meant to be giving three lectures today, right? They’re not happening.

The branch wishes to thank all the members that made time to attend the EGM.

After a good comradely and constructive discussion the decision was made to accept the heads of terms and stand down the scheduled eight days of action (Wednesday 24th to Friday 3rd October).

This does NOT mean that the branch will not re-schedule action if it believes that the employer is not following the heads of terms or members are threatened with compulsory redundancies in Phase Three.
These heads of terms go a very significant way to reaching the branches aim of no compulsory redundancies.

But as a branch we still have much work to do both in protecting our members who are/will be at risk, and also about challenging the employer on both the direction of its strategy and its behaviour.

The branch also passed a motion expressing support and a donation of £500 for the University of Leicester UCU branch in their dispute.

You can view EGM slides here.

Members can be assured that local negotiators have been working to the very last minute to try and achieve an acceptable deal.

Very late on Friday 19th Sept a meeting was held with management and we can confirm that following the conclusion of those latest talks your negotiators believe that enough progress has been made to allow postponement of strike action scheduled for Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd September.

This delay has been agreed to allow time for a further meeting with members of the executive board on Monday 22nd to agree the terms of a ‘principles of agreement’. If successful, this agreement will be presented to members at an Extraordinary General Meeting on Tuesday 23rd in the afternoon (time TBC) for their consideration/approval.

Please note that until the branch has approved the principles strike action remains ON for the remaining eight days.

We are sorry if this causes any inconvenience but we hope that members will appreciate the hard work and commitment to negotiations that hopefully means that we are close to us reaching a possible deal

Today’s EGM was called to update members on recent meetings with management and plans for upcoming industrial (strike) action.

The employer has made some concessions, but we still have 47 members at risk and the employer insisting on a reduction of 9 FTE from Phase Two Academic.
UCU have repeatedly made the point that there is a considerable work for these staff to do – perhaps new work, perhaps work in different programmes – and that other staff will be leaving the university whether via VR, VRHS, resignation, retirement etc.

To continue with an expansion and harmful selection process is not needed and it would be in everyone’s benefit for this matter to be resolved.

Local negations have made it clear that they would be willing to speak to the employer at any time before, or during, strike action if we can resolve this dispute – they just need to make the phone call.

UCU do not consider that the gap between the two parties is that large, it is surmountable if the employer just shows some willing to be creative.

we are all in it together, whatever our job role, whatever workstream we are in.

The clear mood of members was that we must stand together and defend each other, whatever our job role, whatever workstream we are in. Not just for the 47 still at risk, but also the staff in workstreams still to come and those that have happened but may be at risk in the future.

To that end the branch continues with its intentions to take strike action over the next 10 working days.

We will be picketing 08:00-11:00 each day next week. Please come to the Richmond Road Atrium entrance. We will have a rally 11:30-12:30 on Monday 22nd September. (Picket times for week two will be provided next week). You can view the strike pack here.

The branch has also endorsed an increase in the number of days that members can claim from the local hardship fund to 5 days (with another 8 days able to be claimed from the national Fighting Fund). You can claim from the local fund by emailing a scan of your payslip showing strike deductions, your membership number and bank details for payment of strike pay to ucusupport@bradford.ac.uk

It is essential that members give the Executive Board a lot to think about on Monday so please make every effort to attend the picket. Let’s make some noise!

You can view slides from the EGM here.

 I am writing to confirm your elected representatives on UCU’s higher education committee (HEC) has voted to call an industrial action ballot over pay for all members covered by the JNCHES negotiating umbrella.

The ballot comes after HEC representatives considered the results of the consultative electronic ballot on the higher education pay and working conditions 2025/26 final offer from the employers’ representative Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA).   

The pay element of UCEA’s offer is a 1.4% increase, which is below inflation and translates into another real-terms pay cut, and which almost all university employers have unilaterally imposed on staff from 1 August 2025.

It is the strong belief of elected representatives on HEC that this position simply cannot go unchallenged. 

Our sister unions in JNCHES (UNISON, GMB, Unite and EIS) are also proceeding with statutory industrial action ballots of their members. This will increase both our bargaining power and workplace solidarity.  

We have agreed the following provisional timetable with Civica Election Services, the independent election scrutineer, who will conduct the statutory ballot.  

The vote will be conducted by post as required by law and is provisionally set to open in the week commencing Monday 20 October, and it will run for approximately 6 weeks.  

We believe this timeline will give us enough time to set out the case for a Yes vote, develop a clear and coherent campaign strategy and build trust and engagement with you as members. 

Later this week we will be launching social media, workplace and online campaign resources. To win this ballot we will need everyone to come together.  

It’s time to remind bosses and politicians: We are the University.  

In solidarity 

Jo Grady 
UCU general secretary

Follow this link to view meeting slides from the EGM of 4th September.

At the EGM members passed the following motion:

The UoB UCU branch endorses 10 days of strike action at the start of Semester 1
– Monday 22nd to Friday 26th September
– Monday 29th September to Friday 3rd October
and to seek a mandate for industrial action via a statutory ballot so as to ensure protection of members in Phase 2 Academic and Phase 3/4

UCU slams Labour over attack on international students

UCU warned Labour’s attempt to ‘outflank Reform’ on international students is ‘political suicide,’ reported the Morning Star. The union was responding to a new Home Office campaign targeting foreign students and their families via text and email to warn them they must leave if they have “no legal right to remain”.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady told the Morning Star, Guardian and Times Higher “This attack on international students has very little to do with visa overstays and everything to do with aping Reform. With Farage talking up mass deportations and migrant prison camps, Labour continuing to demonise immigrants and refugees isn’t just immoral, it’s political suicide. Labour will never outflank Reform on division and bigotry. They should instead be making the case for a welcoming and economically strong Britain, of which international students and a world-leading higher education sector are an integral part.”

UCU president-elect Dyfrig Jones told BBC News 24 and BBC Radio 5Live that Labour was in danger of driving away its core voters and should instead be rolling out the red carpet for international students.

Reform shuts down adult education centres

Derbyshire’s Reform run council has claimed it needs to suddenly close a third of its adult education centres, reported FE Week.

Jo Grady told the outlet: “It is scandalous that Reform is tearing up Derbyshire’s adult education provision without even consulting the public and those affected, including learners and staff whose livelihoods are going to be affected without any proper process.”

University of Dundee staff balloted on fresh strike action

University of Dundee could face a fresh strike from UCU members as a new ballot on industrial action begins, reported BBC News. The university faces hundreds of job cuts as it attempts to tackle a £35m black hole.

UCU branch president Melissa D’Ascenzio told the BBC “Strike action is always a last resort, but staff at the University of Dundee have proven that they will take action to protect jobs and the future of the university.”

Jo Grady told The Courier and Daily Record “It’s scarcely believable that after almost a year, with the university on its third principal in that period, the university remains in crisis and staff are having to be balloted again to save jobs and secure the future of the university.”

Workers Against the War Machine

In an op ed for Tribune, Jo Grady argues the labour movement must oppose right-wing militarism. The piece marks the launch of a new campaign calling for Wages Not Weapons. UCU is also bringing a motion to TUC Congress next week in an attempt to reverse the movement’s support for ‘immediate increases in defence spending’.

University of Leicester staff back strike action

University of Leicester UCU members have voted to take strike action over job cuts and course closures, reported BBC East Midlands Today and BBC Radio Leicestershire.

Co-chair of Leicester UCU Dr Joseph Choonara told Leicester Gazette “Our ballot shows the enormous strength of feeling among the staff we represent. We do not threaten strikes lightly. We would prefer for our management to withdraw its plans to axe jobs, plans that would harm staff and students and damage the long-term prospects for the university. However, if we cannot persuade them to change course we stand ready to take sustained strike actions to defend our members, and defend the world-class research and teaching they offer.”

At the EGM of 7th August committee agreed to gauge member opinion on the best way to deploy a further 10 days of strike action through a brief online poll.

Members were apprised of the timelines that apply in law as related to the announcing of strike action. These laws require a minimum 2 weeks of notice to the employer in advance of the action. UCU rules also require a minimum of 1 week for approval from HQ prior to local action.

With this in mind we urge all members to use the opportunity to give feedback that will assist committee in their decision-making regarding this important next step in the dispute.

Your views matter and will directly inform next steps. Thank you to all of those that have already responded; if you have not already done so please refer to last weeks newsletter or look out for this weeks newsletter which will also contain the link.

University of Bradford cuts devastating

Union chiefs fear proposed cuts by the University of Bradford would have a “devastating” multi-million pound impact on the local economy – and cause “lasting damage”, reported the Telegraph & Argus.

UCU members took part in 10 days of strike action in July over the institution’s proposals to make £16 million of cuts, slash hundreds of jobs and close multiple courses.

The Telegraph & Argus exclusively published TUC analysis which estimates the planned cuts could hit the local economy by a total of £23m.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady told the paper: “These devastating cuts would tear the heart out of the University of Bradford and cause lasting damage to the city.”

University funding model slammed in Guardian

In a Guardian opinion piece, Zoe Williams explains why the domestic and international student fees model of funding higher education is broken and quotes UCU data to show staff have faced real term pay cuts since 2009.

Zoe argues that unless there is radical change the higher education system will fall apart.

Ministers’ asylum plan ‘will turn universities into border force’

The Times reported that Labour plans to bar universities from accepting foreign students if they fail to prevent their students claiming asylum in the UK.

Responding to the story, Jo Grady told the Morning Star “Attempting to turn universities into an extension of the border force is not only shameful, but doomed to fail.”

She told Research Professional the “policy could have perverse consequences, such as forcing a university to bar students from war-torn countries like Palestine or Ukraine because they may not be able to safely return home.” Jo went on to say that Labour “must stop sacrificing our universities on the altar of its hopeless attempts to outflank Reform on immigration and start backing the sector. Only then will higher education be able to thrive, improve local economies and enhance the UK’s global standing.”

UCU launches petition against massive cuts at Lancaster University

UCU has launched a petition demanding an immediate halt to Lancaster University’s planned one in four redundancies and full transparency on its financial position, reported the Lancaster Guardian.

A UCU spokesperson told the outlet “University management has cited a £35 million shortfall as the reason for the job cuts. But staff say this number is based on uncertain forecasts of future income, not confirmed losses. That figure represents about 10% of the university’s annual budget.”

UCU criticises Warwick Uni for ‘vanity project’ Vogue staff photoshoot

The University of Warwick has come under fire for starting a “luxury” makeover while making staff redundant because of financial pressures, reported The Telegraph.

Ajay Teli, Warwick’s chief communications officer, has featured in a series of paid magazine spreads in recent months to promote the university’s 60th anniversary. It includes a fashion photoshoot for Vogue Singapore published in June, in which Mr Teli wore designer clothing and said he would use his experience in the “premium and luxury sectors” to boost Warwick’s reputation.

It comes after the university made 218 people redundant last year. UCU told the paper: “The University of Warwick’s new brand has undoubtedly cost the institution a considerable amount of money, spent while staff contracts are not being renewed, essential roles are being eradicated, and students are struggling to pay their tuition and their bills. We have asked the university for information on how much this rebrand has cost and why these funds weren’t used to support and improve teaching and learning activities. We eagerly await a response.”