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Dear members,
Our picket line was well attended on Monday’ students have been pouring in support for our strike on instagram and physically turned out in droves to stand with us in solidarity. As it stands, we are holding a further picket line on Tuesday 18th November from 8:30 am at University Park South Entrance.
It is vital that we have maximum turnout at our members’ meeting tomorrow Thursday 13th November at 1pm on Zoom. We will discuss the current state of play following the announced course closures and make a decision on the offer to end our strike action (see today’s email from Lopa subject line: sending Dispute resolution letter again).
Read on for the following topics:
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- Course suspensions threaten the soul of the University
- Remember to vote in the national ballot
- Branch Committee meeting summary
- Departmental Reps meeting summary
- Agnes Flues memorial parkrun
- Local and national campaigning
- Joining link and further information
Course suspensions threaten the soul of the University
The University has announced that 48 courses are being “suspended”. These measures will effectively end the Music, Modern Languages, and American and Canadian Studies departments, and significantly reduce Nursing courses. This academic vandalism has been garnered coverage by local, national, and international media, and has outraged our students.
These new measures show that University heads have a very different vision of what a University is to the rest of us; those who facilitate education and learn here. One of our students sums this up very well.
We know from the news at Cardiff University that staff and students can fight back together and win! As part of our fight against these mesasures, please sign these petitions against course “suspensions”.
Remember to vote in the national ballot
The UCU national ballot is open until Friday 28 November. As such Departmental Reps will be asking you whether you have voted. If you haven’t yet found your ballot in its fetching pink envelope, then please order a replacement. Once you have voted, please inform your Rep or let UCU know directly.
Branch Committee meeting summary
Your Branch Committee met on Tuesday 11th November and exclusively discussed the dispute resolution meeting earlier that day and subsequent letter received.
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
Your Departmental Reps met on Thursday 6th November and discussed;
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- Get The Vote Out strategy for the current national ballot
- Catastrophic course closures announced by the University
he Departmental Reps meeting occurs approximately monthly to provide space for Reps to feed back comments and concerns from members in their areas.
Agnes Flues memorial parkrun
Thank you to all who attended and donated to the 2nd annual Agnes Flues memorial parkrun. The branch particularly appreciated the support of Agnes’s partner Manuel. We managed to raise £455 to support our ongoing campaigns and defend jobs at the University.
Chris Tregenza captured some beautiful photos like the one below – you can find the full collection here.
Local and national campaigning
Meet with a Cuban teacher
The local branches of the National Education Union and Cuba Solidarity Campaign are holding a public meeting on Wednesday 19th November at 6:30 pm at The Place, NG5 2JP. The guest of honour is Dr Lisette Rubio Madersos who will be speaking on the impact that the US blockade is having on the education system in Cuba.
Call on Nottinghamshire County Council to divest from apartheid
We encourage all members to sign Nottingham Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s petition demanding that Nottinghamshire County Council divests from 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.
Report anti-trans discrimination
Have you been questioned, stopped or challenged using a single-sex space? Fill in this form to help TransActual advocate on this issue at a national level.
Joining link and further information
Remember to pass on the online joining link to your colleagues.
Donate to the branch hardship fund here!
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 confidential support service educationsupport.org.uk who can be called 24/7 on 0800 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