Email sent to members on Thursday 1th July 2026. Zoom link removed and attachment linked in text.
Dear Members,
We are inviting you to an important branch meeting on Tuesday 21st July from 2.00pm-3.00pm to discuss the next phase of our campaign to defend jobs, protect education, and hold the University to account:
1. Next steps in our industrial action
Following the University’s continued refusal to commit to no compulsory redundancies, its determination to press ahead with unnecessary course closures, with so many implied job losses and expertise, and its failure to rethink the devastating Future Nottingham Phase 2 (FN2) proposals, we need to decide how we escalate our campaign. We do have an extra Consultation Meeting with UEB on 28th July, where our Counter Proposal will be discussed, and the below actions will help this.
We want members’ views on a range of potential actions, including:
- Sustained strike action during the Autumn Semester, including Welcome Week
- Sustained strike action during the Autumn Semester, excluding Welcome Week
- A re-sit Marking and Assessment Boycott (MAB)
- An Autumn Semester Master’s dissertation MAB
- Action at Open Days
- Action at Graduation events
Please come along and help shape our strategy. These decisions are important ones for you to make.
2. Tri-Union Vote of No Confidence in University Council
The three recognised campus unions – UCU, UNISON and Unite – are jointly asking members to support a Vote of No Confidence in the University Council.
The attached motion sets out why the unions believe Council has fundamentally failed in its governance responsibilities in approving the Future Nottingham Phase 2 business case.
In particular, the motion argues that Council:
- approved the draft business case without the evidence needed to assess the impact on teaching, research and student experience;
- failed to give proper weight to the clear concerns expressed by Senate, the University’s principal academic body;
- did not require the reports and information that its own governing documents say it should receive before making such a significant decision;
- Appointed a new Chair of Council who has business connections with PA Consulting, who senior leaders are working with to shape FN2 plans and
- exposed the University to unnecessary reputational and financial risk
The motion concludes that the unions can no longer have confidence that Council is fulfilling its statutory governance responsibilities and calls for those who supported the FN2 business case to resign.
A copy of the full motion is attached for members to read before the meeting.
Your voice matters
We are entering a crucial period for our branch and for the future of the University. The decisions we make now will shape our campaign in the months ahead.
We strongly encourage every member to attend, take part in the discussion and vote on these important issues.
We look forward to seeing you there.