The Friday email: 1 July 2022

FE staff deserve more: vote for action today

If you're at one of the further education colleges being balloted for strike action as part of our Respect FE campaign, don't forget to get your vote in the post before the last safe posting date of Wednesday 13 July (ballot closes on Friday 15 July). You can request a replacement ballot pack online here. With the cost of living crisis deepening and RPI at 11.7%, the employers' 'offer' of 2.5% is another kick in the teeth for college staff. That's why we need to give our negotiators a solid mandate for action to show the employers we've had enough and are prepared to fight back.

In London this week, UCU general secretary Jo Grady and UCU president Janet Farrar met with staff at Barnet and Southgate College to encourage support for their pay ballot; New City College activists have been busy getting the vote out across multiple sites; and Richmond upon Thames College UCU held a strike rally and planned a further 14 days action over plans to 'fire and rehire' staff.

Universities must invest in staff

Following research published this week showing university finances are healthy and sector income is predicted to reach record levels, Jo Grady called on vice-chancellors to stop pleading poverty and invest in their workforce. She described it as beyond scandalous that while the sector predicts record levels of income staff are forced to endure falling pay, insecure employment and devastating cuts to pensions. Full story here.

Cradle to Grave conference, 10 September, register now

Registration is now open for UCU's Cradle to Grave conference being held on Saturday 10 September. Our keynote speaker is John McDonnell, MP and there will be a panel discussion on visions for post-pandemic education as well as workshops on access to learning, organising at work, prison education, and protecting the arts and humanities.

This is a very popular yearly event so register now so you don't miss out on a place.

Covid Safety Pledge: coalition demands safe workplaces

A coalition of unions, scientific and community organisations including UCU, Independent Sage, British Medical Association (BMA), PCS, Unison, RMT and Hazards Campaign, has come together to campaign for employers to sign a Covid Safety Pledge to ensure safe workplaces. As Covid rates approach record levels, it is clear that the pandemic is far from over and that's why the coalition is calling on workers to promote the initiative and to request employers sign the pledge. More information and sign and share the pledge here.

Durham Miners' Gala, Saturday 9 July 2022

UCU members and your friends and family are invited to join us at the Durham Miners' Gala on Saturday 9 July 2022. It's one of the biggest celebration of trade unions in the world and we'll be led by local UCU banners and members and you're encouraged to bring along your own branch banners and march with UCU Northern Region. Details of where we are meeting are here and we're delighted to announce that our general secretary Jo Grady will be speaking at the gala.

Freedom of speech in higher education

The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill had its second reading in the Lords this week and Labour peer, Lord Collins highlighted UCU's concerns about the impact of casualisation on academic freedom: 'When I was at university, academics talked about tenure guaranteeing freedom of speech and guaranteeing academic freedom. Now when a student goes to university, half their teachers are on short-term contracts and likely to be sacked for all kinds of reasons. If that is not a chilling effect on academic freedom, I do not know what is.'

You can read the full debate here.

Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival 2022, 15-17 July

UCU will be taking part in the annual trade union organised festival celebrating our movement, our history and remembering the six farm labourers arrested in 1834 for organising a union. Please join us for music, politics, and fun in the beautiful village of Tolpuddle in Dorset.

Support Palestinian journalism and access to education

In memory of the awful killing of heroic Palestinian journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, UCU is donating to the Friends of Birzeit's (Fobzu) Truth to Power Appeal. Please support this new scholarship fund and Palestinians' access to education here.

Redundancies at the Royal College of Art (RCA): sign the petition

Please sign and share this open letter opposing redundancies at the RCA.