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Trans+ Solidarity Alliance @transsolidarity.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Today is Andy Burnham’s first party conference speech as PM. We’ve taken your messages from the mass lobby on tour to Labour conference in Liverpool, with our friends at @transactualuk.bsky.social and @scottishtrans.bsky.social We aren’t going anywhere.

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 29/09/2026

“Hope and vibes are not enough.” UCU general secretary Jo Grady on why hope must be backed by serious investment. Our members are losing jobs, losing colleagues and seeing courses close. Post-16 education needs more than promises. It needs investment.

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Lucy Gaynor @lucyjgaynor.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Today, staff @ University of #Edinburgh are striking to protest recently announced cuts - incl. the forced closure of >90 courses. Principal Prof Sir Peter Mathieson accused the union of "weaponising" students. I find this enraging, so: a short (quite personal) thread. www.bbc.com/news/article...

bbc.com

Edinburgh University lecturers begin five-week strike over cuts

Members of the University and Colleges Union are walking out in part of a long-running dispute over job and course cuts.

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 29/09/2026

Our members at the University of Nottingham begin strike action tomorrow over devastating job and course cuts. They will walk out tomorrow and Thursday, before beginning sustained strike action from 5 October. Share, like and comment to show your solidarity with our members.

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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

the first UCU Brief on the failing HE funding model, authored by UCU VP @markpendleton.bsky.social, is out! This is exactly the sort of evidence and analysis we need to get in front of MPs and policymakers #UCU #UKHE educationitsours.org.uk/ucu-briefs/

educationitsours.org.uk

Evidence and analysis - Education. It's ours

UCU Briefs: the key evidence, analysis and policy proposals to make education truly ours.

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Nate O @nateo.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Okay, it’s time to come clean: we are currently on strike. Every day is another day on the picket. If you want to know what I’ve been up to this past week, here’s all the info. Support our strike fund! Please tell everyone you know! Solidarity, forever! www.unitedigitaltech.org/2026/09/lega...

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Alasdair Mackenzie @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Solidarity with staff at the Legal 500. A profitable company providing services to an even more profitable legal sector should be giving far better treatment to its researchers and other staff, without whom its main product (the Legal 500 guides to lawyers and firms) wouldn’t exist

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UCU Commons @ucucommons.org · 23/09/2026

Newsletter #27! Feat: - Maddie Moore NEC election - New equality standing committee nom process - Trans inclusion webinar - Climate committee annual meeting - 'Thinner universities' - BA/Science Minister saga - Open letter for LGBTQ+ activists in Türkiye #UCU #UKHE ucucommons.org/ucu-commons-...

ucucommons.org

UCU Commons newsletter #27, 23 September 2026

Dear subscriber Welcome to the UCU Commons newsletter, a curated set of links and information about what's happening in UCU Commons, our union, and our sectors more generally. As always, we welcome a...

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Dr Jo Edge 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

UCU's Anticasualisation Committee's webinar on Equalities and Casualisation is TODAY, running twice at 12.30pm and 5pm. Details on this page (scroll down): do register for one of the two sessions if you can make it! #UCU www.ucu.org.uk/acc

ucu.org.uk

Anti-casualisation committee

Representing all casually employed staff and fighting the exploitation of casual contracts throughout FE, HE, ACE and prisons.

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Dr Gillian Jack @drgillhistory.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Another fortnightly update, this time with especially good news about Maddie's NEC election! #ucu

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Dr Jo Edge 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Newsletter #27 means our fortnightly newsletter is now 1 year old! ❤️

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UCU Commons @ucucommons.org · 23/09/2026

ucucommons.org

UCU Commons newsletter #27, 23 September 2026

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Lisa Rullsenberg @rullsenberg.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Absolutely delighted by this 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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Dr Gillian Jack @drgillhistory.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Delighted about this! Madeleine is amazing so thrilled she'll be on NEC! 🎉🎉🎉

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 22/09/2026

In our latest branch solidarity update video, UCU vice president Mark Pendleton hears about the latest at @exeterucu.bsky.social ehere members are organising and fighting back against job cuts, high workload and poor management

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 22/09/2026

Dyfrig Jones UCU President talking about the #EducationItsOurs campaign in our new podcast - No Shortcuts 🎙️

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UCU Commons @ucucommons.org · 22/09/2026

The first episode of UCU's podcast has dropped! Featuring our very own @markpendleton.bsky.social ! Links to listen are in the original post.

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Sally-Anne Wherry @sawherry.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Oh I am so pleased! She is one of the most lovely people I have met!

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Rob 🏳️‍🌈 @rotster.net · 22/09/2026

This is great news for UCU :)

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Dr Jo Edge 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

So glad for this. Maddie is amazing and we're lucky to have her! #UCU #UKHE

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UCU Commons @ucucommons.org · 22/09/2026

We are delighted that our member Madeleine Moore has been elected to a casual vacancy as UK-wide rep (HE) to UCU's NEC. Her term starts right now and will last until the end of Congress 2027, and her first engagement will be the HEC on 9 October. Well done Maddie! #UCU #UKHE

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Higher Education risks irreversible damage, says British Academy president Prof Susan Smith, with humanities and social sciences disciplines disappearing in many cold spots. BA is tracking subject provision & calling for a comprehensive review www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/stateme...

thebritishacademy.ac.uk

British Academy President: UK higher education crisis risks irreversible damage

As course closures, shrinking provision and widening regional inequalities threaten the future of UK higher education and research, President of the British Academy, Susan J Smith calls for an immedia...

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Anna Girling @annagirling.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

The Centre of African Studies is the only academic institute in Scotland of its kind - with its own budget, space, and leadership - and has produced, and brought to Edinburgh, generations of scholars. The proposal to close ('restructure') it diminishes the university, and Edinburgh, as a whole.

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

'Staff at the University of Essex are set to strike next week over cuts to 400 full-time jobs. The union, Unison, said admissions advisors, IT technicians, admin workers and other professional services staff would walk out on Monday over the proposals.'

bbc.co.uk

Essex University staff to strike over plans to cut 400 jobs

Staff will walk out over a plan to cut 400 jobs, which the university says will protect its future

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 14/09/2026

UCU members at Brighton University face the threat of derecognition. We have called an emergency rally tomorrow at 1:15pm. It would be amazing to see as many #TUC26 delegates as possible in attendance. 58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN2 0JY

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Vivek Thuppil @vthuppil.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Just posted my vote for Madeleine Moore (1st pref) & Tilia Lenz (2nd pref) & for Helen Kelsall (Women's Rep FE) The vote closes Thursday. So if like me, you have your completed ballot envelope sitting on your coffee table for weeks, get it to a letterbox by tomorrow to make sure it reaches on time!

Ballot paper for Madeleine Moore & Tilia Lenz (1st and 2nd preference respectively) for UK elected HE and for Helen Kelsall for Women's Rep FE being posted into a Royal Mail letterbox

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Dr Jo Edge 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Hi, #UCU. UCU's Anti-casualisation committee are running an Equality & Anticas webinar on 23rd September, at 12.30pm and 5pm. Come and hear from chair Ben Pope, and speakers Suzi Toole, Andy Ward and Kevin Daws. Links to register and more info in linked post. Please share and pass to contacts!

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UCU Commons @ucucommons.org · 10/09/2026

Our recommendations are: UK-wide HE: 1 Madeleine Moore 2 Tilia Lenz Women's rep FE: 1 Helen Kelsall All candidate statements are available here: www.ucu.org.uk/article/1455...

ucu.org.uk

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UCU Commons @ucucommons.org · 10/09/2026

Attention #UCU: today (10th Sept) is the LAST DAY to get replacement ballots ordered! It's now the last week to get your ballots in. Replacement ballot link: yoursay.ucu.org.uk/s3/UCU-Casua...

yoursay.ucu.org.uk

UCU Casual Vacancies 2026: ballot replacement form

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Dr Gillian Jack @drgillhistory.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Lots of news this fortnight, and the academic year has hardly started!

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Lisa Rullsenberg @rullsenberg.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Enormously grateful for all the work and camaraderie provided by @vthuppil.bsky.social during my time being most active in UCU. His work on behalf of Migrant Members has been extensive but represents only a part of his activism within UCU. Thank you 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

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Lisa Rullsenberg @rullsenberg.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

As ever, for an inside track on all manner of UCU activities and commentary, the @ucucommons.org newsletter is a cracking read. Sign up to ensure you get the insight!

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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

This edition of our newsletter is packed! VCs have obviously picked up a signal to start doing awful things again. #UCU #UKHE

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Dr Jo Edge 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I'm delighted for @vthuppil.bsky.social finding work putting his prodigious talents to good use, but I speak on behalf of the entire Commons crew when I say how gutted we are to lose him from NEC. He's a beautiful person with a strong moral compass and he leaves a nicer committee than he joined. 😭

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UCU Commons @ucucommons.org · 09/09/2026

Newsletter #26! Including: goodbye to @vthuppil.bsky.social from NEC (😭), cas vacancy elections, @exeterucu.bsky.social news, UCU equality & anticas events, devolved nations HE funding, Lincoln Bishop's takeover, OfS v Sussex, & VCs at Reform conference (🤮) #UCU #UKHE ucucommons.org/ucu-commons-...

ucucommons.org

UCU Commons newsletter #26, 9 September 2026

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 07/09/2026

Reform routinely attack universities as a "scam" and denigrate the value of higher education. The VC of Manchester Met and president of Universities UK should be defending the sector. Not cosying up to those who want to undermine it. Full response ⬇️ www.ucu.org.uk/article/1463...

ucu.org.uk

University boss criticised for appearing at Reform UK conference

The University and College Union (UCU) today criticised Universities UK president and Manchester Metropolitan University vice-chancellor, Malcolm Press, for appearing at Reform UK's conference in Birm...

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

'The need to outsource services following redundancy programmes may be increasing universities’ costs rather than lowering them, as well as impacting staff productivity, a report warns.'

timeshighereducation.com

Restructuring ‘too often adding cost rather than removing it’

Universities are ‘underestimating’ the challenges caused by outsourcing services amid major professional services staff redundancies, report warns

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UCU Commons @ucucommons.org · 25/08/2026

Attention, #UCU! There's 2 casual vacancy elections underway in which all HE members can vote. Our recommendations are: UK elected rep: Madeleine Moore 1, Tilia Lenz 2 Women's rep (FE): Helen Kelsall 1 More: ucucommons.org/madeleine/ Please vote in all categories on your ballot paper!

ucucommons.org

Casual NEC vacancies

Casual NEC vacancies UK-elected member (HE) UCU Commons is delighted that our member Madeleine Moore (Loughborough University) is standing for the current casual vacancy (UK-elected membe...

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 02/09/2026

Sheffield UCU members have had enough. Repeated restructures, job cuts and relentless change facing staff at the University of Sheffield. 84% of voting staff and PhD students recently said they have no confidence in university management. Please watch and share.

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 04/09/2026

The general secretary is spot on here. Our own poll exposed Reform’s data and now this report has exposed the dodgy money that paid for it.

A tweet by the general secretary Dr Jo Grady

The poll commissioned by Reform was paid for by dodgy money.

This poll said union members were backing reform.

UCU commissioned our own poll and overwhelming members rejected that lie.

Get Farage and his fake working class act out of politics.

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Exeter UCU @exeterucu.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

The University of Exeter has confirmed that it won’t proceed with compulsory redundancies “at this time”. This means colleagues do not need to complete the pro forma, and there will be no selection process.

photo of Nicole Kidman looking incredibly joyful and free after her divorce from Tom Cruise was finalised

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patinate.bsky.social @patinate.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

www.theguardian.com/education/20... A UCU spokesperson said: “We are horrified but hardly surprised to learn that management at Exeter are more interested in flogging military training to despotic regimes than in defending world-class humanities and social sciences teaching.”

theguardian.com

Exeter University approves deal with Saudi Arabia to train military officers and officials

In move that could generate millions, Exeter academics to deliver MA at National Defense University in Riyadh

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Lisa Rullsenberg @rullsenberg.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Heartily endorse these recommendations and urge UCU folks to get their voting papers in!

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UCU Commons @ucucommons.org · 29/08/2026

Still lots of time to dig out your ballot for the #UCU NEC casual vacancy elections, fill it in and send it back! Deadline for receipt of all ballots 17 September. Not received your ballot? Request a replacement: yoursay.ucu.org.uk/s3/UCU-Casua... Our recommendations 👇👇👇

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 28/08/2026

A university is not a commodity. Lincoln Bishop University is set to be effectively privatised following its takeover by Global University Systems. Staff did not create this crisis and must not pay for it. UCU will fight to protect jobs, conditions and the university’s educational mission.

ucu.org.uk

UCU response to takeover of Lincoln Bishop University by Global University Systems

The University and College Union (UCU) has today responded to the takeover of Lincoln Bishop University by Global University Systems (GUS).

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Alex Prichard @profalexp.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

My 3rd thread on the dispute at Exeter Uni. What are we fighting for? Is it just to save jobs? No. We need a workplace that is run by the expert professionals that make up the staff body. This 🧵 explains the governance reform proposals we have put to Council, Senate and the Uni Exec #DefendExeterUni

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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

This reminds me of a piece @drdiongeorgiou.bsky.social & I wrote a couple of years back, central to which is the brilliant Alex Sharpe's argument that academic freedom, paradoxically, involves subjecting oneself to rules governing disciplinary engagement & practice. ucucommons.org/academic-fre...

ucucommons.org

Academic freedom and the knowledge commons

By Matilda Fitzmaurice and Dion Georgiou This article represents an attempt to establish some basic, but contingent, principles on academic freedom. It does not put forward a ‘UCU Commons position’ o...

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Alex Prichard @profalexp.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

A thread on the dispute at Exeter Uni. #ucu #defendexeteruni @ucu.org.uk On 15 June HR called Exeter UCU into a confidential meeting and informed us they would be putting over 500 colleagues at risk of redundancy and expected to loose around 200 staff. The number of c.150 you’ll have seen is FTE.

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