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UCU Westminster

@ucuwestminster.bsky.social
223 followers 198 following 83 posts

We are the trade union for academic and academic-related staff at University of Westminster. Find us on Instagram at @ucuwestminster.

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Lincoln Branch of UCU @uculincolnbranch.bsky.social · 4h
UCU members at the University of Lincoln have voted overwhelmingly to tell University managers - no more compulsory redundancies or face industrial action. A huge mandate to protect jobs, protect our programmes and support out students! @ucu.org.uk
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 7h
"Students know whose fault this is." Students turned out alongside staff at the University of Nottingham, with a clear message to management: stop the cuts and listen. "We aren't going anywhere." Staff and students are united.
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University of Nottingham UCU branch @uonucu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
What a gorgeous day to stand in solidarity with your community. Thank you all for standing with us and showing this university what courage and determination looks like. Here's to our strength as the fight continues. But more importantly, here's to us winning. Solidarity, UoNUCU
A photo of the crowd at today's rally
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Birmingham UCU @birminghamucu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Birmingham UCU members have unanimously passed a “Red Lines Crossed” motion over compulsory redundancies and concerns about procedure, equality and staff wellbeing. The branch is calling for an independent examination of the Translation and Interpreting closure and a pause to redundancy panels.
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Birmingham UCU @birminghamucu.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Five colleagues face redundancy following the decision to close two Translation and Interpreting MAs at the UoB. Birmingham UCU is asking for an independent examination of the decision and selection process, and for redundancy panels to be paused. Please read and share the branch’s update.
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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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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 28/09/2026
Our members at the University of Nottingham will strike this Wednesday and Thursday in their fight against compulsory redundancies and course cuts. Show your solidarity as they head onto picket lines, ahead of sustained strike action from 5 October to 11 December. www.ucu.org.uk/article/1466...
ucu.org.uk
University of Nottingham staff to strike for three months from October in redundancy fight
Staff at the University of Nottingham will strike on Wednesday 30 September and Thursday 1 October, and then solid strike action from 5th October until 11 December in a row over jobs and course cuts, ...
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UCU Edinburgh @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Day 1 of the strike by the workers of UCU Edinburgh against the manufactured deficit (which is not really a deficit), and against a senior management earning millions while staff disappear and education suffers. Solidarity against this parasitical form of management of our higher education.
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 28/09/2026
Our members at Edinburgh University commence a 5 week strike today over crippling job cuts. Please show them solidarity as they head onto picket lines this morning.
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Dundee UCU @ducuuo.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Dundee University is continuing with compulsory redundancies. It argues this is required for the financial survival. However, the University’s cash is so high they may not qualify for £27m of the £40m additional SFC funding. The SFC have asked PWC to investigate. www.theferret.scot/dundee-unive...
theferret.scot
Dundee university might have too much cash to qualify for its taxpayer bailout
The university has continued to argue staff cuts are needed to make ends meet. But a growing cash balance has raised questions about the need for more redundancies, and whether it qualifies for millio...
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University of Nottingham UCU branch @uonucu.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Strike action begins this week! Wednesday: meet on the steps outside Portland at noon to collect and then distribute flyers. Thursday: picket from 8:30-11:30 on University Park's West Entrance and then walk to a 12 PM Rally at Trent's South Entrance. See you there and solidarity.
JOIN US ON THE PICKET LINE

Thursday 1st October

Picket: 8:30-11:30 AM, University Park, West Entrance

Rally: 12 PM, Trent Building, South Entrance

UONUCU
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 28/09/2026
“People are struggling in their day-to-day lives. So we need to think about where the money is going.” @faizashaheen.bsky.social on why we need to challenge the push for higher defence spending and demand investment in education and public services instead.
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Priyamvada Gopal @priyamvadagopal.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Solidarity with all our striking colleagues at Edinburgh facing down a managerial massacre of courses and jobs. An injury to them is absolutely and inevitably an injury to us all. This is not going to stop here.
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UCU Newcastle University @newcastleucu.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
www.theguardian.com/education/20... Our branch chair gave a quote for this, which was …. Not fully printed so just to say, the full quote was:
theguardian.com
Backlash as Indian oil heir made professor of sustainability by Newcastle University
Role for Anant Ambani, son of India’s richest person, who also runs a controversial mega-zoo, met with incredulity
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Dundee UCU @ducuuo.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Day4 of 25. The sun is out and we need everyone to come and join us today on the picket line. If you’re in Dundee and well, get yourself down to the front of the Tower!
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University of Nottingham UCU branch @uonucu.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Our massive strike action for the fall begins on Wednesday, but we will be facing some intense financial hardship to do so. Please consider supporting our members by donating to our solidarity fund. www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
justgiving.com
Help raise £10000 to support the Nottingham UCU hardship fund – JustGiving Crowdfunding
Iʼm raising money to support the Nottingham UCU hardship fund. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.
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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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covucu.bsky.social @covucu.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Coventry University Group opens its second campus in Kazakhstan Meanwhile in Coventry: redundancies, restructures and research centre closures. Expanding into a country with serious restrictions on independent trade unions while weakening union rights at home? Now that’s a global strategy.
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Birmingham UCU @birminghamucu.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The HSE is back at UoB on 28 Sept to check on the Uni's progress after being found in material breach of the law last year. BUCU will raise concerns about stress, workload and whether risk assessments are leading to action. If stress is affecting you, speak to your dept rep or safety officer.
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
'Talks in an ongoing dispute over planned job cuts at the University of Aberdeen have broken down after a senior trade union official was dismissed, BBC Scotland has learned.'
bbc.co.uk
Aberdeen University job cuts talks break down after union official dismissal
A £10m savings plan - which could see more than 100 jobs lost - was agreed earlier this year.
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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
University of Lincoln has disposed of over 500 staff since 2024. As we start a new academic year management have refused to rule out further compulsory redundancies. @uculincolnbranch.bsky.social is balloting its members on their willingness to take industrial action. If this is you please vote.
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
'student representatives have described the proposal as “tone-deaf”, highlighting that two-thirds of undergraduates are now in term-time employment and describing an expectation for them to take on additional labour as “absolutely ridiculous”.'
timeshighereducation.com
Paid employment ‘biggest barrier’ to rolling out work placements
Survey comes after vice-chancellors said they wanted every undergraduate in England to undertake work experience as part of their degree
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UCU Scotland @ucuscotland.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
University of Dundee urged to rule out compulsory job losses as strike begins #StopTheCuts #SaveHE www.scotsman.com/education/un...
scotsman.com
University of Dundee urged to rule out compulsory job losses as strike begins
Staff are due to walk out until October 23
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
'LSBU is far from alone in its desire to drive research academics into teaching-only roles. Similar plans have been explored by the University of Brighton and Sheffield Hallam University, among others, with the latter’s decision rolled back after a major public backlash.'
timeshighereducation.com
Have teaching-only contracts created a two-tier workforce?
The past decade has seen a dramatic rise in teaching-only roles in the UK, particularly outside the sciences. But does that amount to a welcome focus on education or a cost-saving wheeze that constric...
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Goldsmiths UCU @goldsmithsucu.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
1/8 Now in our 15th week of indefinite strike action against the next phase of staff cuts, we are calling for urgent fundraising support from across UCU and all trade unions to help us through one of the longest and most difficult disputes in our branch's history. opencollective.com/goldsmithsmu...
opencollective.com
goldsmiths mutual aid - Open Collective
Provide hardship funds to precariously employed staff at Goldsmiths whose employment has been cut or changed as a result of Covid-19 or restructures and who may be further impacted by strike deductions during GUCU industrial action
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Charlotte Lydia Riley @lottelydia.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
“Don’t bring a union rep” is one of those sentences that always means your employer is going you treat you with respect and dignity
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 18/09/2026
The University of Edinburgh is a world-class institution and our members are determined to protect it. With an estimated 1,800 jobs at risk, staff are ready to strike for 25 days to defend jobs and the future of the university. Management can end this dispute: rule out compulsory redundancies.
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Felicity Callard @felicitycallard.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The brutal reality of universities' suppression of wages (in KPMG's report for DfE on cost of undergraduate provision in England) assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6aabfa...
Table 1 – Cost increases since the last study by cost type
Actual % increase
between 2016-17 and
2019 study cost groupings
2023-24 weighted
average unit cost
Staff costs 14%
Non-pay costs 46%
Indirect departmental costs -24%
Centrally allocated indirect costs 29%
Estates costs 40%
Sustainability adjustment -2%

Source: Analysis of Data Returns
Table 1 shows that costs have not increased equally in the time between the two costing studies. Non-pay costs have increased slightly ahead of inflation and estates costs have increased in line with inflation. Universities have managed staff costs significantly below inflation, increasing only by 14% compared to the 41.2% increase in RPIX. By contrast, indirect departmental costs have reduced by 24%, but this may be due to differences in the universities participating in the 2019 and this study. The movement in MSI is reflective of changes in financial performance rather than any inflationary impact.
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
'The strike action, planned for 22 September, marks the first time staff have organised to walk out in The Lancet’s 200-year history. The Lancet Group, now owned by the Elsevier publishing conglomerate, comprises 29 monthly specialty titles, in addition to the flagship weekly medical journal'.
timeshighereducation.com
Staff at prestigious medical journal set to strike over pay
For the first time in The Lancet’s 200-year history, union members plan to strike over “unacceptable” pay offer
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Dundee UCU @ducuuo.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
We are taking 25 days of strike action starting on Monday. We want the University of Executive Group rule out compulsory redundancies. To our students - this is a last resort to retain jobs that are essential for your education during your degree at the University of Dundee. Support the strike!
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 16/09/2026
Union rights are not optional. Yesterday, TUC delegates joined UCU members at our University of Brighton rally to oppose management’s plans to rip up the recognition agreement. We negotiate to protect workers’ rights. We stand together to defend them.
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Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Got the formal notification of my half-sacking. Apparently congratulations are due!
'Your appointment is subject to a variation to your contractual terms and conditions. Your substantive contractual hours will reduce from 1.0FTE to 0.5 FTE, equivalent to 18.5 hours per week effective from 1st October 2026Once again thank you for your valuable contribution throughout this process and congratulations on your successful appointment to your new role.
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Elinor Taylor @elinormtaylor.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Apart from everything else, this is such a massive ‘fuck you’ to incoming students from management. ‘Hello, we’ve decided to spend the next year fighting our entire staff over basic employment issues. Enjoy your course!’
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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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Dr Andrew McInnes @drbeard79.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
This list of things the University of Brighton has de-recognised is insane 🤯🤯🤯
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Daniel C. Blight @danielcblight.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
***URGENT PLEASE SHARE*** University of Brighton management have announced today that they ‘give notice of termination of all collective agreements’. This is a fundamental erasure of workers' rights. Management have announced the termination of all contractual documents, which includes:
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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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Marta Zboralska @marta-zboralska.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
For anyone who isn’t already a member: ucu.org.uk/
ucu.org.uk
Home
UCU is the largest trade union and professional association for academics, lecturers, trainers, researchers and academic-related staff working in further and higher education throughout the UK.
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 11/09/2026
Every worker facing redundancy at the University of Birmingham is from a migrant or minority ethnic background. UCU members will meet on 17 September to decide whether to ballot for strike action. No compulsory redundancies. Release the equality impact assessment. www.ucu.org.uk/article/1463...
ucu.org.uk
University of Birmingham staff to consider strike ballot over redundancies that fall entirely on minority ethnic staff
Staff at the University of Birmingham will meet next week to consider potential strike action in a battle against redundancies, the University and College Union (UCU) said today (11 September).
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Sean Wallis @seanawallis.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
For all @ucu.org.uk members! Posts providing specialist expertise in Arabic, Chinese and Italian are threatened with redundancy at Birmingham University. Please sign and share this petition! Send solidarity to @birminghamucu.bsky.social @ucu-solidarity.bsky.social www.change.org/p/stop-redun...
change.org
Firma la petizione
Stop redundancies at the University of Birmingham
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Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
If you're a union member in the UK, you will soon be asked for your personal email address (not work). This is REALLY IMPORTANT. It seems like one of those tasks that isn't urgent. But PLEASE DO IT. If you want to take part in a future electronic ballot they MUST have your personal address.
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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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Birmingham UCU @birminghamucu.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Please read and share this open letter from staff at risk of compulsory redundancy in Modern Languages at the Uni of Birmingham. It calls for the redundancies to be halted, for the equality impact assessment to be released, and for meaningful consideration of alternatives.
birminghamucu.org
“A national catastrophe” at home: open letter on redundancies
We write as Translation and Interpreting staff at risk of compulsory redundancy at the University of Birmingham, together with the Birmingham UCU Committee. In brief: a University whose Vice-Chance…
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Matthew L Reznicek @drreznicek.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
September has come and I wake/And I think with joy how whatever, now or in future, the system/Nothing whatever can take/The people away --Louis MacNeice, Autumn Journal
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Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Ah, 4.15 on a Friday afternoon: the perfect time for HR to email a redundancy decision meeting invitation for Monday morning.
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Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I particularly enjoyed the slides reminding us to be respectful, resilient and retain a ‘can-do’ attitude even while management breaches GDPR, sacks 75% of a department, misses deadlines and proposes major breaches of academic regulations and contracts. But we’ve got to stay calm!
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Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Headlines from the school meeting: 1. We've sacked a lot of you. 2. More of you will be sacked shortly. 3. Here's an awful lot more work to do. No you can't object. 4. Recruitment and outcomes are all your fault.
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 07/09/2026
This Wednesday: join the mass lobby for trans rights at Parliament. Trans people’s legal protections are under attack. We need MPs to hear clearly that we will not accept rights being rolled back. THIS Wednesday, 1–5pm, Houses of Parliament www.transsolidarityalliance.com/mass-lobby-2...
transsolidarityalliance.com
Mass Lobby for Trans Equality - 9th September 2026
The law around trans equality is fundamentally broken. Government inaction is hanging trans people and organisations out to dry - with a confusing mess of challenging rules and lawfare.
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Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
The day has started gloriously with a PhD supervision: her dissertation on evolving theology underlying New Model Army-adjacent preachers' concepts of priestly identity is absolutely brilliant. Downhill from here: it's (allegedly) Sacking Day - when they announce compulsory firings in my dept.
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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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