UCU

Socialist Worker (SW), paper of the Socialist Worker Party (SWP), is ecstatic. At last it has found a trade union (the UCU, which organises workers in post-school education) that has passed a motion at its annual congress backing the Stop the War Coalition (StW) line on Ukraine. True, the motion was passed by just nine votes. True, the motion contained an antisemitic trope jumbling up Ukraine and Israel as imperialist outposts. True, Jewish UCU members critical of the motion have been targeted for antisemitic abuse. True, another, and far better, motion on Ukraine was passed by a much larger...

The marking and assessment boycott in universities since 20 April is causing increasing disruption.

The marking and assessment boycott (MAB) called by the University and College Union continues in universities as exam boards approach.

Statement by UCU members in solidarity with Ukraine (still open for signature) UCU Ukraine solidarity organising meeting (hybrid), 5pm, 17 June The backlash against the decision of the 27-29 May congress of the Unity and College Union (UCU) to back the Stop the War Coalition (STW) line on the war in Ukraine continues to gather momentum. The motion adopted by the congress (though just 130-121) portrayed Russia’s imperialist aggression as a proxy war between Russia and the US, opposed Ukraine being provided with the weapons which it needs to defend itself, and committed the UCU to backing events...

The University and College Union is continuing its marking and assessment boycott in the ongoing pay and conditions dispute. Several branches, including SOAS University of London and Winchester, are now striking in protest at their management’s imposition of 100% pay deductions for participation in the boycott. Winchester has called six days, and SOAS ten, with probably more to come when other workers at the university (in Unison) strike on 12-16 June. Other striking branches include Dundee and Liverpool Hope. At Newcastle University members have agreed to request strike dates if deductions...

Little over a decade ago the UCU trade union (which represents staff in Further and Higher Education) was hit by a wave of resignations by Jewish members. They no longer found the union to be habitable for Jews. Their resignations followed decisions by successive UCU congresses to: boycott Israeli academics and HE institutions; sever ties with the Israeli trade union federation Histadrut; disassociate the union from the EUMC definition of antisemitism (a forerunner of the IHRA definition); reject a motion condemning UCU’s decision to invite an international speaker known for antisemitism; and...

The future of the UCU disputes will depend on members holding the line in the Marking and Assessment Boycott (MAB), as dates for exam boards draw nearer. But, as UCU members who have taken part in MABs in the past will know, managements will use any number of tactics to try to undermine our dispute. So far, the most serious threat has been over pay deductions, the threat of 100% at some Unis, and 50% in many others. That is why it is critical that UCU stands fully behind its National Executive decision to extend the fund to all members facing any level of deduction. And the national union...

University of East Anglia (UEA) staff still wait to hear from the Executive Team the exact number of compulsory redundancies being sought in response to the projected financial deficit (perhaps £45mn in three years’ time) which bad decisions by that same team have brought about. Cuts When news of the deficit broke, the university’s vice-chancellor wished everyone luck and took early retirement. The new vice-chancellor wasted no time before asserting the need to cut staff. In his view, the university employs too many people and needs to “right-size”. In a previous role, he published material in...

Higher education members of the University and College Union in 145 institutions have begun a marking and assessment boycott (MAB) in the ongoing dispute over pay, casualisation, workload and equalities. This follows a rejection of the management offer of just 5% for the coming year. In an aggregated re-ballot, which opened before the full detail of the offer was known, 56% of members turned out to beat the threshold for ongoing strikes (86% backing) and action short (90% backing). In the parallel USS pension dispute, action has been called off after agreement on a process to restore benefits...

The University of Brighton wants to make 100 teaching and 30 professional services staff redundant. UoB workers are fighting back — and need solidarity. UoB Solidarity has called a walkout and rally on Monday 15 May. Meet at the Level, 11 am, to march to Moulsecoomb campus for a rally at 12, where workers will be joined by students from the Moulsecoomb and Falmer campuses. • More here . Donate here . Sign the petition here A University of Brighton Doctoral Researcher and seminar teacher told us: "As doctoral researchers, our relationship with supervisors is crucial, not only as experts in...