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Dear members,
We hope you all members have had some time to rest over the Easter break. Please make every effort to attend the AGM tomorrow Wednesday 30th April from 1:00-2:30 pm. The full agenda, including text of three proposed motions can be found in Nick Clare’s (Branch Secretary) email. In addition we will confirm the nominees for Branch Committee for next year. Zoom details below.
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Read on for the following topics:
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- A catalogue of management obfuscation
- Keep pressure on management
- UCU stands in solidarity with transgender people
- Agnes Flues memorial lecture
- Know your rights – stress and mental health
- Branch Committee meeting summary
- Departmental Reps meeting summary
- Local and national campaigning
- Joining link and further information
A catalogue of management obfuscation
In the midst of the announcement of compulsory redundancies and our resultant dispute with the employer, management has taken actions and made statements that we fundamentally disagree with. This includes the following;
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- In the first dispute resolution meeting negotiators were led to believe that management would wait before making public statements. As such we cancelled our interview with the BBC that afternoon. Management went to the press within hours of the meeting.
- Management initially communicated a smaller proportion of redundancies to staff and students than in some detailed documentation shared with unions.
- Stated in a meeting with unions that Castle Meadows Campus was purchased in 2019, when in fact it was purchased in 2021.
- Despite repeated protestations, management continues to fall short in producing a detailed business case for redundancies, as it is required to do for a meaningful consultation. The documentation we have received at UoN is far less detailed than other universities have seen fit to share with their local unions.
We hope that management will be more careful with their communications in the future.
Keep pressure on management
Don’t forget to keep discussing the current situation with your colleagues, and vote in the indicative ballot (look for email with subject line “IMPORTANT: University of Nottingham UCU consultative ballot” check your spam!). If you are a new member, joining in the last month, we are in the process of arranging the ballot being shared with you too, check your emails on 1st May and vote!
You can also be a part of the pressure against these redundancies by joining the Redundancy Working Group, and/or becoming a caseworker. In either case email rwguonucu@gmail.com.
UCU stands in solidarity with transgender people
UCU is committed to standing up for all members and fighting against all forms of harassment, prejudice and unfair discrimination on whatever grounds that may arise. The union proudly and actively supports trans rights. This has been affirmed in national UCU’s statement on the Supreme Court Ruling on the legal definition of a woman. This branch upholds the position of national UCU. We will inform members of local events in solidarity with the trans community.
Agnes Flues memorial lecture
The first annual inaugural Agnes Flues memorial lecture took place last Thursday 24th April, and was well attended by UCU members and activists across the trade union movement. Mick Lynch (Secretary-General RMT) spoke on the necessity of continuing our militant fight for workers’ rights, and solidarity across trade unions. Photos from the event can be found here.
You can read more about the remarkable and committed life of Agnes in her obituary written by former Branch president, Howard Stevenson.
Know your rights – stress and mental health
Struggling with Stress or Mental Health issues?
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- You are protected under the Equality Act 2010 (see ACAS advice on mental health at work) if stress has become a long-term condition (e.g. if it leads to anxiety, depression or another substantial impact on your daily life). Employers must make reasonable adjustments.
- Confidential support: You have the right to access Occupational Health or other workplace wellbeing services – but union support is often crucial to ensure your rights are properly respected. In the first instance, we advise you to ask your Line Manager to conduct an Individual Stress Risk Assessment.
- Keep a record: if you are experiencing stress, keep notes of workload issues, dates and any communications you have with management – this can be vital if you need to challenge unsafe working conditions.
Branch Committee meeting summary
Your Branch Committee met on Wednesday 16th and Wednesday 23rd April and discussed;
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- The Agnes Flues memorial lecture
- Preparations for the AGM
- Involving members in developing strategies for industrial action
- Strategy for dealing with redundancies resulting from Phase 1 of Future Nottingham
The Branch Committee meets weekly. If you would like Committee to discuss a particular topic please email the details to: uonucubranch@gmail.com
Departmental Reps meeting summary
The Departmental Reps met on Wednesday 16th April and discussed;
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- Supporting members who are stressed due to the uncertainty caused by management announcement of redundancies
- Communications with students regarding the implications of Future Nottingham
This meeting occurs approximately monthly to provide space for Reps to feed back comments and concerns from members in their areas.
The Reps network extends across most academic Schools and professional services, however there are a number of academic and professional services departments still needing Reps. If this role interests you, particularly if your department has no rep, please email uonucubranch@gmail.com. New Reps are well supported by the Branch Committee and the rest of the Reps network.
Local and national campaigning
Academic-related, professional services staff open meeting
UCU’s academic-related professional services staff (ARPS, i.e. APM in UoN terminology) committee will be holding the next open meeting on Friday 9th May from 12:30-1:30pm. ARPS members are invited to join the meeting to talk about the issues affecting them and their branches currently. The format is open and friendly and all ARPS members are welcome. Please register for the meeting using this online form and a Zoom link will be sent to you on the morning of the meeting.
Protect Education Now! National Rally – 10th May
Post-16 education in crisis. It is our duty to bring together the whole of UCU’s membership to fight back against cuts, attacks in the media, financial mismanagement, and the erosion of professional pride. On Saturday 10 May 2025, UCU has called a huge rally in central London for UCU members and supporters to come together like never before.
Please register your attendance here. Coaches will be leaving for London from central Nottingham at 8am and will also pick up from Derby. More precise details will be communicated in due course. If you would like to take the coach please contact Chris Pritchard (Branch Secretary, Nottingham Trent University UCU) at REDACTED.
Call on Nottinghamshire County Council to divest from apartheid
Nottingham Palestine Solidarity Campaign is leading a movement to demand Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) divests its Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) from companies and organisations complicit in the genocide in Palestine. Currently the LGPS holds £170 million in shares in genocide-complicit companies. In line with the branch’s BDS motion and solidarity with Palestine motion the branch has given official support to the campaign.
We encourage all members resident in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County to sign the petition here.
Oppose a renewal of Starbucks’ licence on campus!
The encampment students have organised a petition asking UoN not to renew Starbucks’ contract on campus due to the company’s support for Israel. The UCU committee has agreed on supporting the collection of signatures. Click here for more detailed information and to sign the petition.
Online International Rally – Hands off our universities // Defend campus protest // Solidarity with Gaza
University and College Workers for Palestine has organised a solidarity rally against the state repression of students protesters and University administrations in the US. The rally will take place online at 5:30 pm on Thursday 1st May. More information and registration here.
Stop the redundancies at the University of Derby
Up to 35 Professors and Associate Professors are facing a compulsory redundancy process at the University of Derby. UCU Derby have written an open letter you are invited to sign, opposing these cuts at Derbyshire’s only University and critiquing the poor engagement with trade Union as it has unfolded. Joining link and further information
Joining link and further information
Remember to pass on the online joining link to your colleagues.
Having trouble at work? Please log a case with our large, competent casework team!
Need to talk to your Departmental Rep? Find the full list of UoN UCU reps here. If you are interested in becoming a departmental rep, get in touch!
Struggling with your mental health or wellbeing? UCU members get free access to the confidential support service Education Support who can be called 24/7 on 08000 562 561.
Yours sincerely,
L Scott Blankenship and Will Paterson-Bassett, Branch Communications Officers, on behalf of UoN UCU Branch Committee
Branch website: https://uonucu.org/