Chris Pritchard

Jo Grady’s first election manifesto where she says she wants the GS to be more accountable to members

Staff aren’t allowed to say they’re on strike.

UCU members aren’t allowed to mention it to strike-breaking staff.

Regional committees can’t talk about it.

The NEC can’t talk about it.

Congress can talk about it but motions are declared out of order.

Is this the accountability Jo was meaning?

Posted my ballot paper yesterday for the @ucu.org.uk NEC elections! Make sure you use your vote!

What is happening within UCU is disgraceful - solidarity with @uniteucu.bsky.social

There is that, but it’s all I can really use at work!

The new outlook is just full of regressions, it’s so painful! I can’t even mail merge and it makes me sad.

Unite national officer Andy Murray said: "Our members will not tolerate this approach from UCU management and with no resolution in sight feel they have no choice but to show their anger on the picket line. We urge UCU to come back to the negotiating table and make the concessions necessary to end this dispute."

#HandsOffMarie

www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/...

NEW on Wonkhe: Jim Dickinson unpacks the bleak new numbers behind England’s student loans — and the growing pressure on repayments and fiscal rules buff.ly/BOKyj0k

For anyone who needs cheering up... here's Britain's smallest bird having a bath today in a woodland puddle. 😁😍🐦❤️
#birds 🪶

You know, I logged on, read this and it made me smile! I’ll have to watch that muppets special!

Jo Grady’s UCU election win challenged over ‘unfair advantage’ Candidates who stood in 2024 poll seek rerun of campaign after claiming incumbent broke rules by using union resources

The @timeshighered.bsky.social has reported that @ewanmg.bsky.social and I have applied to the Certification Officer regarding concerns over the 2024 UCU general secretary election. UCU has characterised this as “smearing”, via a spokesperson.

www.timeshighereducation.com/news/jo-grad...
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I’ve not been massively active on social media for various reasons (mainly busy), but I’d like to take this opportunity to endorse @seanawallis.bsky.social for UCU VP (HE). We don’t always agree on everything, but I know sean will put in the hard work needed to fight for post-16 education in the UK!

Why are you threatening #UCU staff with pay deductions for ASOS?

UCU policy is to oppose punitive deduction for ASOS

And why are you asking staff to fill out a form when UCU members at QMUL were advised not to do this?

UCU: Fighting punitive ASOS deductions Motion from UCU Congress 2022-2023: Fighting punitive ASOS deductions

UCU policy: “To work with the TUC and other TUs to campaign for a change to the law to prevent such deductions, including lobbying government and opposition parties”

Maybe while @drjogrady.bsky.social is at @tuc.org.uk in Brighton she can work on thi… oh!

policy.web.ucu.org.uk/motion-infor...

Why is our trade union emulating the worst behaviour of our employers towards UCU staff? How many of our letters, motions, attempts to bring motions from lay members pressing for resolution have been ignored now? Solidarity with all @uniteucu.bsky.social #UnionStrong #ReclaimUCU

That's just incorrect, we were due to discuss it at HEC, but weren't able to fully flesh things out (we were not, however, due to take a decision on anything relating to that motion due at the last HEC). We were told it will come back at a future HEC.

Statement on NEC Meeting of 2 May 2025 On Friday, members of Unite UCU will be taking the final day of an unprecedented six weeks of industrial action. It is also the penultimate NEC meeting before Congress. One of the core principles o…

I stand by this. Solidarity with fellow workers is the first principle of trade unionism. An injury to one is an injury to all. reclaimucu.wordpress.com/2025/04/30/s...

UCU members boycott key meeting over staff strike Members of national executive committee claim they were ‘prohibited’ from discussion of dispute with staff in Unite union

Glad @timeshighered.bsky.social is covering @uniteucu.bsky.social's dispute with @ucu.org.uk -resolution is beyond urgent (has been for over a year). But the content & tone of the UCU's anon quoted spokesperson feels emblematic of the underlying issues...
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ucu-mem...

Appreciate it!

Thanks, that’s interesting! Do you know where in the recognition agreement it might violate?

Statement on NEC Meeting of 2 May 2025 On Friday, members of Unite UCU will be taking the final day of an unprecedented six weeks of industrial action. It is also the penultimate NEC meeting before Congress. One of the core principles o…

@bparsia.bsky.social @caggles.bsky.social pleased to see this, will you also be signing this open letter? reclaimucu.wordpress.com/2025/04/30/s...

Statement on NEC Meeting of 2 May 2025 On Friday, members of Unite UCU will be taking the final day of an unprecedented six weeks of industrial action. It is also the penultimate NEC meeting before Congress. One of the core principles o…

STATEMENT RE UCU NEC 2 MAY reclaimucu.wordpress...
I am proud but saddened to be a signatory to this: I will not cross a picket line and I am in full solidarity with @uniteucu.bsky.social, on strike again this week. So I will not attend #UCU NEC on Friday this week. We all urgently need resolution.

Statement on NEC Meeting of 2 May 2025 On Friday, members of Unite UCU will be taking the final day of an unprecedented six weeks of industrial action. It is also the penultimate NEC meeting before Congress. One of the core principles o…

Saddened that the dispute that @uniteucu.bsky.social has with @ucu.org.uk as an employer is still ongoing and, had my tenure on the NEC started, I would be signing this letter and not attending the NEC meeting taking place tomorrow reclaimucu.wordpress.com/2025/04/30/s...

"When market share becomes a dominant decision criterion, broader societal benefits remain invisible on the balance sheet. The market doesn’t price in what we collectively lose when the last medieval history department in a region closes, ..."

I hoped #UCU would redouble efforts to resolve the @uniteucu.bsky.social staff dispute

Instead our own union-as-employer has issued management instructions NOT to use tactics #UCU members have routinely been advised to use *by #UCU*

Then this page was deleted: web.archive.org/web/20230218...
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Resolution of the dispute between @uniteucu.bsky.social and UCU (as employer) is now far beyond urgent. Reading these testimonials (linked in post⬇️) from UCU staff is heartbreaking & reading the recent 'management instruction' excerpt v unnerving, esp in the wake of the Hon Treasurer's resignation.

Happy to endorse @illdoitanyway.bsky.social for UCU VP (HE)

UK HE shrinking This is a live page of all the redundancies, restructures, reorganisations, and closures taking place across the sector at the moment. Solidarity to all. This sector is vital to the country’s…

QMUL UCU is doing the kind of work we need UCU to do nationally to highlight the catastrophic destruction of higher education across the regions & nations. Thousands of jobs & so much talent and expertise lost. Shame on this Govt for sitting by & letting it happen qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...

Rhiannon for UCU VP (Higher Education) Vote Rhiannon Lockley (she/her) for UCU Vice President (Higher Education): ballots are live 27th January till 3rd March 2025

Whilst a more formal endorsement is coming soon™️ I would definitely support @illdoitanyway.bsky.social for UCU VP (HE), see rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com for her policy platform!

I know your pain! 😭

Endorsement from Elizabeth Lawrence, former President of UCU Image shows Liz Lawrence taking part in a demonstration, carrying a placard which reads “defend jobs, defend education, NO CUTS” I have known Rhiannon for over a decade as a union …

A big thank you to Elizabeth Lawrence, former President UCU. I first met Liz in the freezing cold at Sheffield station when she welcomed our branch campaign against TU victimisation to Yorks with strike funds & a list of solidarity visits booked.

rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com/2024/12/17/e...