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QM_UCU

@qmucu.bsky.social
1.9K followers 3.4K following 2.9K posts

Local University & College Union branch at Queen Mary University of London. || Account checked only part-time; allow time for responses or reach us via email. qmucu.org

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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
To all casualised academics and PGRs: Please sign this statement against strike-breaking work to support @goldsmithsucu.bsky.social in their strike action! They are in week 16 of an indefinite strike, hoping to save 100s of academic jobs: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
Why we are refusing strike-breaking work at Goldsmiths this term: A commitment from casualised academics
This form is for signing this statement: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qMa2Sho8eqkRNm44gNW0L8mUT6Mhe01tlVD8hAiOSk8/edit?usp=sharing Please sign if you are a casualised academic or Research Stud...
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UCU Edinburgh @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Day 8 of the UCU workers' strike at the University of Edinburgh against the job cuts imposed by senior management and their burgeoning salaries. Yesterday, a victory: the Principal announced he is stepping down in 2028. We must, however, change the system that elects Principals ...
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Solidarity with @ducuuo.bsky.social who are standing strong on their picket! ✊✊
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UCU Edinburgh @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Scenes from the Picket Line: Day 3 of the UCU workers' strike at the University of Edinburgh, following hundreds of job losses and thousands more to come. Here are our wonderful workers, staying strong: (1) Craft-making on the picket line ...
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University of Nottingham UCU branch @uonucu.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Our strike action began today. The management at our university has seemingly shackled itself to course closures and compulsory redundancies, despite neither being financially necessary. So we fight for our members, our students, and our community until they change their minds.
A photo of a UoN UCU rally
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Dundee UCU @ducuuo.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Day 8 of 25. We moved our picket line to this afternoon and we were blessed with amazing sunshine. Our members resolve is strong as we fight against the underhanded methods employed by the UEG including not following their own processes. Thanks to the many students who support us and visited us.
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
coming in 19th in an overall UK ranking - finally, we are winning in something! Read the full article here: thetab.com/2026/09/08/t... #UKHE
thetab.com
The UK universities which spent the most money on 'restructuring' and cutting staff's jobs
Several Russell Group unis spent millions on voluntary severance schemes
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
QMUL made it into the news...again. Instead of investing in a sustainable future that centres the experiences of students and the working conditions of its staff, management, according to The Tab, spent £4,820,000 on restructuring, (1/2)
QMUL in the NewsQMUL spent 
£4,820,000
in 2024/25 on restructuring
instead of investing in a sustainable future of the institution and ranks 19th amongst Britain’s universities. picture of the newspaper article stating "The UK universities which spent the most money on 'restructuring' and cutting staff's jobs"
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Workers at the University of Hull are facing another round of voluntary redundancies while management threatens further measures over a decrease in international students. Check out our #UKHEShrinking page to get an idea of the grave developments in the sector: qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
qmucu.org
UK HE shrinking - QMUCU
a live page of all the redundancies and restructures happening across UK Higher Education. Page is updated regularly.
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Solidarity with Brighton, where the university management is threatening the derecognition of UCU! We will stand together! ✊
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Dundee UCU @ducuuo.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Join us at our rally tomorrow as we say "NO COMPULSORY REDUNDANCIES" at the University of Dundee. 154 colleagues' jobs are under threat. Come along to show our governing body, Court, how we feel about putting peoples' jobs and lives at risk. 12:30pm. Bonar Hall, Nethergate, Dundee.
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covucu.bsky.social @covucu.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Dear University Alliance Lifetime Achievement Award? For CU’s VC? The university with the huge deficit, collapsing student numbers, hundreds of redundancies and 2,788 staff transferred to subsidiaries over 3 years? That Coventry? Right. Interesting award criteria you have there. Best, The staff
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The UCU branch at De Montfort University Leicester @ucudmu.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Solidarity with colleagues working the @ucu-ulster.bsky.social open day, whilst facing 450 redundancies. Anyone in the area, please stop by at 10am!
Photo of a UCU picket at the university of Ulster
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
It seems like mass redundancies get you an award nowadays. What a joke!
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 25/08/2026
🚨 University of Nottingham staff will strike over plans that put jobs, courses, teaching and research at risk. UCU members will walk out on 30 September and 1 October, followed by sustained strike action from 5 October to 11 December. Staff have put forward alternatives. Management must listen.
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Birmingham UCU @birminghamucu.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
SundayTimes reports that the University of Birmingham spent £12.4m on redundancy payments in 2024–25. This was the fourth-highest among the eight Russell Group universities listed as spending more than £10m, and sixth-highest across all 117 institutions analysed.
thetimes.com
Universities spend £400m on ‘golden goodbyes’ in a single year
The 60% increase shows how even top institutions are scrambling to deal with falling numbers of overseas students and stagnating domestic tuition fees
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
thetimes.com
Universities spend £400m on ‘golden goodbyes’ in a single year
The 60% increase shows how even top institutions are scrambling to deal with falling numbers of overseas students and stagnating domestic tuition fees
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
“The university is making the atmosphere as nasty as they possibly can, and the pools as wide as they can, to maximise take-up. Some really top, older staff have gone for voluntary redundancy.”
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
They call it voluntary to gloss over how their schemes are ruining the university, making the job "untenable". This is not just because academic staff are made redundant. @thetimes.com reports that a lot of these schemes are taken up by professional service staff. #UKHE
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 23/08/2026
📰 Today’s Sunday Times exposes just a fraction of the attacks on jobs in Universities. We know the true picture across the UK is even worse. With record student sign ups this situation is completely untenable. The government must intervene.
This table describes the level of job losses in several universities across the UK.
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
We encourage every member of our branch to attend the vigil for Jason Arday taking place today at 6 pm in Trafalgar Square. Let's stand together in grief and solidarity and express our anger collectively.
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Shameful behaviour! Sending solidarity to Exeter and @exeterucu.bsky.social ! ✊ We also added this to our #shrinkingHE list: qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Shameful behaviour! Sending solidarity to Exeter and @exeterucu.bsky.social ! ✊ We also added this to our #shrinkingHE list: qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
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TransActual @transactualuk.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
The EHRC's new Code of Practice is now in effect. Here's what you need to know! transactual.org.uk/know-your-ri... #TransRights #Trans #TransResources
Image of hands waving Trans flags. 

Text reads: Know Your Rights! The EHRC's new code of practice is now in effect. Here's what you need to know.
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TransActual @transactualuk.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
TransActual is launching the Trans Lives Survey 2026. It's quick, anonymous and will help us campaign for our community! Take the survey here: form.typeform.com/to/BRppksJ3 #TransLives #TransSurvey #Trans
A pink and blue graphic with a black and white cartoon of some people on the bottom. 

Text reads: TransActual is launching its biggest survey for the trans community yet!

TRANS LIVES SURVEY

2026

We want to hear about your experiences as a trans person living in the UK.

It's quick, anonymous, and will help us campaign for our community!
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Benjamin Braun @benbraun.social · 10/08/2026
How could things in UK higher ed possibly get worse? Hello for-profit universities run by a firm owned by the Bettencourt family and Canada's biggest pension fund. www.ft.com/content/f094...
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
The DUA aims to increase cooperation between the defence sector and higher education. Instead of deepening the ties with the military-industrial complex, we call on the university to take its workers seriously. #UKHE
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
✊No more cuts! No more spending on war!✊ At a time of constant cuts and mergers, Queen Mary University of London joined the Defence University Alliance (DUA) in an opaque move.
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Birmingham UCU @birminghamucu.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Redundancies don’t just affect those selected. Where posts are cut but work remains, other staff absorb extra duties, increasing workload and impacting wellbeing, teaching quality and student support
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
That's why we sent £500 to each strike fund in solidarity with the workers of each university. ‼️Check the UCU dispute list! 📢Go down to a picket close to you! 🤝Send a solidarity message and donations! 📝Bring a solidarity motion to you next branch meeting! (2/2)
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
✊QM UCU supports branches currently on strike!✊ All over the country, the sector is facing mass redundancies, mergers, and deteriorating working conditions. But they don't take on an isolated group of workers! We stand together and support each other across branches! (1/2)
"Solidarity Across Campuses, QM UCU Stands with Edinburgh, Nottingham, and Goldsmiths. We sent 3x £500 pounds to their fighting funds. 
Logo of UCU QM Branch and a picture of people at a picket holding up a banner which has 'Solidarity' written on it. What you can do next: Check the UCU dispute list, Send a solidarity message and donations, visit a picket near you, bring a solidarity motion to your next branch meeting
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Goldsmiths UCU @goldsmithsucu.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
📌 SAVE THE DATE: GUCU strike fundraiser! 📌 Wednesday 22 July, 6 till 10pm, Pelican House E1. Music! Speakers! A raffle! Friends! Everything you could possibly need to get through (another) long hot summer of fighting the good fight. Full line-up coming soon 😉 Divided we beg, united we fight!
A pale blue poster with a grainy photo of a pink t-shirt reading STRIKE, 269 staff at risk. Text reads: Wednesday 22 July 2026, 6 till 10, Pelican House, E1 5QJ. Music! Speakers! Prizes! Friends! Divided we beg, united we fight! Goldsmiths UCU strike fundraiser.
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University of Nottingham UCU branch @uonucu.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Don't forget! Our fundraiser concert is happening next saturday at Liquid Light with Renegades of Rage (featuring some of our own members!) and Thieves of the Stone Age. Tickets are moving, so make sure you grab one in advance: www.tickettailor.com/events/reneg...
tickettailor.com
Buy tickets – Renegades of Rage UK + Thieves of the Stone Age (UoN UCU strike fundraiser) – Liquid Light Taproom
Renegades of Rage UK + Thieves of the Stone Age (UoN UCU strike fundraiser) – Liquid Light Taproom, Sat 18 Jul 2026 - Renegades of Rage UK + Thieves of the Stone Age (UoN UCU strike fundraiser) Who…
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TransActual @transactualuk.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
MPs are running out of time to sign the EDM and must act now! Over 150 MPs have signed an early day motion to reject the EHRC's Code of Practice. If your MP hasn't signed yet, it takes two minutes to email and ask them to take action. equalrecognition.eaction.org.uk/rejectthecode
equalrecognition.eaction.org.uk
Email your MP to reject the Code of Practice and support EDM 240
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
This downscaling is part of the UK-wide casualisation of TA/TF working conditions, which is making it increasingly difficult for PGRs to navigate academia. This is unacceptable!
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
We stand in solidarity with our colleagues at Lincoln University, who are once again facing redundancy! We also updated our #UKHE Shrinking list. Check it out to get a full picture of the systematic destruction of the sector: qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
qmucu.org
UK HE shrinking
a live page of all the redundancies and restructures happening across UK Higher Education. Page is updated regularly.
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Exeter UCU @exeterucu.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
We just had a meeting with over 700 (!!) of our members and OVERWHELMINGLY voted in favour of a motion to calling for a strike ballot! 🩷 We're doing this together. We are the University! #DefendExeterUni.
EXETER UCU VOTES IN FAVOUR OF MOTION CALLING FOR STRIKE BALLOT
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Northumbria UCU Branch @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
And yet management @northumbriauni.bsky.social press on with plans to cut the pay of hundreds of staff on @teacherspensions.bsky.social. This is vindictive, unnecessary, a permanent stain on the university's reputation, and, with job losses imminent, is destroying morale. For what?
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UCU Newcastle University @newcastleucu.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Solidarity works! Colleagues in History, Classics and Archaeology (HCA) at Newcastle have raised £586 for the UCU Nottingham fighting fund in support of members taking strike action against compulsory redundancies. The collection was organised in recognition that what happens at one
image showing a Solidarity Fund pot for Nottingham Uni UCU to show that we are all in this fight together, and that doing twinning between sections and branches makes a material difference!
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Goldsmiths UCU @goldsmithsucu.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Tomorrow, 12pm. Come to our strike rally at Goldsmiths University, New Cross — with Lewisham Mayor @liamshrivastava.bsky.social , @johnmcdonnellmp.bsky.social , and more. #NoRedundanciesEverAgain
Bright pink and green graphic with bold black text reading “Stop the Goldsmiths Cuts.” A speech bubble announces a strike rally on Tuesday 30 June at 12pm at Goldsmiths University, New Cross, SE14 6NW. Speakers include Lewisham Mayor Liam Shrivastava and MP John McDonnell. A cartoon megaphone with “GUCU” written on it appears in the bottom left. A QR code links to more information and the strike fund donation page.
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Northumbria UCU Branch @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
@ucu.org.uk @unisoninhe.bsky.social @unisonmedia.bsky.social Job losses imminent @northumbriauni.bsky.social. Joint statement from @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social and @unison.org.uk at the uni: The first duty of any trade union is to protect the jobs and livelihoods of its members. ...
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Indeed, utterly reckless. In case you're interested: alumni of York have started a petition for fellow alumni bsky.app/profile/wade...
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Esme (she/her) @esmegrace31.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
A petition has now been created by Exeter UCU against these measures. Sign it here: c.org/LF57sK7YfR This careless obliteration of HASS subjects is needless and so cruel to the fantastic staff at Exeter, and the wider devaluing of humanities & arts subjects within UKHE must be stopped.
c.org
Sign the Petition
Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter
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petemcgowran.bsky.social @petemcgowran.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
c.org/25N5NjnxCm
c.org
Sign the Petition
Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter
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Leicester UCU @leicesterucu.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
UCU thinks university rankings are nonsense. But university senior managers love them. They have been boasting about Leicester rising 12 places in the QS rankings. Leicester UCU prepared this infographic to offer a more long-term perspective.
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Dr. Elinor Carmi @elinorcarmi.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
What I *love* about UK Higher Education is that there is a belief in meritocracy which intentionally ignores the class system. Universities have to report on the jobs their students get after finishing their degrees and the salaries they get, as if their degree is divorced from their class ->
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
When the only metrics managers have incentives about are financial, you get mad midsummers like today, when multiple universities each announce hundreds of redundancies. #UKHE cannot survive with all these short-termist cuts to meet covenants by the end of July.
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