University of Nottingham

Today’s strike diary comes from Lopa Leach, UCU Departmental Rep (Life Sciences).

Today was glorious. The sun was out, drenching us with Vitamin D, the happiness inducing chemical. There was a really big turnout, including the UCU East Midlands Retired Members Branch. It was excellent to have their support and encouragement.

STEM colleagues came in large numbers today to join the philosophers, the historians, the geographers, the modern language professors, the political scientists, the lawyers, the librarians, APM colleagues and of course the many postgraduate students. University in a capsule. Such a vibrant mix.

The UoN UCU playlist was livening the atmosphere with songs of protest and solidarity. It was Shrove Tuesday, so some wonderful colleagues were cooking delicious pancakes. The students, streaming out of the trams, stopped and chatted.

A beautiful Labrador was there soaking up the admiration. The clarity of the light meant that denizens of Nottingham tooted their support as they drove by. The lorry drivers and delivery van people were as usual the loudest in their support. Every tram driver waved. It felt good, this solidarity. Our four fights resonates with Nottinghammers. A sense of optimism filled us all: this is a good fight and one that we will win. The hours flew by and picketers wanted to stay longer!

The afternoon teach-out on Gendered Inequality was a sell-out. Full house with UG and PG students. It was sad to hear that some of our students still experience sexual harassment and do not feel there are appropriate mechanisms to report this to the University. The centralised student services had impersonal queues, that made them give up. Solutions to this were discussed, including anonymised social Forums on Moodle, which allowed a tally that staff and students could keep.

Students themselves discussed active involvement in groups called Safer Nottingham, Night Owls etc. Academics discussed how their workloads did not even acknowledge time spent helping students that reached out, including restricting the time they did want to give. This really was an excellent afternoon that allowed discussion on empowerment to all stakeholders. Many thanks are due to participants and organisers alike.

Today’s entry comes from Howard Stevenson, Branch Membership Officer

It was hard to imagine more miserable weather to start Day 3 of our current series of strikes but UCU members at Jubilee Campus were undeterred by the wind and rain. It’s not as though our strikes in recent years haven’t prepared us for whatever the elements can throw at us.

There is always a fabulous feeling of camaraderie and solidarity among the Jubilee pickets and by now we are a well oiled machine in terms of our organisation.  First priority is to get the brazier lit and today this was particularly appreciated. From there we are able to sort out posters and placards and ensure all pickets have the leaflets they need.

On the Jubilee Campus our focus has always been to ensure that the three main entrances on Derby Road, Triumph Road and Wollaton Road all have a UCU presence. This allows us to engage with the maximum number of passersby so that we can explain the issues behind the disputes and the wider implications of an increasingly marketised and commercialised higher education sector.

Today on our picket lines we had the usual spread of Schools and Departments represented. Jubilee is dominated by the Business School and the School of Education, both of which have strong UCU membership, but on the picket lines our numbers include staff from the School of Computer Science, the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and several APM colleagues from across the campus. One of the delights of picketing is the many fascinating conversations that develop (usually around the brazier) as we learn more about each other and the fantastic work people are engaged in.

As the morning picketing came to an end an email from UCU GS Jo Grady arrived. It reported that a meeting with the employers (UCEA) had been organised for later today. The email included considerable detail about the union’s ‘four fights’ demands and the response, to date, from employers. The content of the email inevitably generated much discussion among those present on the picket line. There is no doubt that there is a strong desire to see both our current disputes resolved. Members take no pleasure in having to take strike action. By the same token, members were very clear that resolution of the dispute requires the employers to make serious offers in relation to all of the union’s key demands. Our industrial action has created a unique opportunity to address long term, deep-rooted problems in the HE sector. These have moved much higher up the agenda than they were previously and there is now an urgency to confront these issues. This is not a moment for warm words and minor tweaks. Rather we have taken the action we have, and made the sacrifices that we have, in order to fundamentally refashion the higher education sector. This is about the rediscovery of the university based on the values of academic freedom, public service and sustainability. In the interests of university staff and students this is a moment for bold action. These disputes must be a turning point for UK HE.

Morning picketing was followed in the afternoon by a workshop led by Nottingham Citizens organiser Pete Rodgers titled ‘Building union presence: conversations that lead to change’. Nottingham Citizens is part of a national network focused on using the principles of community organising to bring about bottom-up democratic change. Pete’s presentation focused how the same principles can be applied to trade union organisers as they build a sense of collective purpose and identity among members. Most of the participants were UCU workplace representatives based in Schools and Departments who have done a sterling job in getting the strike votes out and helping mobilise members for the pickets. The UCU branch is enormously grateful to all our workplace reps and when our disputes are eventually resolved we look forward to working with our reps to support them in their work as they build the Union across the University. Union membership cannot be something that feels remote, or that members only experience when there is a strike, but rather it is important we all see the Union in our immediate workplaces addressing the issues that make a significant impact on the quality of our working lives. Workplace UCU reps are central to this vision and this is why the Branch is committed to supporting and developing those who take on these roles.

If you work in an area of the university where UCU has a workplace representative do make an effort to contact them and discuss with them the issues that are important to you. If your School or Department does not have a workplace rep why not consider taking on the role? The Union provides training and the local branch is able to provide lots of support. If you want to discuss the matter informally with a branch officer, then please drop us a line on uonucubranch@gmail.com.

Monday 24th February

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 20^th February to 13^th 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	Dunkirk Community Centre, Montpelier Road NG7 2JW	1 – 3pm
Monday 2nd March	Crafting session: Intimidating Bunting, Crochet, Finger-knitting, needle felting. All materials provided Talk: ‘Brexit and Citizen Rights’ Narine Ghazaryan, School of Law	Dunkirk Community Centre, Montpelier Road NG7 2JW	1 -3 pm
Tuesday 3rd March	Talk: ‘The power of statistics: how to spot fake news’ Rosie Smith, School of Education Talk: ‘Well-being and resilience at work’ Neil Chadborne, School of Medicine	Middle Street Resource Centre, 74 Middle Street, Beeston NG9 2AR	1 – 3pm
Wednesday 4th March	Yoga for all stages including beginners Bring your own yoga mat/there will be 12 provided by instructor. Class size limit: 20 Session: 45 min	Middle Street Resource Centre, 74 Middle Street, Beeston NG9 2AR	1 – 2pm
Wednesday 4th March	STRIKE SOCIAL! Music, dancing, and drinks. With special guest UCU secretary Jo Grady. Free, everyone welcome!	Vat and Fiddle, 12 Queensbridge Rd, NG2 1NB	7.30pm – late
Thursday 5th March	Workshop: ‘The Changing Face of Community Education in the East Midlands: Implications for Adult and Higher Education’ Colin Kirkwood, Rob Hunter, Lorinda Liversidge, John Holford, Linden West	Nottingham Mechanics (Lounge), 3 North Sherwood Street, NG1 4EZ	2 – 4.30pm
Monday 9th March	Discussion: Anti-casualisation led by University of Nottingham Anti-casualisation Group	Dunkirk Community Centre, Montpelier Road NG7 2JW	1 – 3pm
Tuesday 10th March	Poetry reading: Peter Gizzi, Sarah Hayden, Alan Baker	Five Leaves Bookshop, 14a Long Row W, NG1 2DH	7 – 8.30pm
Wednesday 11th March	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.

Background to the dispute can be found here:

https://www.ucu.org.uk/why-we-are-taking-action

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:

https://www.ucu.org.uk/he-action-faqs

Please see our new informational flier on the upcoming strike actions. Please print and distribute!

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.