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:
- Copies of the relevant payslips showing strike deductions.
- Evidence that you have already applied to the national fund.
- Confirmation that you have struck for more than the required threshold for hardship applications
- 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