Lancaster UCU
@lancasterucu.bsky.social
Lancaster University and College Union (UCU) branch https://lancasterucu.home.blog/
LUCU AGM TODAY at 1pm via Zoom Meeting link sent to members per email. The main items on the agenda will be annual reports from current officers and election of the new executive committee for 2026/27. Join to elect your new executive committee! Stronger together 💪
LUCU AGM 20th May 2026 1pm via Zoom Meeting link sent to members per email. The main items on the agenda will be annual reports from current officers and election of the new executive committee for 2026/27. Join to elect your new executive committee! Stronger together 💪
LUCU AGM 20th May 2026 1pm via Zoom Meeting link sent to members per email. The main items on the agenda will be annual reports from current officers and election of the new executive committee for 2026/27. Join to elect your new executive committee! Stronger together 💪
International Workers’ Day celebrations in Lancaster on May 2 Gathering at 11.30am in Dalton Square, march followed by a rally in Dalton Square, including speakers from UCU, NEU, SUTR, East Meets West, Global Link, City of Sanctuary and more. Post rally get-together at The Gregson Olive Bar.
LUCU stands in solidarity with comrades at Sheffield Hallam University! - No to dividing staff members into fabricated categories - No to moving staff members to a subsidiary company - No to changes to pensions This is an unprecedented attack on staff terms and conditions, and it will be challenged!
At the General Meeting held on Wednesday 18 February, 93.2% of members voted in favour of a re-ballot regarding our ongoing dispute. Maintaining our collective leverage is vital to moving management to a definitive, binding commitment to “no compulsory redundancies”, at least until July 2027.
We proposed to LU senior management that a joint pensions working group is established. However, we have been told that it is “unlikely” that a formal pensions joint-working group will be set up, even though there are successful models elsewhere. We will be updating members over the next few weeks.
Lancaster University will go to @togetheralliance on 28 March to demonstrate our unity against the far right! If you are LUCU member and want to join the demo and/or help organising it, get in touch with your branch to provide you name and phone number, and we will liaise with Together Alliance.
Together Alliance
Together is an alliance of hundreds of civil society organisations united against the far right.
togetheralliance.org.uk
We have called for a finance strategy reset: prioritising staff and core teaching and research at Bailrigg, improving transparency in financial governance, pausing capital spending except essential maintenance, and ensuring that resources are not diverted away from the University’s core mission.
We celebrate a successful ballot at Heriot-Watt against a 'right-sizing' exercise that would see at least 51 jobs axed. And the university is refusing to commit to preserving the valuable research time of staff. Lancaster UCU members stand with you in your dispute. @hwucu.bsky.social
Comrades at Strathclyde UCU have overwhelmingly voted for strike action and ASOS recently. The rationale for firing staff sounds familiar - the uni claims they need to make cuts of £35 million over two years, and the Institute of Education is the most affected department. Ironic, isn't it?
Remember to vote on the National Executive Committee UCU elections. Ballot closes on 2nd of March!
Stirling UCU are balloting now as the university refuses to rule out compulsory redundancies. Sounds familiar? Comrades at Stirling, we wish your ballot is highly successful ✊ @ucuscotland.bsky.social
Lancaster UCU sends huge solidarity to comrades at Northumbria University in their dispute. Shame on Northumbria University management for forcing you out the Teacher’s Pension Scheme; and even more shame for freezing the pay of staff members trying to stay in it! Lancaster UCU stands with you ✊
So. Much. NOOOOOOIIIIIISSSSSEEEEEE! (Because so much anger and solidarity.)
Wishing we could host a fundraising gig every Friday! 🤩 We are incredibly grateful to Persimmon, Bopgun, and Rice for your excellent tunes, and to Jake Lange for the pics (more coming soon) ✊ If you wish to donate to our hardship fund, follow this link www.peoplesfundraising.com/donation/lan...
Many congratulations to our comrades at Morecambe College! The threat of strike action has been enough to secure a 4% pay rise, reduction of teaching hours, protected time for planning and marking, safety protections regarding workloads, and more! You are inspiring!!!
@sheffielducu.bsky.social, remain steadfast and resolute in your fight for a better tomorrow. Lancaster UCU members stand with you in your dispute.
New guide launched to help you challenge the far-right Reform UK party. 🛡️ Stand up for equality 🔍 Spot misinformation 📖 Learn more ⬇️ unsn.uk/49UkrZe
Solidarity with everyone out this week - FE deserves better. UCU - Staff at 17 English college employers on strike from today for better pay and working conditions www.ucu.org.uk/article/1431...
Staff at 17 English college employers on strike from today for better pay and working conditions
Staff at 17 colleges across England will begin three days of strike action from today after bosses refused to make fair offers over pay and working conditions, the University and College Union (UCU) c...
ucu.org.uk
We love to see it! Solidarity to all our colleagues striking today ✊
@uculondonoffice.bsky.social · 7mo agoSolidarity at Lambeth Nine Elms picket this morning! Stand with FE staff ✊ @ucu.org.uk
Sheffield UCU @sheffielducu.bsky.social has been taking strike action in defence of jobs this term. But in an alarming escalation, Sheffield management has threatened to "lock out", ie. deduct pay at 100% for each day, if members refuse to reschedule marking, beginning with the start of 2026. 🧵1/7
LUCU sends huge solidarity to comrades at St Helen’s and Knowsley and City of Liverpool college in their dispute for a New Deal for FE. This is an absolutely crucial fight in the battle for a FE system in crisis. Remain steadfast and resolute in your fight for a better tomorrow. #ANewDealForFE
One of the other lessons should be that a lot of these moves by universities are a lot more optional than they claim. Which is bad management. Redundancies are well known in the literature to cause ongoing organisation issues which last for a loooong time.
Lancaster UCU@lancasterucu.bsky.social · 9mo agoAbsolutely! This U-turn is 100% a trade union victory. As we explain in our post ⬇️ important concerns remain, but the message still holds organised pressure and solidarity works bsky.app/profile/ucu....
There's still *so much* to do and uncertainty remains in the long-term. BUT...very grateful to my local union exec @lancasterucu.bsky.social and my LUCU colleagues for getting my employers to remove CR in the very near future Onwards and Solidarity
Prof. Liz Oakley-Brown@earlymodlancs.bsky.social · 9mo agoWhat a gorgeous photograph ! Taking this vibe into the new week
📢📢📢Reminder to members: Emergency General Meeting today at 1pm to discuss next steps following last week's announcements
Absolutely! This U-turn is 100% a trade union victory. As we explain in our post ⬇️ important concerns remain, but the message still holds organised pressure and solidarity works bsky.app/profile/ucu....
David Bartram@dbartram.bsky.social · 9mo agoYou know your union branch is in good shape if the mere *threat* of strike is sufficient to achieve your goals. If you have to actually go on strike, you've probably already lost. (congrats @lancasterucu.bsky.social!)
You know your union branch is in good shape if the mere *threat* of strike is sufficient to achieve your goals. If you have to actually go on strike, you've probably already lost. (congrats @lancasterucu.bsky.social!)
Karen Gregory@karengregory.bsky.social · 9mo agoLancaster University UCU members have beaten back compulsory redundancies. After weeks of pressure management has agreed to halt all forced job cuts until July 2026. This is a victory for jobs and every branch fighting cuts across the sector. We are the university. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Strikes suspended in Lancaster University staff job cuts row - BBC News
The university is trying to save £30m amid rising costs and a fall in international student numbers.
bbc.co.uk
