Tag: solidarity

Posted on

Update to solidarity support for action taken after July 9

Dear members

With the marking and assessment boycott entering a new phase following exam boards, the branch recognises that for many, marking duties will no longer exist but that there are a small number of members who are continuing to deliver significant impact  and disruption. Examples of this include mabbers responsible for marking non-compensable modules in accredited courses.  These members are now carrying a significant load on behalf of all us.  In recognition of this, we would like to announce an update to our solidarity support package for the current phase of industrial action. 

For action taken from July 9-31, we will offer members £100/day once they have reached 21 days of action in total.  Consequently, we are also removing the cap of £1000 in local claims.

Thus, the new scheme is summarised as follows:

    • days 1-2 of your industrial action: no cover
    • days 3-10: covered by national fund (£75/day or £50/day depending on salary)
    • days 11-20: covered by local fund (£25/day)
    • day 21 onwards: covered by local fund (£25/day for all dates prior to July 9,; £100/day for July 9-31)

Click  here to apply to the national fighting fund.

Click here to apply to the local solidarity fund. I have updated the application form  to reflect these changes. 

All applications should be done via these forms, but please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks for your support.

Posted on

How to claim from the national and local UCU hardship funds

Email sent to members on Tuesday 30th June 2026.

Dear members

By now many of you will have started to see pay deductions for having taken part in industrial action this summer.  As a result, I would now like to share details of how to access financial support from both the national and local hardship funds.

National UCU fighting fund:  When pay is deducted in full for a day, whether as part of a MAB or through strike action, members can apply to the national UCU fighting fund for support. They can apply for support after two waiting days ie from the third day of action onwards. They can then apply for up to a maximum of 8 days at £75/day (<£30k salary) or £50/day (>£30k salary). . 

Details on how to apply to national fighting fund can be found here. 

Members should apply to the national fund first before looking to access the local solidarity fund.

Local solidarity fund: In addition to national fund, the branch can also provide further support from our local solidarity fund.  Members should only seek this support once they have already used up their entitlement from the national fund. To this end, for as long as funds are available, we will offer: £25/day up to a maximum of £1000 for the period up to the end of July 2026. 

Click here to apply to the local solidarity fund.

You will need  to upload:

    • a copy of your payslip showing pay deductions 
    • evidence of your prior application to the national fund

Members do not need to request the full amount. In fact, in order to ensure that funds remain available to those in greatest financial need, we encourage members to consider asking for less if they feel able to do so. At the same time, if any members are under significant financial pressure and need to access more than the stated amount, you can request this in the form. We will only consider enhanced support in extreme cases. All cases will be reviewed by a team from the branch committee.

To summarise:

    • days 1-2 of your industrial action: no cover
    • days 3-10: covered by national fund (£75/day or £50/day depending on salary)
    • day 11 onwards: covered by local fund (£25/day up to a max of £1000)

If you have any questions, please contact me directly. 

In solidarity

Supporting other members taking part in the MAB/strike

All members able to impact assessments should take part in the MAB. However, if you are not involved in assessments, we ask that you donate to the local solidarity fund to help support those who are taking part, and share the burden of financial responsibility. 

We recommend a donation of at least a quarter of your take home salary for each day of the MAB.  Members who wish to donate more are, of course, welcome to do so! Here are the details to  donate to the local solidarity fund by bank transfer:

UCU Nottingham LA63 Hardship Fund

Account number: 20346359

Sort code: 60-83-01

Ref: MAB 2026

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Financial support and donations during the MAB

Email sent to members on Monday 11th May 2026.

Dear members

Please bookmark this email. It contains the following important information for future reference: 

  1. Details on the financial support available  from both the national and local fighting funds for taking part in industrial action, including the marking and assessment boycott (MAB)
  2. Details on how to donate to our solidarity fund for those who are unable to take part in the MAB

Financial support during the MAB

The employer is expected to deliver pay deductions for members taking part in industrial action.  However, we will be able to offer financial support to help lessen the impact of this. 

In the event of partial pay deductions for taking part in the MAB, members will be able to access the local solidarity fund. In the event of 100% pay deductions, they will be able to access both the local fund and the national UCU fighting fund.

National UCU fighting fund:  When pay is deducted in full, whether as part of a MAB or through strike action, members can apply to the national UCU fighting fund for support. They can apply for support after two waiting days ie from the third day of action onwards. They can then apply for up to a maximum of 8 days at £75/day (<£30k salary) or £50/day (>£30k salary).  The national fund cannot be used in the event of partial pay deductions. 

Details on how to apply to national fighting fund can be found here. 

Members should apply to the national fund first before looking to access the local solidarity fund.

Local solidarity fund: In addition to national support, the branch will also be able to support members taking part in the forthcoming MAB.  Thanks to previous donations from members and other branches,  we have recently been able to build up healthy financial reserves in our solidarity fund.    To this end, for as long as funds are available, we will offer:

  • Up to £500 to cover the first two months of the MAB. 
  • If the MAB is cut short before that time, we will offer £20/day up to a maximum of £500. 

Members do not need to request the full amount. In fact, in order to ensure that funds remain available to those in greatest financial need, we encourage members to consider asking for less if they feel able to do so.

We hope to be able to increase this offer provided we receive enough support from further donations (see below)

Details on how to apply to local solidarity fund will be shared in due course. Note that you will have to provide evidence of relevant salary deductions on your pay slip, in order to apply for this support in both cases. 

Members with acute financial needs can apply to the branch for an immediate loan ahead of the decision – please email the branch (uonucubranch@gmail.com) and mark your email ‘loan request’. 

Supporting other members taking part in the MAB

All members able to impact assessments should take part in the MAB. However, if you are not involved in assessments, we ask that you donate to the local solidarity fund to help support those who are taking part and share the burden of financial responsibility. 

We recommend a donation of at least a quarter of your take home salary for each day of the MAB.  Members who wish to donate more are, of course, welcome to do so! Here are the details to donate to the local solidarity fund by bank transfer:

UCU Nottingham LA63 Hardship Fund

Account number: 20346359

Sort code: 60-83-01

Ref: MAB 2026

In the event the management does not go through with pay deductions for those taking part in a MAB, we will offer to return all donations back to the donor.

If you have any questions about this, please contact me directly. 

In solidarity

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UCU Hardship Fund – Donations and Applications

Email sent to members on Thursday 30th October

Dear members,

Thank you for your continued solidarity and commitment throughout this period of industrial action. Our collective strength depends not only on participation but also on mutual support — ensuring that those most affected by pay deductions can continue to take part.

Maintaining a strong hardship fund is essential to sustaining effective action and sharing the financial burden fairly across the branch.

We recommend you save this email for future reference.

Hardship Fund Donations

Many members have chosen to focus strike activity on high-impact days while working on others. If you are not striking every day, we strongly encourage you to donate at least a quarter of your salary for the days you are working.

These donations directly support colleagues with heavy teaching or administrative workloads who are striking more frequently — helping everyone to stay the course.

To donate:
UCU Nottingham LA63 Hardship Fund
Account number: 20346359
Sort code: 60-83-01
Reference: Autumn 2025

Every contribution, no matter the size, strengthens our collective position and ensures no member is left behind.

Hardship Fund Applications

Once you have payslips showing strike-related deductions, you can apply for support from both the national UCU fighting fund and the local branch hardship fund.

National UCU Fighting Fund

Members can claim for up to 8 days of strike action:

  • £75/day for salaries under £30,000
  • £50/day for salaries over £30,000

Please note:

  • The cap applies to the entire dispute, including the July action.
  • Members cannot claim for the first three days of strike action.
  • You must apply to the national fund first before applying to the local fund.

Details on how to apply to the national fighting fund can be found here. 

Local UCU Hardship Fund

Thanks to the generosity of members and other branches, we are happy to report that we can offer members support at a rate similar to the national fund (which is obviously much better resourced!).

We will offer:

  • Up to £50 per day, capped at £600 total,
  • Covering the 42 days of action this term (Sep-Dec 2025).

Eligibility:

  • Members applying after the first phase ending on Friday 24 October must show deductions for at least 12 of the first 20 days.
  • Members applying after the second phase ending on Friday 12 December must show deductions for at least 20 of the 42 total days.
  • For part-time staff, both the required strike days and the cap are pro-rated.

Important:

  • Funds are limited and will be allocated for as long the resources last
  • Please only claim what you need, so we can prioritise members in greatest hardship.
  • Priority will be given to those facing the most acute financial pressure.

To apply to the local fund:
Fill out this google form. To do so, you will need:

  1. Copies of the relevant payslips showing strike deductions.
  2. Evidence that you have already applied to the national fund.
  3. Confirmation that you have struck for more than the required threshold for hardship applications
  4. Details of the bank account you wish to be credited.

Applications will be reviewed by a small team from the branch committee, including Tony Padilla (Treasurer) and Kitty Howarth (Branch Organiser).

Members with acute financial needs can request an immediate loan of up to £300 ahead of a full decision — please email the branch at uonucubranch@gmail.com and mark your email “Loan request.”

In exceptional cases of extreme hardship, additional funds or flexible payment arrangements may be considered — please include full details and justification in your application.

Thank you for your continued solidarity. Every donation and every act of mutual support helps to sustain our collective strength.

In solidarity, 

Tony Padilla

UoNUCU Branch Treasurer

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Challenging UoN complicity in enabling genocide!

Email sent to members on Monday 27th October

Dear all,

    Together with students from the Nottingham Camp for the Liberation of Palestine (NCLP), UCU has organised an open in-person event on what staff, students and wider society can do to challenge the University of Nottingham’s complicity in enabling genocide in Palestine. The event will take place on Wednesday, 29th October 2025 1-4 pm in Room B63, Law and Social Sciences Building, University Park. See below for further details. All are welcome!

Best,

                      Andreas (on behalf of the UCU Committee)