One week to go

On the eve of our first day of strike action I will be hosting the biggest and most important UCU Live event we have ever held, making sure that everyone is ready to deliver the enormous, vibrant picket lines that we need on Thursday. Make sure that every member you know, every colleague, every supporter and every friend and member of your family is there at 7PM on Wednesday 23 November on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

On Thursday and Friday every single UCU member must take strike action. Our ask is that you use the next few days to convince all of your colleagues to do the same. It's 70,000 UCU members vs 150 vice-chancellors. And if your colleagues aren't in the union, I need you to help recruit them. 

I know that some of you are unable to attend picket lines in person. That is why we are hosting a virtual picket line at 10:30AM on Friday 25 on Zoom. You can join by following this link or by entering the Meeting ID 854 7912 2665. No passcode is required. We want to connect to as many pickets across the country to show just how much solidarity there is so make sure you join on your phones and laptops from the physical pickets.

On the third day of our strike action on 30 November at 13:00 we will be hosting the biggest national demonstration in UCU history at Kings Cross in London. We need every member from across the UK to descend on London in a show of force that our employers cannot ignore. Reach out to your reps to find out information about coaches travelling to London, invite all of your colleagues, and bring your friends and family along.

Taking strike action is not easy. We never underestimate that. But the truth is the real question here isn't whether we can afford to take strike action. It's whether we can afford not to.

You are not alone. Every single member. Every single university.

This is our one chance to save our sector and that is exactly what we are going to do.

I'll see you on the picket line.

In solidarity

Jo Grady
UCU general secretary