You shape what happens next in the USS and 'Four Fights' campaigns

As the autumn term gets underway an amazing 1,000 UCU members joined our online higher education briefing on Friday 3 September for an update on the union's strategy for the year ahead. Thanks to everyone that tuned in and took part with questions on crucial issues for our sector including Covid-19 safety, USS pensions and the 'Four Fights' campaign. Here's the video of the event in case you missed it. We're also working up an FAQ page to help with some of the hundreds of questions that we didn't have time to answer. 

This is your union and your involvement will be crucial over the coming months. Please keep talking to each other and get in touch with your local branch and reps. We also need to be encouraging our colleagues who are not yet in UCU to join and to build support for our campaigns with our students and with the other campus unions. You can, for instance, direct your colleagues to our pension modeller so that they can see how much they stand to lose under UUK's proposals.

What happens next over the 'Four Fights' campaign and on USS pensions is down to you and your representatives. This Thursday 9 September delegates representing university UCU branches will meet for a special higher education sector conference (HESC) to vote on motions which will decide the steps the union must take this year and into the next. Ahead of this important meeting I'd encourage you to:

• read the motions which will be voted on
• contact your local branch and let them know your views
• meet as a branch to discuss the issues being voted on

This year is a crucial one for UCU and there's a lot at stake for our sector, the staff who work in it and the students and wider community who depend on it. Please get involved and make sure your voice is heard. 

Thank you and with best wishes.

Jo Grady
UCU general secretary