Email sent to members on Friday 19th June 2026.
Dear members
We had a first dispute resolution meeting with Jane yesterday (18 June 2026). Disappointingly, Management appeared not to be concerned about students graduating correctly in a timely manner, let alone the effect of the large scale redundancies to the university’s reputation, the shortened research time, increased stress and workload, the closures of so many courses (some that speak to the soul of humankind) . They still appear to be firmly wedded to FN2, despite opposition from so many quarters in UoN. Management has received UCU’s Future Nottingham counterproposal (see below). This report, developed by a cross section of UCU members, demonstrates that there is a credible alternative to compulsory redundancies and course closures. Management has acknowledged that there were aspects of this report that they found interesting and are looking at more closely. Therefore, we will be meeting them again next week. We hope they will reflect on our discussions and develop something more concrete.
Do take a look at this, the first part of UCU’s Future Nottingham counterproposal. https://uonucu.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/FN2-counterproposal-part-1.pdf
In particular, the report:
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- Identifies more than £40 million of recurring annual savings and income opportunities, exceeding the savings currently being sought through redundancies.
- Shows how substantial savings can be achieved through attrition, workforce planning, consultancy reductions, procurement efficiencies and tighter control of discretionary spending.
- Proposes measures to protect and grow income through recruitment, retention, degree apprenticeships, CPD and other high-margin educational activity.
- Challenges the University’s assumptions around surplus targets, strategic spending and capital investment, arguing that alternative choices are available.
- Sets out a more federated model of governance, returning greater decision-making power to Schools and local units.
This is not simply a critique of management’s plans. It is a detailed and financially credible alternative vision for the University, that could end this death spiral.
Dear members, securing change will require continued collective pressure. Thank you for standing together through our industrial action. As we move into the next phase of the dispute, it remains vital that we maintain that solidarity and continue to hold the line. This support is vital for our continued discussions with management.
In solidarity,