The Friday email: 24 April 2020

Coronavirus update

Here is all the latest on the coronavirus crisis for UCU members:

• universities' £2.5bn 'black hole': a report commissioned by UCU and published this week has warned that the Covid-19 pandemic will lead to a huge reduction in students attending university this year and, without government intervention, could mean 30,000 university jobs at risk. In this article for The Guardian this week, Jo Grady argues that without government support, universities will struggle to provide the education people will need to rebuild their lives after Covid-19 
• UCU general secretary's update: the latest message to members from Jo Grady is here
• our coronavirus advice page here has been updated and includes job retention scheme advice, precarious workers information and annual leave guidance
• international union responses to Covid-19: eeducation unions across the globe are organising in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Click on the following links to the Education International website and ETUCE website for information and resources about what education unions are doing 
• international staff advice: there is a dedicated webpage containing guidance for international staff here.

International Workers' Memorial Day, Tuesday 28 April

Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Tuesday is the annual International Workers' Memorial Day and this year we will remember in particular workers who have lost their lives to Covid-19. Find out more on our special webpage here. There will be a minute's silence at 11am on Tuesday 28 April and you can help spread the word by using #NeverForgotten and #IWMD20 on social media. 

Further education and technology enhanced learning 

A group of academics are creating a one-off, online, open source publication about the impact of the pandemic crisis on FE and the opportunities for technology enhanced learning (TEL). Please see here for how to contribute.