Author: UCU Nottingham

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Call for Action and Strike Info

Email sent to members on Wednesday 23rd July 2025. Minor edits have been made from the original.

Dear Members,

It was excellent to see nearly 200 of you at our meeting, and thank you to everyone who spoke – whether on mic or via the chat. It was fantastic to hear your energy, care and solidarity.

This email is to provide a summary of where things stand for our branch and dispute, and information about our upcoming strike action, our plans for pickets tomorrow, and action short of a strike.

There is a lot of information to summarise here, so it is inevitably quite long – please use the headings to guide you and please do read to the end. 

Meeting summary and next steps 

At our branch meeting yesterday afternoon, we discussed our plans for strike action tomorrow (Thursday 24th) and Action Short of a Strike in the light of the latest news on Phase 1 of Future Nottingham.

A running theme was the widespread discontent, anger is a better word, over the running of Phase 1 and the ongoing refusal to rule out even at this late stage the use of compulsory redundancy. 

A vote was held and the meeting decided to continue with the strike action and ASOS called two weeks ago. 

The call for solidarity with our APM members, friends and colleagues from the meeting was loud and clear. As was the recognition that this is an opportunity to demonstrate our resolve and strength of feeling ahead of Phase 2 in the autumn. We look forward to seeing all who can join us on the picket lines!

Participation in the strike

When it comes to industrial action, all members are expected to participate as part of the collective responsibility that comes with union membership. 

However, if you have accepted a VR offer (please see advice from UCU regional office below), are on annual leave, research leave, field research or attending a conference on the day of the strike and cannot take part, we strongly encourage you to show solidarity with your friends and colleagues by donating 50% of your day’s salary to the hardship fund:

UCU Nottingham LA63 Hardship Fund
Account number: 20346359
Sort code: 60-83-01

For both strike action and ASOS, line managers are likely to ask staff to declare participation in advance. Some have already asked this in all staff emails. Please remember however that we are required to declare participation after returning to work, not in advance. If in doubt, talk to your department rep or contact the branch committee. 

Picketing – let us know you’re coming!

As our strike day on Thursday takes place on a day of graduation ceremonies, with cars arriving and leaving campus much of the day. West and North entrances of University Park will be especially busy – and our dispute can be made highly visible. 

Therefore, we will hold a picket at University Park West Entrance from 8am until 3pm. (The Beeston roundabout.) We ask that you join us for a few hours, if you are able to, as part of your strike action. Please let us know when you are coming by using this form. This will help us plan for tomorrow!

We have a number of signs, leaflets, arm bands, and UCU branded paraphernalia, but essential to any picket are the placards picketers make and bring! Whistles, drums, maracas, vuvuzelas, and pots to bang are all welcome too – as are any snacks you want to share! 

ASOS fundamentals

For guidance and frequently asked questions about ASOS, please see the ASOS Fundamentals page of our branch website noted in last week’s newsletter. We are updating this as people ask new questions, so do ask your reps or the branch committee!

New to industrial action or to picketing?

A ‘picketing for beginners guide’ has been added to the branch website.

Our branch was last out on strike in 2023. Many of you will be experienced in HE industrial disputes, pickets and ASOS from the USS and Four Fights campaigns. Many of you will also be new to the branch or to participating in strike action. The first thing to know is that our picket lines, in contrast to how they may be portrayed in the media and in pop culture, are friendly places. 

While we protest and call attention to the serious failings of our employer, picket lines are places of positivity. We stand in solidarity with colleagues we would not ordinarily speak to and feel part of an academic community. Whether it is philosophical discussions on what the university should be, picket line dogs, honks of solidarity, kids starting their union training early, there is loads of excitement to be had. So join us for however long you are able! 

In that spirit, we recognise that picket lines are not equally accessible to all. Whether that is because you have caring responsibilities, are a disabled member of the union, or otherwise face barriers. No member of the branch should ever feel they are the lesser when their strike action does not include picketing. As long as you withdraw your labour for the day, you are making an important contribution! Feel free to reach out to fellow members to feel some solidarity as you strike away from campus, or reach out to someone you know can’t be there.

Regional UCU advice for staff taking VR

We have received advice from UCU regional legal advisors that members who have a voluntary redundancy agreement agreed or signed off may put their settlement agreement at risk if they strike. We therefore recommend that those members do not strike, but contribute to the strike fund instead (details above). If you are in this position and wish to visit the pickets on the day to talk with colleagues and express support, know you are welcome. 

Workload pressures 

APM members in our meeting made it clear that the loss of colleagues through VR is already causing significant workload issues and work-related stress. The branch workload group will be organising a meeting soon for APM members to discuss how to record this impact and hold the university to account to ensure that staff wellbeing is protected. 

Closing reflections: Solidarity with APM is Solidarity to all

The actions of the University in recent months have seen many new members join our Branch at Nottingham. All members are important to our action and having the backs of our administrative, library, and IT colleagues is vital. Whilst research and teaching staff constitute the majority of UCU members, APM staff are essential to the university – and across all job grades APM staff have been targeted first (and will be targeted again). Phase 2 is coming soon and our academic colleagues will need our action again. 

For now, it is therefore essential that we stand together – at the picket line tomorrow if you are able – to make the biggest impression we can on management, and to show our solidarity with our dear APM colleagues. Together we are a formidable force.

Looking forward to seeing you on the picket lines!

In solidarity,

Will Patterson (Picket Lead) and Lopa Leach 

(On behalf of branch committee).

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Today’s Emergency UCU Meeting 4.00

Email sent to members on Tuesday 22nd July 2025. The text has been slightly modified for flow on this website.


Dear members,

Don’t forget todays Emergency Members Meeting at 4:00 today. Zoom link below.


It was a pleasure to see so many of you yesterday afternoon at our joint rally with Unison and Unite in the Trent Courtyard in opposition to compulsory redundancies.  As we listened to our colleagues from UCU and our sister unions, and local supporters speak, the University Council met to decide whether or not Phase 1 of Future Nottingham would involve compulsory redundancies. This afternoon, the Vice Chancellor has written to UCU, Unison and Unite as the three campus unions to summarise yesterday’s decision by Council. Information has now also been put on the staff intranet about this.
In short, we have been informed that more staff have applied for, been offered and accepted voluntary redundancy settlements than the target stated in April.

This is in itself a significant loss to the University community in terms of knowledge, expertise, and experience – not to mention the loss of friends and comrades. Made all the more impactful following the hundreds of colleagues departing through MARS last year. 

However, there is also sufficient vagueness in the VC’s email about the status of compulsory redundancies in Phase 1 that we, and other campus unions, have asked for clarification on this vital point and others. 

Any clarification that is received prior to our meeting at 4pm will, of course, be something that we as a branch we must take into consideration. It is worth emphasising again that, as at every stage of our dispute, it is within the University’s power to de-escalate this situation.
Our Extraordinary Brach meeting at 4pm (Zoom link below) has three agenda items:

  • [1] Our campaign against compulsory redundancies, discussing the implication of Council’s decision for our strategy.

We have a strike day scheduled this Thursday and action short of a strike (ASOS) beginning on Friday. In the meeting, we will share the updates from management on the status of compulsory redundancies in Phase 1 and discuss as a collective  our next steps.  Part of this discussion will be summarising a planned approach to organising picket lines, so that we can ensure maximum visibility of our dispute to graduation related traffic arriving/exiting campus. We also want to hear your ideas for action, ASOS and for raising money for our local solidarity fund. (Details for donations:  UCU Nottingham LA63 Hardship Fund, Account number: 20346359, Sort code: 60-83-01)

  • [2] The updated Grievance Procedure. 

This updated procedure was negotiated with the University through a Joint Negotiation and Consultation Committee (JNCC) sub group which Branch Committee members attend For this procedure to be adopted by the University as a whole, it must be approved by UCU UoN members, so please do read this document with care.

  • [3] Motion to further the campaign for a formal dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over funding of HE. 

The text of the motion is available on the University Rank and File webpages. This follows on from a motion approved at our AGM on 30th April ahead of the UCU National Congress. We will take this follow-up motion if time permits.
Zoom details:

Topic: Emergency members meeting

Time: Jul 22, 2025 16:00 London

Join Zoom Meeting.

Meeting ID: 856 3593 9225

Passcode: 210176


In solidarity,

Kitty on behalf of Branch Committee

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Summary of members meeting 2nd June 2025

A very well attended and active members meeting was held yesterday afternoon, Monday 2nd June. Many thanks to everyone who made the time to attend. The meeting discussed Branch Committee updates and members questions, comments and views on: 

Phase 1 of Future Nottingham

The release last week of flawed and incomplete ‘pooling’ information for APM colleagues, and Branch Committee participation in consultations to date with updates from Lopa Leach as President, Nick Clare as Secretary, and Andrew Armstrong as APM Officer were discussed.

The Branch Committee was categorical that the large size of some pools was not at the request of trade unions, despite statements suggesting or stating otherwise in university communications.  

The widespread and well-founded frustration of members was evident throughout the meeting, with members highlighting the need to translate frustration into solidarity across job families within the Union and across the University as a whole. 

Apparent inconsistencies and poor communications from the University were highlighted, including the failure to publish FAQs with ‘pooling’ information last week, the seemingly changing and ambiguous position of School-based APM staff between phases 1 and 2, that concerns about UniCore data used to inform this process have been raised repeatedly, and the inclusion of externally funded roles in the ‘pools’. 

The ballot for strike action and action short of a strike

Andreas, as Vice President, underlined that as this is a local dispute we are in a position to decide our own strategy and develop tactics tailored to how our workplace functions that are as hard-hitting as possible, thus heightening our chances of success. 

The importance of a strong ballot turnout and the key role of ASOS were emphasised by several speakers and in the chat discussion. 

Recent wins at Sheffield, Dundee and Cardiff were noted as examples where high ballot turnouts and commitment to taking action protected jobs. 

That our goal in balloting for – and potentially taking – strike action is to prevent compulsory redundancies was underlined. The need to challenge the University to adopt a more sustainable financial model in the longer term, as articulated in the Alternate Financial Strategy 2.0, was also underscored. 

Next steps and actions

The key next step for all members is to vote then let your department rep know when you have posted your ballot! 

Any member who wishes to join the ‘get out the vote’ work, especially in an area without a UCU representative, is invited to email the branch: uonucubranch@gmail.com.

The meeting also heard a call from Tony Padilla as Treasurer for proposals of fundraising activities to support the branch solidarity and hardship fund. As with prior disputes, the fund will be used to support members in the event of industrial action. If you have a proposal for fundraising activities, please contact the branch.

If you wish to make a one-off or recurring donation to the fund, please use the details here.

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e-ballot results and updates

Dear Members

We now have the results from our indicative e-ballot, which closed on Friday. Thank you to all those who have voted: the overwhelming result on a massive turn out is that a clear majority are willing to take action in support of protecting jobs and livelihoods of people at our university.  So heart-warming, thank you, wonderful people. These results mean we can now seek authorisation from our national union to actually ballot.  It is vital you vote in that ballot if it is authorised, again in numbers that the university cannot possibly ignore!  The ballot will again have the 2 Qs on type of action: Strikes and Action Short of a Strike, starting from late July of this academic year (covering Phase 1 of FN) and autumn term of next academic year (when Phase 2 kicks in and CR of Phase 1 is finalised). The ballot paper, on defending jobs at UoN, will detail the types of ASOS which we may call upon you to take, these were identified from the many conversations members had with reps and committee. 

A few further updates and recaps for you: 

As you know, in March, UCU members voted to declare a dispute with the University because the VC refused to rule out compulsory redundancies. During a brief dispute resolution period with us,  VC/UEB would not step back from the planned redundancies. 

Phase 1 update: On 8 April, 2025, management announced Phase 1 of Future Nottingham, involving 258 FTE redundancies of APM staff,  equivalent to 387 roles. These are, in the first instance potentially voluntary, but if need be also includes compulsory redundancies. Voluntary redundancy is being pushed for, at all levels of APM, in professional services and in schools, although the bigger changes (centralisation)  and compulsory redundancies will tip into Phase 2. Beyond not understanding why sending VR letters to all APM staff would cause them to be hugely and unnecessarily saddened (!), roles considered for CR are being published in departments group meetings leading to people in those roles being known more widely as being targeted (unacceptable). Structural changes are not being properly disclosed to the TU negotiating teams (for UCU they are: P, VP, APM Officer & Regional BA ) and some extensive restructuring such as External Relations and CARO, have not been shared properly with Unions or staff.  The risk level of the changes is not being provided nor is why these exact roles are being considered for CR. We are, therefore, strongly contesting their understanding of when the official consultation period has started, it has not! 

Additionally, management have directly said services those people provide to the University will suffer, or others (APM or Academics) may have to pick up (ahm! Workload!! 100% is 100%!).

Phase 2 Update: Plans are already being drawn up and presume will be concluded by the month of May, re which degrees, which research is deemed financially unviable, without understanding what will be lost re knowledge advance and education.  It is highly likely that similar levels of redundancies for academics and technicians will be imposed, again based on top-down analyses rather than involvement of the stakeholders who deliver all the teaching and research. The implications to our UK and global rankings are huge.

We remain of the firm opinion that these cuts are neither necessary nor are they solely externally enforced, considering local financial mismanagement around vanity projects such as Castle Meadow Campus.

We will continue having the regular weekly meetings with management about their plans of implementing redundancies and challenging their vision of a shrinking U of Nottingham. In these meetings, it has also become clear that sustained industrial action is needed to sway management’s strategy.

Unison are also seeking mandate to go into Industrial Dispute, so we may have both unions on strike together. We also plan to hold a very visible 3 union rally soon, to show total solidarity, we will inform on dates. 

In solidarity

Lopa (P), Andrew (APM officer), Andreas (V-P)

On behalf of UoNUCU Branch Committee

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Motions passed at AGM 30th April 2025

The following motions were passed at the recent AGM;

Motion 1: New progressive pay structure for highest earners to protect jobs at UoN

Motion 2: No 120 percent workload at UoN!

Motion 3: Support a Trade Dispute with the Secretary of Education over funding

In addition, the nominees for next years committee were confirmed

Finally the branch approved one amendment to motion SFC7 scheduled for debate at Congress. The amendment is as follows;

“Insert following resolve i.

ii. Working with relevant specialist committees, review all officer role job descriptions and the use of language throughout the model branch rules to ensure they reflects current equality strands and language. For example, insert ‘migrant members’ in the enumeration of equality groups in bullet iv) under 8.6 Equality Officer.

And renumber accordingly.”