Have your say on our union's next steps

This week negotiations with our employers broke down after UCEA (Universities and Colleges Employers Association) refused to offer us anything on pay or to redress the punitive pay deductions many members have suffered for participating in the marking and assessment boycott (MAB). Together we must decide, collectively, on what we do next.

The president, chair of HEC/vice president, and I have called an emergency higher education committee (HEC) meeting on Monday 14 August which will make decisions on the MAB and the next steps in our pay and conditions dispute, including options for further industrial action and a ballot.

We need as many members as possible to feed into the HEC's decision making, so I am asking you to let us know what you'd like to happen in a week of consultation across the union. On Wednesday 9 August 16:30 to 18:00, our elected negotiators will be hosting a briefing on Zoom. There will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions that you may have about what happened in our negotiations and how we got to here. Please click here to pre-register [link removed from web version of this email].

Following this we will be holding a branch delegate meeting (BDM) on Friday 11 August, 10:00 to 12:00 which your reps have been invited to attend. Make sure that you reach out to your reps to let them know your views now and following the negotiators' meeting.

Whatever our union decides to do next we will do so together. United. Make sure your voice is heard.

UCU and proud.

In solidarity

Jo Grady
UCU general secretary