When UCU members rejected the ACAS-brokered agreement on Tuesday 13 March, we rejected an agreement that paid for USS’s officially-stated projected deficit. We rejected: UCL and the following UCU branches have passed explicit resolutions supporting the ‘status quo’ of the current USS benefit structure: Goldsmith’s, King’s College, Liverpool, Ruskin College, and Warwick. More UCU branches…
Friday 16 March marked the conclusion of 14 days of strike action – the longest and most successful period of industrial action in the history of the UCU. Shortly before noon pickets and supporters gathered at the Gower Street entrance for a demonstration (see photo above). This is to thank all those that supported our…
Monday 12 March sees the resumption of our strike action with strikes continuing through Friday 16 March inclusive. It is possible that negotiations this week may result in an offer that could end our dispute (see below) but we must not let the employers see any let-up in our strike action and commitment otherwise the…
We are writing to advise colleagues in more detail following our earlier interim advice not to use the UCL online strike recording system.We thank colleagues that have written in with concerns and examples of UCL emails. We have written to Human Resources (HR) and the Provost raising five objections to the current system and the communication…
The temperature rose, the sun came out and our pickets were out and about at UCL sites in Bloomsbury and MSSL. Over the weekend parts of the press attacked UCU for continuing the strike despite talks being announced. But as one senior member of the English department observed, “Why would we stop? Nothing has changed….
We’re delighted to welcome nearly 300 new members in the last week or so. Monday 5 March sees the resumption of our strike action with strikes continuing through Thursday 8 March inclusive (and, if necessary, for the following week). Please join our picketing from 07:30 at the Quad entrance on Gower Street. The forecast is…
Monday 5 March sees the resumption of our strike action with strikes continuing through Thursday 8 March inclusive (and, if necessary, for the following week). Please join our picketing from 07:30 at the Quad entrance on Gower Street. The forecast is for warmer weather next week but it will be very cold in the mornings…
Yesterday marked the conclusion of our first five days of strike action. In freezing conditions our strike action was solidly supported at UCL and around the country. Shortly after midday many pickets and supporters joined the ‘March for education’. We have received reports of widespread cancellation of lectures, empty buildings and that campus was again…
Day 3 ended with UCL students sleeping overnight occupying the South Cloisters outside the Provost’s office in solidarity with the UCU strike. Yet last night Michael Arthur, UCL Provost and President, was still in denial, posting a missive to all staff recycling the public line of the employers’ federation Universities UK (UUK). The Provost’s (UUK’s) position turns…
Day two of our strike action was solidly supported at UCL and around the country. Pickets and supporters met to discuss the day and reported widespread cancellation of lectures, near empty buildings and all could see that campus was once again very quiet. UCL students prepared delicious hot food for us and we were pleased…
