Latest UCU Branch guidance  Reporting Covid-19 cases and closures  Branches are asked to continue reporting Covid-19 cases and closures at their institutions using the following link: https://yoursay.ucu.org.uk/s3/Covid-19-reporting-confirmed-cases-and-closures Solidarity rally – Heriot Watt UCU branchOn Wednesday we hosted an online rally to save jobs at Heriot Watt University. The rally was supported by all of Scotland’s

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Please see below the latest branch circulars for your information. Covid crisis escalates Northumbria University has moved learning online after UCU members threatened to ballot for industrial action over Covid health and safety failings. Our regional official Iain Owens said: ‘It was the right decision for Newcastle’s universities to do but it should not have taken the

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Dear colleague, UCU has called on the government and universities to switch to fully online teaching as the default for the duration of next term. We have not taken this decision lightly but we believe that it is in the best interests of staff, students and the public. Read the story outlining our position here.

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Dear colleague Today, I officially start as General Secretary of our union. The record breaking increase in turn out in the GS election shows renewed enthusiasm in the union’s activities. And from today, we must push on further. We have shown what we can do when we stand together. In May, staff at Lambeth College

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Recently UCU warned ministers that a £1bn funding deal for Scotland’s universities could have ‘damaging consequences’ for the sector. With funding levels not having risen in line with inflation, UCU warned that the higher education sector was facing further real terms cuts. Speaking to STV following the announcement of the funding allocations for universities for 2019/20, UCU Scotland official Mary

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UCU is still offering free membership to PhD Teaching Students for 4 years! This is a unique opportunity for you to join our Union and take advantage of all that we can offer our members. See here for our presentation. It is very quick to join. Just visit https://www.ucu.org.uk and then press the button marked

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On 31 January 2017 The Herald printed a factual article on the resolution of UCU’s dispute with the University of Stirling. You can read it here. Higher education is undergoing a period of significant change. Being a member of UCU is the first step towards tackling: Threats to research funding from Brexit An ongoing lack

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Dear colleagues Recently, the House of Lords backed an amendment to the higher education (HE) bill that says universities’ performance in the teaching excellence framework (TEF) should not be linked to the tuition fees they are allowed to charge. This is a significant blow for the government and the result of a great deal of

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Governance Act We have received an update from the higher education minister, Shirley-Anne Somerville, on the timescales for implementing the governance act and outlining when different aspects of the act will come into force.  The letter received is attached.  In line with what we’d previously been informed the provisions of the act were commenced at

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UCU continues to keep the heat on universities with our ‘stamp out casual contracts’ campaign. Following an excellent day of action against precarious employment UCU general secretary Sally Hunt has spoken out in the Times Higher Education (THE) on HE institutions’ inadequate response to published data showing an exploitative employment model.