Workshop: ‘Building union presence: conversations that lead to action’ Led by Pete Rodgers, Nottingham Citizens
1 -3pm. Dunkirk Community Centre, The Old School, Montpelier Rd, Dunkirk, Nottingham NG7 2JW
This interactive and informal workshop looks at how we can use our one to one conversations with colleagues to encourage collective action. We all know such conversations can seem uncomfortable – but there are many simple techniques we can use to help these discussions. Everyone is welcome to attend; if you are a current UCU rep or thinking of becoming one, this would be particularly helpful to attend.
Tuesday 25th February
Discussion: ‘Gendered Injustice in the University’. Facilitated by Katharine Jenkins and Jessica Vernon, UoN Department of Philosophy
1 -3pm. Middle Street Resource Centre, 74 Middle Street, Beeston NG9 2AR (Next to the Middle Street tram stop)
Sexual violence, gendered labour—how do these affect our lives and what does it have to do with the strike? Come and discuss these issues and more with staff and students. All welcome!
Wednesday 26th February
Talk: ‘What is a student housing co-operative?’ Led by Nottingham Student Housing Co-operative
1 -3pm. Dunkirk Community Centre, Montpelier Road, Nottingham NG7 2JW
Today’s entry comes from Matt Green, UoN UCU Branch President
Rain. Wind. More rain. More wind. But undaunted support and impressive spirit from UCU members. Welcome to the first strike diary entry of 2020.
Wind conspiring with rain.
Undeterred by the tail end of Storm Dennis, hosts of picketers and supporters turned out for the first day of strike action across our four campuses. Action culminated with a rally across from the Trent Building energised by close to two hundred staff, students and local supporters, wet but resolute. Present in spirit were all those strikers unable to make it in because of flooding or poor health, but who sent in messages of support and solidarity.
‘“‘They win by making you think you’re alone’”.
At the outset of the rally, I said a few words supported by our APM Officer Joe Baxter, who did his utmost to shield my lovingly crafted notes from the worst of the rain. Next, we heard from Liz Morrish, retired academic and independent researcher in Critical University Studies, who spoke passionately of the importance of defending our pensions; then, from Sam Harris, who brought solidarity from NTU and his Unite branch, who have generously donated £150 to the Hardship Fund; from UoN undergraduate, Joseph Baker, who underscored the significance of our struggle for him and his peers; and, rounding things up, from Nottingham East MP (and former UoN student), Nadia Whittome, who reminded us that our fight for pensions and better working conditions stands at the vanguard of the labour movement today.
Thanks Joe!
2018 was the year UCU truly woke up with unprecedented numbers on the picket lines and a swelling sense of jubilation as members came together with a rejuvenated recognition of the power of solidarity. Winter 2019 saw the longest single block of strike action in the Union’s history and again saw more members on the pickets — it was our time of testing and proving and as members we showed ourselves proud. Spring 2020 will be a time for dogged determination and solid resolve.
Nottingham East MP, Nadia Whittome
On the pickets this morning, I saw in every face the grit and purpose needed to win a dispute that, really, should have been resolved by now. The employers may be dragging their heels, but UCU members and their supporters remain undeterred. The weather was inclement, but our spirit was strong and, until the downpour commenced, the new UCU sound system was enlivening spirits up on North entrance — Donna Summer’s ‘Hot Stuff’ was ramping up the irony when I stopped by, but I’ve been faithfully assured the UCU playlist has retained Branch favourites like ‘Bella ciao’.
Bringing a spot of colour and solidarity to Derby Road.
In both disputes — pensions and pay/conditions — UCU’s position is reasonable and attainable. Sustained and strong turnouts on the picket lines will give our national negotiators the strength needed to forge a deal that will turn around a decade of attacks on our pensions, our pay, our health and our working environment.
For too long we’ve seen APM members forced to work evenings and weekends with no renumeration, no acknowledgement and no real understanding of how hard they have had to work to patch together learning and research environments beset by broken systems and botched restructuring. For too long we’ve seen our IT staff ignored and frustrated by a decade of under-investment and mismanagement. For too long we’ve had early career staff forced to put their lives on hold as they are trapped in a cycle of fixed-term contracts our hourly paid teaching work. For too long, academic staff have been denied the tools, the time and the professional respect required to do their jobs.
Who says it’s grim up North (Entrance)?
Today, UCU members came together to say ‘No More!’. Our collective voices reverberated up Portland Hill to the offices of senior management. Shouts of ‘Treat us fairly!’ rang out across the boating lake. Along with the support of local politicians and dedicated students, our rally resonated with both anger and optimism. Our action is part of a larger struggle that can add momentum to restore democratic accountability to University governance and can add strength to the voices of those who want to see real and genuine change for the better.
Sheltering behind the Notts TUC banner.
And yet, at present, conditions on the ground are the worst I have seen in 20 years of employment at the University. While on the one hand, the outpouring of support from our students shows hope for the future, on the other we are working in an environment that is increasingly hostile and in which inequality and injustice too often prevail. This is a fight that we cannot afford to lose.
Indefatigable resolve on East.
The establishment of a national framework to ensure fair treatment of staff and safe working conditions is not only long overdue, but well within the purview of UCEA, while the full implementation of the Joint Expert Panel’s recommendations will protect our pension benefits and ensure the longterm viability of the USS.
First time on the pickets.
Today was a heartening start to this round of strikes, but the more people visible on the picket lines, the more who strike, the sooner these disputes will be resolved.
This post outlines strike plans for the University of Nottingham UCU branch between 20th February to 13th March. Please check back regularly for updates and follow us on Twitter: @UoNUCU
Dates of strike
February 20, 21
February 24, 25, 26
March 2, 3, 4, 5
March 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Rally on Thursday 20 February
We will be holding a rally at 11:30am on Thursday 20th at the Pavilions in Highfields Park (see blue circle on map below). The aim is to make our presence seen and heard in the management offices of Trent Building, so please bring music instruments and any noise making devices (pots and pans, vuvuzelas, kazoos, cow bells, bike bells, etc).
We also have a UoN UCU strike playlist which is public and collaborative, so feel free to add your favourite tunes!
Picket line
Picket times are 07:30-11:00.
Please make every effort you can to join the pickets, support each other, talk to colleagues and students about the action, and represent the union as powerfully as you did during the last strike. If you cannot join the physical picket – as many can’t, for various reasons – please demonstrate your solidarity and support on the virtual picket, using @UoNUCU #UCUStrike #ucustrikesback
Please take care of yourself on the picket line and watch out for cyclists and motorists! Your health is a priority so if you feel unwell/need rest, don’t feel pressure to attend the picket line but strike from home.
Picket line locations
* See corresponding letters next to red X’s on map
University Park:
(A) North Entrance
(B) South Entrance
(C) West Entrance
(D) East Entrance
(E) Pedestrian Entrance across from University Blvd Tram Stop
(F) Pedestrian Entrance Derby Road (West End of Campus)
(G) Pedestrian Entrance Derby Road (across from Wollaton Park pedestrian gate)
Kings Meadow Campus:
(H) Main Entrance
Sutton Bonington Campus:
(I) Main Entrance (College road)
(J) South Entrance (Landcroft Lane)
Jubilee Campus:
(K) Wollaton Road Entrance
(L) Triumph Road Entrance
(M) Derby Road Entrance
See below for where to report for the picket. The locations have been assigned by department in order to ensure coverage on all picket lines; however you are not obliged to go to that location – feel free to move around as well. You may also be asked by a picket coordinator to populate a quieter location, if you are happy to do so.
If your department/unit is not listed, or if you require posters or armbands, please visit picket leaders at these sites:
At UP: North Entrance (A); South Entrance (B); West Entrance (C)
At Sutton Bonington: Main Entrance (I)
At Jubilee: Triumph Road Entrance (L); Derby Road Entrance (M)
Department
Picket Location
American and Canadian Studies
UP North (A)
Architecture and the Built Environment
UP West (C)
Biosciences
Sutton Bonington Main Entrance (I)
Chemistry
UP North (A)
Civil Engineering
UP North (A)
Computer Science
Jubilee Wollaton Rod (K)
Counselling
UP North (A)
CLAS
UP South (B)
Economics
UP West (C)
Education (inc CELE)
Jubilee Triumph Road (L)
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
UP North (A)
English
UP South (B)
Finance and Infrastructure
Jubilee Wollaton Road (K)
French
UP West (C)
Geography
UP South (B)
German Studies
UP West (C)
Health Sciences
Jubilee Derby Road (M)
History
UP West (C)
History of Art
UP South (B)
Information Services
Kings Meadow
Law
UP North (A)
Libraries
Staff based at UP: UP South (B) Staff based at Jubilee: Jubilee Triumph Road (L) Staff based at Kings Meadow: Kings Meadow
Life Sciences
UP South (B)
Mathematical Sciences
Kings Meadow
Medicine
Jubilee Wollaton Road (K)
Music
UP South (B)
Nottingham University Business School
Jubilee Derby Road (M)
Pharmacy
UP North (A)
Philosophy
UP West (C)
Physics and Astronomy
Kings Meadow
Politics and International Relations
UP West (C)
Psychology
UP South (B)
Russian and Slavonic Studies
UP North (A)
Sociology and Social Policy
Jubilee Derby Road (M)
Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies UP West (C)
Veterinary Medicine and Science
Sutton Bonington Main Entrance (I)
Teach-outs and events
Events are free and open to all (not just UCU members). All venues are wheel-chair accessible.
Date
Event
Venue
Time
Thursday 20th Feb
Strike Rally
Pavilions, Highfield Park
11.30am
Friday 21st Feb
Bake-off
Picket lines
Monday 24th Feb
Workshop: ‘Building union presence: conversations that lead to action’ Led by Pete Rodgers, Nottingham Citizens
Dunkirk Community Centre, Montpelier Road NG7 2JW
1 – 3pm
Tuesday 25th Feb
Discussion: ‘Gendered Injustice in the University’ Led by Katharine Jenkins and Jessica Vernon, Dpt of Philosophy
Middle Street Resource Centre, 74 Middle Street, Beeston NG9 2AR
1 -3 pm
Wednesday 26th Feb
Talk: ‘What is a student housing co-operative?’ Led by Nottingham Student Housing Co-operative
Talk: ‘Black Holes and Extra Dimensions’ Antonio Padilla, School of Physics and Astronomy
South Entrance Picket
10am
Thursday 12th March
TBC
Friday 13th March
Rally
TBC
What happens when I am on strike?
No Emails
· Not log-on to the university network
· Not read or respond to work emails during the duration of multiple-day strikes
· Put an ‘I am on strike, etc.,’ automatic reply on your email – see below
No Teaching or administration
· Not ‘catch-up’ with work planned for during the strike
· Dissuade any colleagues from covering for your absence
· Not ‘decline’ or rearrange meetings
· Not rearrange classes
No Research
· Not attend research seminars and other research events
Out Of Office emails
UCU members should not read or respond to any emails whilst on strike, and should immediately delete, unread, all emails on return to work — except for those from students. During strike periods, we ask you to put an out-of-office auto-reply on your emails. We suggest the following text — though of course you may edit this if you prefer.
I am currently unavailable as I am striking over Pensions, Pay and Equality.
You can support us by joining UCU (http://join.ucu.org.uk/) and taking part in strike action.
If you are a student, I will respond to your email on my return — though you may have to be patient.
Otherwise, I will not be reading this email, and will delete it, unread, on my return.
Open Days
Where members have been directly instructed to participate in an open day or other University activities on a day not explicitly marked as a strike day (including weekends), they should comply with this instruction provided said activities form a normal part of the work associated with their role; where participation in such activities is presented as voluntary, members do not need to undertake this work.
Other useful information for members can be found here:
The branch is now opening up application for the local hardship fund for those who participated in the strike action of November/December of last year. You can find the application form here.
