The branch held an Extraordinary General Meeting on 25th June 2025 to update members on progress in negotiations over Transformational Change programme and plans for industrial action.
you can see slides from the EGM here
Our successful ballot for industrial action made the BBC news pages. You can read the article here.
Jo Grady told Times Higher that staff “overwhelmingly” backed strike action because “they refuse to see important courses cut, jobs axed, and staff and students pay the price for management’s financial failings. The proposed cuts would also harm businesses throughout the region that rely on the university and limit the cultural offer available to local students.”
The well attended extraordinary general meeting of 29th May was called to consider the outcome of our ballot on industrial action, which was successful and mandates the branch to formulate dispute proposals.
Members were asked to consider the following motion:
UoB UCU branch endorses 10 days of strike action between June and September, alongside accompanying ASOS, following the strategy discussed at the 29th May EGM
Votes were cast as follows:
The motion was duly CARRIED.
The presentation slides for the meeting can be viewed here.
The ballot for industrial action will close at noon today, and we should expect a result for before our extraordinary general meeting on Thursday.
On the assumption that we are successful in the ballot, the branch must make some critical decisions about the next steps in our dispute, what sort, level and timing of industrial action we intend to take. We are also seeking member feedback on the Phase Two proposals.
As such it is vitally important that members make every effort to attend.
The agenda is as follows
The meeting will be hybrid – in Richmond E59 and online via the link below
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85467697192?pwd=SiFKEbC7V2ae2ba7k8U3aaxqJOQpzb.1
Meeting ID: 854 6769 7192
Passcode: 768819
All staff are invited to sign an open letter that sets our position on Transformational Change.
You can read the letter here and use the QR code below to add your name to the list of supporters.
Our General Secretary Dr Jo Grady appeared on BBC Question Time on 8th May.
QT came from Hull with a panel made up of Jo, James Murray MP (Labour), Graham Stuart MP (Conservative), Calum Miller MP (Liberal Democrat) and Richard Tice MP (Reform UK).
For those who missed the broadcast, it is now available on catch up on BBC iPlayer.
The University of Bradford UCU LA ballot for industrial action is now open and all members should have received their ballot papers in the mail.
If you have not received your ballot paper then you can request a replacement by following this link. Newer members who have not received a ballot can use the same link to request one.
The branch believes that there is no alternative but to ballot members for industrial action in our efforts to bring management into meaningful consultation and negotiation in a genuine attempt to save jobs. This approach has worked elsewhere (e.g.at Cardiff and at Dundee) and it can work at Bradford.
As in all ballots, your participation is the key to success. Whatever your views you are urged to vote. Your committee of course recommends a YES vote, but whatever your views you owe it on your colleagues in the branch to participate and ensure that the vote is a valid one.
Over the duration of the ballot you will be contacted by colleagues to check that you have your ballot papers and check whether you have returned same.
With ballots about to be launched at both national and local level, and with the very real likelihood that members will need support as we get into the detail of Transformational Change, it is vital that all each member ensures that their membership is up to date and that they are paying the correct subscription.
In preparation, UCU will conduct an annual membership checks in order to meet its legal requirements. You will shortly receive an email from UCU head office checking whether the data held is accurate. This will include your membership number, workplace and branch.
If you want to check or update your membership details in advance, please visit My UCU.
If you have multiple employers in sectors represented by UCU, please register each one as an ‘additional employment’. This will link all your eligible employments to a single membership number, allow secondary branches to represent you, and eliminate duplicate subscriptions.
If you need some support when called into a consultative meeting please click on this link and complete the online form.
Do not contact individual committee members to request assistance.
Please note that this service is ONLY available to members of UCU.