Northumbria UCU Branch

Radical intimacy: the personal is political It is not often that books make you want to write about them. And it is even less of an occurrence, personally, that a non-fiction book discussed in my local Socialist Feminist Book Club has filled…

“Why is reimagining intimacy inherently radical – and how is it socialist?”

Radical Intimacy by Sophie K. Rosa reviewed in @workersliberty.bsky.social:
www.workersliberty.org/story/2026-0...

Why we must celebrate and support workers in struggle MARCH 10 2026 will go down as a historic date in Gloucestershire — and potentially across the whole country. It marks the end of the of strike action by 37 phlebotomists.A near full year of struggle. ...

Why we must celebrate and support workers in struggle

👏Good article from Steve Wright, @fbunational.bsky.social, in today's @mstaronline.bsky.social, reflecting on the incredible
@unison.org.uk #GloucestershirePhlebs.

Share: morningstaronline.co.uk/article/why-...

#StrikeMap #FBU #FireFighters

Diversity doesn’t lower quality. Gatekeeping does.

When the same voices dominate academia, we don’t get excellence. We get elitism.

🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾‍🔬 👩🏼‍🔬 👩🏾‍🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #MeToo #HigherEd #PhDChat #TimesUpHigherEd

nigel farage tweet: The Bank of England is replacing Winston Churchill with a picture of a beaver on our bank notes. This is the definition of woke.

i, for one, am delighted that we finally have a definition of “woke”

Dundee University strike again after vote of no confidence in two key executives Members of the Dundee UCU group lost trust in the interim principal and director of finance, agreeing to strike on 17 and 18 of March.

Members of our branch voted to take strike action on 17th-18th March. We are asking the University to rule out compulsory redundancies.

We also passed a unanimous Vote of No Confidence in the University Executive Group.

Join us on the picket lines! #SaveHE

www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...

#dogsofbsky we had to make sure we have enough biscuits for our continental travels so on the way to Oxford we popped in to THE BEST DOG SHOP EVER!!! @bemorebob.bsky.social

Ooof. Great picket! Solidarity. Send someone down to Newcastle for the national rally on 25 March!

BIG SOLIDARITY: 25 March JOIN!!

This is disgraceful

Strike action at University of Aberdeen to get under way The university says it is

Aberdeen University staff to strike in dispute over cuts www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Solidarity with @ucuaberdeen.bsky.social on strike to save jobs #SaveHE

Expect similar cuts to hit across the post-92 half of the sector sometime after the end of Semester 2

A really important message.

When we strike, it’s a collective action. We give up our wages and make other personal sacrifices because we know that we are stronger together.

Our voices are amplified by every single member, colleague and student who joins us on the picket line.

Join the action! Don’t let the managers get through with stealing our pensions! 💪

@ucu.org.uk @ucucommons.org @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @newcastleucu.bsky.social @nclgreenparty.bsky.social @labourunionsuk.bsky.social @chionwurah.bsky.social @alancampbellmp.bsky.social @chroniclelive.co.uk @tucneyh.bsky.social @unison.org.uk

💪🥁📣PLS SHARE! @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social ON STRIKE 16, 17, 25, 26, 27 March AND 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 April. 👉👉👉25 March = NATIONAL RALLY TO PROTECT PAY AND PENSIONS 1PM at Monument in NEWCASTLE with UCU GS Jo Grady and President Elect Dyfrig Jones. All welcome.

💪🥁📣PLS SHARE! @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social ON STRIKE 16, 17, 25, 26, 27 March AND 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 April. 👉👉👉25 March = NATIONAL RALLY TO PROTECT PAY AND PENSIONS 1PM at Monument in NEWCASTLE with UCU GS Jo Grady and President Elect Dyfrig Jones. All welcome.

🤔 where have I heard this before...? @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social

University staff demand fair pay & an end to sector wide cuts UCU alongside its sister unions, Unison, Unite, EIS & GMB has today (Tuesday) demanded university bosses protect pay, protect jobs and improve working conditions across the sector.

30% real-terms pay cut since 2011.

Vice-chancellors attempting 15,000+ job cuts since last September.

UCU & sister unions are fighting back - submitting our 2026/27 pay claim to UCEA demanding fair pay, protected jobs & an end to casualised contracts.

www.ucu.org.uk/article/1443...

Our #SaveHE #StopTheCuts call on the front of today’s Herald

Chart which shows "Of borrowers with outstanding student loans balances, Plan 2 accounts for the largest share of outstanding balances Average loan balance (£’000s)" Plan 2 is highlighted to show that there are 5.3mn total loans currently worth £234.85bn

Exponentially growing student loan debt, already worth £235bn so shortly after issue is probably fine, right?
www.ft.com/content/366d...

FFS... and not the most important thing but stopping teaching staff from accessing the Teachers Pension Scheme is exactly the kind of irony that sums up UK HE

While Praying to 'the Lord,' Hegseth Threatens 'Most Intense Day of Strikes' in Iran Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's religious display and prayers for US troops attacking Iran raise concerns of a religious crusade. With no mention of diplomatic efforts, are American and Israeli officials turning this conflict into a dangerous religious war? Is the line between church and state being erased as Christian nationalist beliefs shape military actions? The lives of innocent civilians and American soldiers are at stake as the war intensifies.

"He’s a white Christian nationalist and has the arsenal of the United States government at his disposal and a permission slip from President Trump to deploy carnage wherever he wishes against whomever he wishes.”

Gloucestershire blood workers end year-long NHS strike after securing pay review deal - UNISON South West Specialist hospital blood workers in Gloucestershire have voted to accept an offer that brings their long-running strike to a close.

🚨 BREAKING: Phlebotomists end year-long strike

Staff are relieved the trust has finally recognised the need to review pay. unsn.uk/4rmOxu8

Fatoumata Diawara - Nterini YouTube video by Fatoumata Diawara

Some rhythms don’t knock.
They just rock up — like a yard filling up before you even realize the music started.

You can almost see it: warm air, neighbors leaning over balconies, somebody clapping the beat from across the way.

“In response to the restriction of women’s movement in urban spaces, collective walking opens up possibilities for rebellion through sisterhood and solidarity.”

The Feminist Art of Walking by @thelrm.bsky.social reviewed in @thesociologicalreview.org:
thesociologicalreview.org/reviews/the-...

copy_B19E9AF1-0850-48FE-B8AF-7FB65C2D778C Hank “The Bank” Soderlund | 31 Years of Service, Solidarity & Community with IBEW Local 3 At the ULA Network, our mission is simple: support, educate, and promote union labor and the communities we serve. Few stories capture that mission better than Hank “The Bank” Soderlund — a 31-year member and Shop Steward of IBEW Local 3. For more than three decades, Hank has seen firsthand what makes Local 3 more than just a union. In his words, it’s one of the most professional, community-driven organizations he has ever been part of — one that builds infrastructure and strengthens neighborhoods while protecting working families. A Union Rooted in Community Hank takes pride in representing an organization that shows up — consistently and visibly — in every community its members serve. From educational programs to civic involvement, Local 3 creates opportunities far beyond the jobsite. It develops skilled tradespeople, strengthens the middle class, and makes a positive impact wherever members work. In a time when collective bargaining rights, prevailing wage protections, and middle-class stability face challenges, unions like Local 3 remain a pillar of strength. They don’t just advocate for workers — they defend standards that uplift entire communities. Honoring Those Who Served One of the most powerful parts of Hank’s story is the IBEW Local 3 Veterans Club — a newer but deeply impactful initiative. Although Hank is not a veteran, he takes pride in standing alongside members who honor those who served our country. The Veterans Club organizes tributes like: • Placing wreaths on the graves of fallen heroes • Raising American flags during memorial services • Supporting veteran-focused events and initiatives What stands out most to Hank is the unity in the room — members from every walk of life showing up not because they have to, but because they believe in something bigger than themselves. That’s solidarity in action. The Next Generation Stepping Up Hank is inspired by young members and high school students volunteering to support veterans. For him, it signals a powerful message: a new generation of union members embracing service, leadership, and responsibility. This doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when leadership sets the tone, membership culture encourages participation, and unions understand that protecting the American Dream requires constant involvement. Protecting What Matters Hank also spoke candidly about today’s challenges for working people. With attacks on collective bargaining rights and pressure on prevailing wage and Davis-Bacon protections, strong unions are more important than ever. IBEW Local 3 doesn’t just negotiate contracts — it safeguards dignity, stability, and opportunity for working families. They create pathways to careers with purpose. They defend middle-class standards. They give back while building forward. Grateful to Be Part of Something Bigger After 31 years, Hank remains proud — proud of his union, his fellow members, and standing in solidarity with veterans and community partners. His message: It’s not just about what we say. It’s about what we do. Through action, service, and unity, IBEW Local 3 shows what union pride truly looks like. At the ULA Network, we are honored to highlight members like Hank who embody the best of union labor — professionalism, community commitment, and unwavering solidarity. 👉 Learn more: https://hubs.li/Q044K6-10

copy_B19E9AF1-0850-48FE-B8AF-7FB65C2D778C

Hank “The Bank” Soderlund | 31 Years of Service, Solidarity & Community with IBEW Local 3 At the ULA Network, our mission is simple: support, educate, and promote union labor and the communities we serve. Few stories capture that mission better than Hank

When DOGE Unleashed ChatGPT on the Humanities

When DOGE Unleashed ChatGPT on the Humanities www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/a...

Our members have passed a unanimous Vote of No Confidence motion in the University of Dundee Executive Group.

Read more on our website.

sites.dundee.ac.uk/ducu/

#SaveDundeeUni

Crude oil prices, showing a very sharp increase in the last day, from around 65 to 101 dollars per barrel..

Oil prices wouldn't be all over the news today if more of our economy was powered by local, secure renewable energy.

This isn't an "energy crisis". It's a fossil fuel crisis.

44% of UK electricity came from renewables in 2025. More of that plus an electrified economy => no more oil shocks.