The Friday email: 28 October 2022

UCU Rising delivers historic ballot result

On Monday UCU announced historic ballot results in our higher education UCU Rising ballot campaign. These results were made possible by an extraordinary amount of hard work by members, branch officers, reps and staff. While we should all be proud of what we have achieved, focus must now shift to building an industrial action strategy that will deliver the game-changing deal that we need in our sector.

USIC members vote to strike

Members at University of Sheffield International College (USIC) have delivered a resounding ballot result in their dispute over pay and conditions. If ACAS talks fail the branch is prepared to take five days of strike action beginning on Thursday 17 November. This would be the first strike ever to take place in a privatised HE provider.

Adult and community education meeting, 1 November

On Tuesday 1 November, 5.30pm-7.00pm, we're holding an online adult and community education (ACE) member meeting with Margaret Greenwood MP, chair of the adult education all-party parliamentary group (APPG). This is an opportunity to exchange ideas and to let Margaret Greenwood MP know about your experiences of working in ACE. The meeting is open to all members working in ACE; to register for the event please contact David Bussell.

October is Black History Month

Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate Black history and energise Black and white activists in the anti-racist fight. Please let us know what your branch is planning.

Review of Rule 13 (conduct of members) procedure: call for submissions

The rule 13 (conduct of members) procedure is being reviewed by an elected commission. If you have been involved in the rule 13 procedure in the last seven years, whether as complainant, respondent, witness or in any other role, you are invited to give feedback on your experience to inform the commission's work. A form for submitting comments and further information can be found here.

UCU climate and environment update

Please click here for October's UCU climate and environment update, including:

• UCU COP27 statement
• UCU CPD offerings on climate and sustainability
• COP27 climate themed learning campaign
• climate and ecological emergency annual meeting: Thursday 10 November
• mass mobilisation on Saturday 12 November.

Call for nominations: UK officer and national executive committee elections in 2022-23

Nominations are now open for vacancies for UCU vice president (becoming president in 2025-26), honorary treasurer and for more than 20 positions on UCU's national executive committee. Nomination forms can be found here or requested from Kay Metcalfe at UCU head office. The deadline for completed nominations is 5.00 pm on Friday 11 November 2022. 

In solidarity

Simon Foster
UCU head of campaigns