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Durham UCU

@ducu.bsky.social
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Welp, we're here. #MinersGala
Three UCU banners against the fence at The Sands.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Obligatory "before" photo. #MinersGala
The Sands field as the banners begin to arrive.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
We are still here! #MinersGala
Dozens of banners and hundreds of people stretched out down Saddler At.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
It begins! #MinersGala
Four UCU banners, including the Northern Region, Durham.Branch and Northumbria Branch banners, marching along North Road.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
We finished the morning with branch co-president Jamie Callahan facilitating a discussion about where to focus our attention over the following year. Lots to do!
Clustered post-it notes filled with suggestions from those present on what to work on over the coming year.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Up next, Katie Muth, branch Comms Officer and designated economics understander. Katie took us through the state of Durham's finances, and the extent to which they justified - or wholly didn't - justify losing 200 colleagues and not filling 100 additional vacancies.
Katie stood beside a screen showing one of her slides.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
A launch even for Ahmed Al-Naouq and Pam Bailey's We Are Not Numbers in paperback is happening at The People's Bookshop in Durham 10.7.26 7pm, hosted by Durham PSC. Four Gazan panelists will speak on the lives, experiences and prospects of Gazans. Ahmed will be signing books following the event.
The Sunday Times bestseller We Are Not Numbers, Ahmed Alnaouq and Pam Bailey. 'Essential' - Ta-Nehesi Coates. 'Brilliannt' - Francesca Albanese. 'A vital book' - China Mieville. 'This is Gaza as it truly is' - Motaz Azaiza. 'Impossible to put down or forget' - Riz Ahmed. 'Their voices will bellow through the ages' - Owen jones. 'A jailbreak and a miracle!' - Naomi Klein. 'Please read this book' - Nikesh Shukla. 'A rebellion against the singular story' - Mohammed El-Kurd. 'Like the story of Palestine itself' - Medhi Hasan.A poster showing a group of people in Gaza. In the top right is the logo of County Durham PSC. The text reads "Gaza Today. A panel discussion with four Gazans: Ahmed al-Naouq, Mahmoud Shalabi, Issam Adwan, Omar Salah. And launch of the paperback edition of the Sunday Times bestseller We Are Not Numbers, Ahmed Almouq and Pam Bailey, People's Bookshop, Durham DH1 3NP, 7pm Friday 10 July, all welcome".
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Up in Newcastle with members from NYCU, at the anti-racist protest. Whose streets? Our streets!
A crowd of anti-racist protesters.More anti-racism protesters.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
Come see Dr Jane Rooney talk this Thursday on the topic of international law! Atrocities in Palestine and International Law Dr Jane Rooney (Durham Law School) 4 December 2025 1-2pm TLC101
Durham Students and Staff for Palestine:  Teach out session

Atrocities in Palestine and International Law
Dr Jane Rooney (Durham Law School)
4 December 2025
1-2pm
TLC101

In this session Jane will explain how international law has responded to the atrocities committed in Gaza. This information will provide a basis for audience participation in the discussions of the efficacy of international law in improving the lived experience of Palestinians on the ground. 

WALK OUT! SPEAK OUT! Supported by the NEU, UCU & PC Unions.

Stand With Gaza
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
With apologies for the late notice, Roaa Elhag will be talking 1-2pm *today* in TLC101 about the situation in Sudan.
Join Durham Students for Palestine and very special guest Roaa Elhag, a journalist, graduated from Teesside University with a degree in media and journalism, and a master's degree in international management, on Thursday 27th Nov, at 13:00-14:00 in TLC 101. There is a photo of Roaa, and an image of the Palentine and Sudan flags linked together in a chain, above the words "Palestine-Sudan Solidarity".
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Spine points 5 (now real living wage) to 16 + VC salary.Spine points 17 to 28 + VC salary.Spine points 29 to 40 + VC salary.Spine points 41 to 52 + VC salary.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
With apologies for the late notice, some members have let us know about an event happening TODAY at 1pm in the TLC. Durham Students for Palestine will be joined by Waad Ebrahim and Roaa Elhag who will be talking about genocide and violence in Sudan and Palestinian/Sudanese solidarity.
Join Durham Students for Palestine and very special guests Waad Ebrahim (Sudanese activist and human rights defender, with special focus on women's rights) and Roaa Elhag (a journalist, graduated from Teesside University with a degree in media and journalism, and a master's degree in international management) on Thursday 20th Nov at 13:00-14:00 in TLC 101. Pictures of Waad and Roaa are included, as is a picture of the Sudanese and Palestinian flags chained together, with the legend "Palestine-Sudan solidarity".
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Trans Day of Remembrance feels like a good day to post this picture, taken by St Aiden's college last week. There are so many of us in Durham who stand in solidarity with the trans, non-binary, and intersex communities, even if we don't always feel able to say so.
The Trans Pride flag, flying from the college flagpole.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
And here we are! Literally every spine point is paying less in real terms than it was back in 2008. Spine point 5 (now replaced by the real living wage) is down by about 3.4%. By spine point 10, we're down over 10%. By spine point 23, over 20%, ultimately reaching a 22.1% reduction. 3/3
Graph of spine points 5 (now real living wage) to 16.Graph of spine points 17 to 28.Graph of spine points 29 t0 40.Graph of spine points 41 to 52.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Some of our grooviest colleagues are running a "How To Talk About Palestine" Workshop TOMORROW at 1pm, in the Calman Learning Centre. This will take place after tomorrow's walkout/demo in solidarity with the people of Palestine, taking place as usual at the Map opposite Whitechurch.
How to Talk About Palestine Workshop

The workshop aims to provide skills to engage with different audiences, while addressing nuanced talking points presented in the mainstream narrative on Palestine in the west. We will do so through creating a space to participate in discussions about how to argue against common misleading talking points.

CLC 101

1pm (after the walkout)

Thursday 6th November
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Happening now UCU members :D (just outside A04, since it's nice and cosy there :) )
Meet and Greet Room A04 Dunelm House Wednesday 15th Oct 3-5pm
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
As the branch gears up for a new term, we're also preparing for the steady flow of warnings about teams in crisis following the "voluntary" severance scheme for PS colleagues to become a flood. Seems like a good time to remind everyone that university spending is determined by political choices.
WHERE DOES DU MANAGEMENT SPEND MONEY? 

Waterside Building: £108 million. More expensive staff hired (e.g. new COO) while we're told to cut back! Paying headhunters to find our senior management. Terminalfour: a six-figure bill. Boldon House aka the white elephant office: £4m. Free housing for the VC and College Principals. 

WHERE MANAGEMENT SPENDS MONEY IS A POLITICAL CHOICE
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Also, tell me you've never read Marvel comics without telling me etc etc etc.
Marvel's The Beyonder, here assuming a human form with blue-black fuzzy hair, Caucasian skin tone, and a fully unacceptable seventies silver-white suit with, if anything, even worse shoes.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
We've been putting together some graphics ahead of the coming term, and the next round of pushing back against unnecessary staff cost cuts, and the inevitable implications of same. We simply refuse to accept it'll be business as usual with so many valued colleagues gone.
A figure titled "Durham Cuts 250+ Roles". A green pie on a purple background. There are five slices, bearing the text "ca. 250+ lost to Voluntary Severance in 2025", "Key staff in student support lost", "Over £3.8m academic VS in 2025 alone", "Inconsistent "hiring freeze"", and "Chaotic "re-alignments" of staff teams". A missing slice reads "Remaining staff with increasing workload".
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Sheila Williams from SUTR Durham, talking to the crowd about the reality of the tide of racism in County Durham .
Sheila Williams talking atop the front steps of County Hall.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Crowd keeps growing. #DurhsmCountyCouncil #ClinateEmergency #AntiRacism #QueerRights
A larger crowd than before, and now with Palestine flags.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
The councillor who was, until a few weeks ago, was in charge of Durham's fight against the climate emergency, speaking on the new council attempting to put climate action against social care.
A man with a megaphone atop the front steps of County Hall.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Protest! At the council
A crowd of protesters outside Durham County Councils pride flags, banners, placards about climate emergency, and more
Alt text in first image
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
The big meeting #MinersGala
Big crowd at the GalaBig crowd at the Gala
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
At the field and ready to gala! #UCU #MinersGala
UCU banners out on field.UCU banners in the sun.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
It is! #UCU #MinersGala
Two UCU banners in a crowd of marchers, just past Durham Market Square.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Standing behind what our co-president has named "The Wall Of Lost Staff". We're striking because we need to know that the wall isn't going to get any longer.
Picketers stood behind a line of pieces of paper, filled with stick figures (representing lost staff), and with doors (representing vacancies that aren't open for replacement).
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Our tribute to our former colleagues, lost to a "voluntary" severance process under the shadow of compulsory redundancy. Each figure is a colleague gone, each door a vacancy closed to rehiring.
A washing line with over a dozen pieces of paper, each representing either five lost colleagues, or five vacancies.The line continues...The line ends.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Humans and dogs, working together. You love to see it.
Durham UCU banner with bonus Lucy.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Striking for jobs!
The Durham UCU banner
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
Had a wee march this lunchtime. #DurhamPride
A Durham Students for Palestine banner, reading "No Pride with genocide".The Parade reaches The SandsA stiltwalker in silver and pink.The Parade kicks off at Palace Greenm
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Some photos from today's rally in support of trans rights here in Durham #UnionswiththeT
Professor Lynda Boothroyd addressing the crowd beside the Bill Bryson Library.The President of the Durham University Trans Association addresses the crowd.People begin to gather in support of trans rights.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
We’ve put together a little graphic to show how MABs have been successfully used to force various universities to actually listen to staff and students. A very recent example, a threatened MAB in Cardiff led their management to admit that, no, compulsory redundancies *weren’t* unavoidable after all.
UCU: MAB TIMELINE IN UK HE
2006: National MAB successfully pressured employers to grant a proper pay settlement
2021: Goldsmiths local MAB. Guarantee of no compulsory redundancies until 2022 and other commitments to protect staffing budgets for Associate Lecturers; greater transparency around Fixed Term Contracts due to expire, and Equalities Impact Assessments to be carried out on any future redundancies. Employer later reneges on promises.
2021-22: Uni of Liverpool local MAB. Backed up with strikes, put a stop to over 40 proposed redundancies.
2022: Durham, threat of local MAB. Thread of MAB leads to joint statement on USS, "a matrix of priorities", including a £1000 payment to all staff.
2023: National MAB. Reversed pension cuts that had reduced guaranteed benefits by 35%. No national progress on the Four Fights campaign.
2023: Durham, threat of local MAB. Secured a local package of measures including additional VISA support, assistant professors starting at grade 8, Real Living Wage (RLW) accreditation and two year Career Development Fellowships.
2023: Royal College of Art, local MAB. Following 41 days of strike action since 2020, deal secured included full employment rights for all staff, an end to zero-hour contracts, new routes to permanent contracts. and caps on teaching workloads. 
2025: Cardiff University, threat of local MAB. Compulsory redundancies being taken off the table.
2025: Durham, threat of local MAB. ?
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Co-president Sara is laying it out for everyone by Palatine, including, we hope, our VC, from whom we've heard absolutely nothing since we called our action.
The gathered Durham UCU picketers.Sara on the PA, outside Palatine Centre, talking to our picket.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Day four! Striking for our jobs! We are not a drain on the university! We ARE the university!
The Durham UCU picket line outside of Bill Bryson library
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Also, while we're talking about our strike, a lot of students have been asking how they can support us (being fully aware of who actually has their backs in this uni), and what it means to cross (or not cross) a picket line in this case. We'll defer here to our excellent Instagram team on this one.
Should I cross a picket line?

A: "Don't cross a picket line" can mean not going to work if your colleagues are on strike or not giving money to a business if its workers are on strike. 

It doesn't mean you need to disrupt your studies! To support the strike you could stop by the picket line on your way to the library, or email Uni management to ask them to work with us.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Rally time! Jamie lays it out!
Jamie speaking to the picketers and supporters at the Durham UCU strike rally, the branch banner in the background.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Another cluster of strikers: lawpeeps and CS and maths, oh my! #FightingChance
A picket line outside the Palatine Center
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Durham UCU on strike! Banter by the Billy B. #FightingChance
Picket line by The Map.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Picketing by Physics., for our #FightingChance to save jobs.
Durham UCU members on picket line.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Votey McVoteface! Keep 'em coming!
Another Durham UCU ballot envelope going in the post.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Operation Ballot CONTINUES. A reminder to Durham UCU members: get your vote in, and tell us you've gotten your vote in :)
A human person interacting with a mailbox, through the medium of putting an envelope in it.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Posting our ballots for industrial action. Our voting numbers are looking good, but they can still get much higher, and thereby send a much stronger signal that slashing hundreds of jobs simply isn't OK.
Three UCU ballots going into the mail, as part of Durham UCUs current IA ballot.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
A quick dip into Durham life, via our "Daily Dialogue" newsletter. Seems a shame that professional support staff don't get thanked for the colossal amount of work they put in to keep the university working. And by "a shame", we mean "completely outrageous".
"We have performed very strongly in the prestigious QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, with our best-ever 21 subjects ranked in the world top 100 and three in the top ten. 

This success is a testament to the dedication of our academics, researchers and students."
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Keep sending in those ballots, people! Here are illustrated instructions on how to do it, helpfully compiled by a member in Sociology.
A picture of a hand holding a ballot envelope as its placed in a mailbox.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
From one of our members: "Just went to do some Duo over my afternoon coffee, and, well. The green owl gets it!".
Screenshot from Duo: "Il faut voter!" Translation: You must vote.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Ballots started arriving yesterday, and the return rate is already looking strong. It's still not clear the employer recognises how angry people are about them going for the same order of staff cuts that failed so totally in 2018. If you feel as annoyed about all this as we do, go post your ballot!
A DUCU branch member posting their ballot.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Anyway, we trust this thread has cleared up any confusion. While we work on an updated version of the leaflet, here's a quick interim version which we believe corrects our error. Thanks for reading.
REDUNDANCIES AT DURHAM ARE NOT INEVITABLE! JOIN A UNION, PROTECT JOBS, PROTECT WORKLOADS! 
Senior management at the university are trying to make around 200 professional, technical and operations staff redundant to save costs.

Durham University University and Colleges Union does not accept that
this is necessary or inevitable. We believe that management has a
choice about how they make savings and they are choosing to cut from essential, mostly lower paid staff who keep the university running.

If this goes ahead workloads will increase for many staff. Management are likely also planning another round of redundancies next year from both professional, technical and operations staff and academics.

If you want to defend your job and your workload, your best way to do this is by joining a union and getting active in it.

Durham UCU has voted to support a formal strike ballot and UNITE may do the same soon.

Any member of staff can join UCU or UNITE, it doesn’t matter what your job type is or where you work. Scan the QR codes for the link to join UCU or UNITE.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
And while we're on the subject, we put this graph up at The Bad Place less than a year ago - something the employer was flashing around in meetings. It just seems impossible to push them out of this mode of thinking that they should be able to have just as much work done for them, but much cheaper.
A line graph showing staff cost as percentage of income over four years, with the phrase "Lower is better" on the left hand side, with a huge arrow pointing downward (presumably for those needing help on the definition of "lower").
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Failing to take into account basic context can be dangerous. Look how easy it is to demonstrate Durham has too many Vice Chancellors according to Russell Group benchmarks! Do we need to start making them redundant?
Bar chars throwing number of Vice Chancellors per thousand FTE across the Russell Group, with Durham's bar higher than the Russell Group average.
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