Durham UCU
@ducu.bsky.social
Pinned
Durham UCU
@ducu.bsky.social
· 29d
Waited until today to say this, to ensure we got in as many ballots as we could, but DUCU can confirm we passed the Tory anti-trade union 50% voting threshold for the current national ballot. Our team did a huge amount of amazing GTVO work, benefitting not just Durham but other branches. Respect.
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate :)
December 25, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate :)
Reposted by Durham UCU
Solidarity to @northumbriauni.bsky.social staff, told they must move to a pension scheme widely considered worse or face a pay freeze (against UK-wide bargaining). United as unions, they can beat it (& deter other employers from trying similar). Post those ballots, & join if you’re not a member!
The only thing cooler than this post box? Posting your vote in the @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social local ballot to stop a pay freeze @northumbriauni.bsky.social!
December 22, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Solidarity to @northumbriauni.bsky.social staff, told they must move to a pension scheme widely considered worse or face a pay freeze (against UK-wide bargaining). United as unions, they can beat it (& deter other employers from trying similar). Post those ballots, & join if you’re not a member!
Reposted by Durham UCU
@northumbriauni.bsky.social want to freeze our pay unless we move pension? @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social say #Wham bam no thank you man! @ucu.org.uk @ducu.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @umucu.bsky.social @uswucu.bsky.social @chroniclelive.co.uk @danhollandnews.bsky.social
December 19, 2025 at 12:05 PM
@northumbriauni.bsky.social want to freeze our pay unless we move pension? @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social say #Wham bam no thank you man! @ucu.org.uk @ducu.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @umucu.bsky.social @uswucu.bsky.social @chroniclelive.co.uk @danhollandnews.bsky.social
It might be that Birmingham have been uniquely foolish in their handling of this situation, but it's worth noting that management failing to take overwork, stress and burnout seriously is a sector-wide problem, and only getting worse as universities slash staff costs.
Oh hey it finally made the media, only a week after the letter was actually sent.
FWIW despite being legally obliged to share with all staff, he so far hasn't.
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/birming...
FWIW despite being legally obliged to share with all staff, he so far hasn't.
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/birming...
Birmingham reprimanded over its management of work-related stress
Investigation by Health and Safety Executive found institution ‘does not have appropriate arrangements in place’ to manage burnout among staff
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:19 AM
It might be that Birmingham have been uniquely foolish in their handling of this situation, but it's worth noting that management failing to take overwork, stress and burnout seriously is a sector-wide problem, and only getting worse as universities slash staff costs.
Go get 'em!
@ucu.org.uk @ducu.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @umucu.bsky.social @qmucu.bsky.social @uswucu.bsky.social @northeastbylines.co.uk @chroniclelive.co.uk
LOCAL BALLOT OPENS TODAY @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social.
VOTE YES-YES TO SAVE PAY AND PENSIONS (and to stop more silly songs like this)...
VOTE YES-YES TO SAVE PAY AND PENSIONS (and to stop more silly songs like this)...
December 15, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Go get 'em!
Reposted by Durham UCU
@ucunorthumbria.bsky.social ballot opens next week to stop a pay freeze @northumbriauni.bsky.social. Just getting in early, ya filthy animals... @ucu.org.uk @ducu.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @umucu.bsky.social @uswucu.bsky.social
December 12, 2025 at 4:32 PM
@ucunorthumbria.bsky.social ballot opens next week to stop a pay freeze @northumbriauni.bsky.social. Just getting in early, ya filthy animals... @ucu.org.uk @ducu.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @umucu.bsky.social @uswucu.bsky.social
Reposted by Durham UCU
Here's a musical message for all @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social members, and those @northumbriauni.bsky.social who want to freeze their pay! @ucu.org.uk @ducu.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @umucu.bsky.social
December 11, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Here's a musical message for all @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social members, and those @northumbriauni.bsky.social who want to freeze their pay! @ucu.org.uk @ducu.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @umucu.bsky.social
Reposted by Durham UCU
✊ Yesterday UCU members stood at Southampton Solent as the Board discussed a fire-and-rehire proposal that would weaken pensions.
UCU is clear: no to fire and rehire.
#SouthamptonSolent #UCU
UCU is clear: no to fire and rehire.
#SouthamptonSolent #UCU
December 10, 2025 at 10:09 AM
✊ Yesterday UCU members stood at Southampton Solent as the Board discussed a fire-and-rehire proposal that would weaken pensions.
UCU is clear: no to fire and rehire.
#SouthamptonSolent #UCU
UCU is clear: no to fire and rehire.
#SouthamptonSolent #UCU
Reposted by Durham UCU
VC loses confidence vote:
December 9, 2025 at 4:50 PM
VC loses confidence vote:
Reposted by Durham UCU
This is pulling the ladder up after them - it is SO vital and I came through a route that did precisely this for me. I then went on to a fully funding nurse training that gave me and my daughter enough to live off... Talk about removing ladders from poverty.
it's gutting to see access and widening participation initiatives being binned across the university sector. ELCE here at Bristol, Essex Pathways here. nothing pushes my personal, visceral buttons like the idea of denying academic study to someone whose life it could change
In yet more devastating news, the VC has confirmed her plans to cut 80% of academic staff from Essex Pathways, our foundation year department. This would effectively close down all our existing foundation year programmes through the back door.
But it's not a done deal yet. Please share urgently.
But it's not a done deal yet. Please share urgently.
December 8, 2025 at 9:14 AM
This is pulling the ladder up after them - it is SO vital and I came through a route that did precisely this for me. I then went on to a fully funding nurse training that gave me and my daughter enough to live off... Talk about removing ladders from poverty.
Reposted by Durham UCU
Always happy to welcome more friends into club-of-demanding-an-end-to-this-mess, but why does every VC see the light only *after* they retired and set aside all power & responsibility?
What is it in those VC bodies like UUK an UCEA that prevents them from acknowledging reality?
What is it in those VC bodies like UUK an UCEA that prevents them from acknowledging reality?
'The next Scottish government should “waste no time” in launching a review into how the nation’s post-16 education system is funded, a former vice-chancellor has said.'
The current Westminster government should do so now, the British Academy argues. 1/2
The current Westminster government should do so now, the British Academy argues. 1/2
Next Scottish government ‘should launch immediate funding review’
Holyrood politicians must look at size and shape of tertiary sector, and consider closer research ties with rest of UK, says Anton Muscatelli
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Always happy to welcome more friends into club-of-demanding-an-end-to-this-mess, but why does every VC see the light only *after* they retired and set aside all power & responsibility?
What is it in those VC bodies like UUK an UCEA that prevents them from acknowledging reality?
What is it in those VC bodies like UUK an UCEA that prevents them from acknowledging reality?
Reposted by Durham UCU
Join your trade union.
@ducu.bsky.social
@ducu.bsky.social
Why do you appreciate unions?
I’ll start:
Weekends off
Paid vacations
Work breaks
Sick leave
Paid holidays
No child labor
Safer working conditions
Health care and retirement benefits
I’ll start:
Weekends off
Paid vacations
Work breaks
Sick leave
Paid holidays
No child labor
Safer working conditions
Health care and retirement benefits
December 6, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Join your trade union.
@ducu.bsky.social
@ducu.bsky.social
Awful, awful news. Full solidarity with UCU Essex in their fight to get this plan abandoned.
In yet more devastating news, the VC has confirmed her plans to cut 80% of academic staff from Essex Pathways, our foundation year department. This would effectively close down all our existing foundation year programmes through the back door.
But it's not a done deal yet. Please share urgently.
But it's not a done deal yet. Please share urgently.
December 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Awful, awful news. Full solidarity with UCU Essex in their fight to get this plan abandoned.
Despicable.
“Union-Busting Tactic”
The University of Sheffield argues staff who do not replace missed teaching due to strike action are in breach of contract, and so should forfeit an *additional* two weeks of pay.
#UKHE #AcademicSky
The University of Sheffield argues staff who do not replace missed teaching due to strike action are in breach of contract, and so should forfeit an *additional* two weeks of pay.
#UKHE #AcademicSky
University of Sheffield staff 'intimidated' by pay forfeit warning
University of Sheffield to withhold pay if staff do not make up for teaching missed while striking.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Despicable.
Reposted by Durham UCU
The insulting 1.4% pay offer from the universities on top of years of sub-inflation pay rises has led our members to vote for strike action in the 2025-26 pay round. The results are as follows:
Turnout: 54.39%
Yes: 83.16%
Against: 16.84%
We now have mandate for strike action!
Turnout: 54.39%
Yes: 83.16%
Against: 16.84%
We now have mandate for strike action!
December 3, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The insulting 1.4% pay offer from the universities on top of years of sub-inflation pay rises has led our members to vote for strike action in the 2025-26 pay round. The results are as follows:
Turnout: 54.39%
Yes: 83.16%
Against: 16.84%
We now have mandate for strike action!
Turnout: 54.39%
Yes: 83.16%
Against: 16.84%
We now have mandate for strike action!
I'd say what they think they're achieving here is exactly what they *are* achieving. Now they think they've won on what it means to be a woman biologically (despite that not being true either scientifically or legally), they've moved on to denying trans women the right to *socialise* as women.
To be clear this is not only scientifically illiterate (there is so much work on gender diversity and the fuzziness of gender/sex categories around the edges) but it's just so petty. What do these agitators think they're achieving here? Chromosomes have nothing to do with the WI remit.
December 3, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I'd say what they think they're achieving here is exactly what they *are* achieving. Now they think they've won on what it means to be a woman biologically (despite that not being true either scientifically or legally), they've moved on to denying trans women the right to *socialise* as women.
Reposted by Durham UCU
Solidarity with Derby @ucu.org.uk members on strike against compulsory redundancies this week.
#LboroUCU branch is with you as you stand up to your catastrophic management!
#DerbyUCU #WeAreTheUniversity
#LboroUCU branch is with you as you stand up to your catastrophic management!
#DerbyUCU #WeAreTheUniversity
December 3, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Solidarity with Derby @ucu.org.uk members on strike against compulsory redundancies this week.
#LboroUCU branch is with you as you stand up to your catastrophic management!
#DerbyUCU #WeAreTheUniversity
#LboroUCU branch is with you as you stand up to your catastrophic management!
#DerbyUCU #WeAreTheUniversity
Reposted by Durham UCU
December 2, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Reposted by Durham UCU
Disappointing national ballot result for @ucu.org.uk. We have to keep building despite it.
Proud of our branch @ducu.bsky.social who got comfortably over the 50% mark based on our local data.
Building strong local branches is essential to defending our sector, there is no other way out of this.
Proud of our branch @ducu.bsky.social who got comfortably over the 50% mark based on our local data.
Building strong local branches is essential to defending our sector, there is no other way out of this.
December 2, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Disappointing national ballot result for @ucu.org.uk. We have to keep building despite it.
Proud of our branch @ducu.bsky.social who got comfortably over the 50% mark based on our local data.
Building strong local branches is essential to defending our sector, there is no other way out of this.
Proud of our branch @ducu.bsky.social who got comfortably over the 50% mark based on our local data.
Building strong local branches is essential to defending our sector, there is no other way out of this.
Reposted by Durham UCU
This is why it's important to have Arts/Humanities courses AND STEM courses. It all fits together, they compliment each other.
There's no such thing as useless education.
There's no such thing as useless education.
Adding alt text to this because this is fucking amazing and everyone deserves to read it.
December 2, 2025 at 9:34 AM
This is why it's important to have Arts/Humanities courses AND STEM courses. It all fits together, they compliment each other.
There's no such thing as useless education.
There's no such thing as useless education.
Reposted by Durham UCU
Sensible universities see their staff as assets to be nurtured and protected.
Foolish universities see them as a cost to be minimised.
Really stupid universities see them as an enemy to be defeated.
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
Foolish universities see them as a cost to be minimised.
Really stupid universities see them as an enemy to be defeated.
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Sensible universities see their staff as assets to be nurtured and protected.
Foolish universities see them as a cost to be minimised.
Really stupid universities see them as an enemy to be defeated.
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
Foolish universities see them as a cost to be minimised.
Really stupid universities see them as an enemy to be defeated.
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
Reposted by Durham UCU
This is what my employer is trying to do to us at Northumbria University.
😔💔😢Please read and share these harrowing testimonials from people terrified about plans from @northumbriauni.bsky.social senior management to freeze pay to force through pension changes: ucu-unn.org.uk/news/315-tes... @ucu.org.uk
Testimonials: Pay and Pensions at Northumbria University
ucu-unn.org.uk
December 1, 2025 at 1:01 PM
This is what my employer is trying to do to us at Northumbria University.
Come see Dr Jane Rooney talk this Thursday on the topic of international law!
Atrocities in Palestine and International Law
Dr Jane Rooney (Durham Law School)
4 December 2025
1-2pm
TLC101
Atrocities in Palestine and International Law
Dr Jane Rooney (Durham Law School)
4 December 2025
1-2pm
TLC101
December 1, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Come see Dr Jane Rooney talk this Thursday on the topic of international law!
Atrocities in Palestine and International Law
Dr Jane Rooney (Durham Law School)
4 December 2025
1-2pm
TLC101
Atrocities in Palestine and International Law
Dr Jane Rooney (Durham Law School)
4 December 2025
1-2pm
TLC101
Reposted by Durham UCU
So, an OU student a shitty reaction paper in a psych course, got failed by a grad student TA for not following directions and threatened legal action, while also getting her uni TPUSA chapter to post the essay. Her mother is on X saying trans people must not be allowed to be professors.
This is…
This is…
OU puts graduate instructor on leave after student claims discrimination on Bible-based essay grade
OU placed a graduate student instructor on leave after a student publicly contested a grade and filed an illegal discrimination claim after she received a failing grade on an essay
www.oudaily.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:39 AM
So, an OU student a shitty reaction paper in a psych course, got failed by a grad student TA for not following directions and threatened legal action, while also getting her uni TPUSA chapter to post the essay. Her mother is on X saying trans people must not be allowed to be professors.
This is…
This is…
Reposted by Durham UCU
...because of their plans to freeze people's pay indefinitely if they do not move to a different pension. We haven't done this for over 10 years. That shows how bad this is and how outraged people are. @ucu.org.uk @ducu.bsky.social @newcastleucu.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 12:07 PM
...because of their plans to freeze people's pay indefinitely if they do not move to a different pension. We haven't done this for over 10 years. That shows how bad this is and how outraged people are. @ucu.org.uk @ducu.bsky.social @newcastleucu.bsky.social