Sol Gamsu
@solgamsu.bsky.social
Sociologist/sociologue/soziologe of education (elites, geographies, social mobility, dreaming/fighting for another education).
Union rep UCU: organising in various capacities. Working/living in Durham/Newcastle mostly. https://linksta.cc/@Sol%20Gamsu
Union rep UCU: organising in various capacities. Working/living in Durham/Newcastle mostly. https://linksta.cc/@Sol%20Gamsu
Pinned
Sol Gamsu
@solgamsu.bsky.social
· Feb 27
If You Want the University to Change, Don't Theorise—Organise!
Organising as workers to build industrial power within our universities is a key element of how we respond to redundancies, marketisation and other political pressures on higher education. This piece...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
I wrote this for @bjsociology.bsky.social on organising in universities & the work we all need to do to defend & remake the university.
It's a reflection on being heavily involved in UCU with practical tips on what everyone can do, esp. now with redundancies.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
It's a reflection on being heavily involved in UCU with practical tips on what everyone can do, esp. now with redundancies.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
"We're coming for you."
Trumpism, UK Higher Ed edition.
Trumpism, UK Higher Ed edition.
Reform is threatening Bangor University over a student society’s decision. The society isn’t Bangor University—but this is a neat preview of how a Reform government would work: public money for supporters only. Trump-style politics, UK edition.
Authoritarian reflex is already working just fine.👇
Authoritarian reflex is already working just fine.👇
February 10, 2026 at 12:34 PM
"We're coming for you."
Trumpism, UK Higher Ed edition.
Trumpism, UK Higher Ed edition.
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
@georgeclarke.bsky.social UCU - 10 strike days begin this week at Northumbria University over pension "robbery" www.ucu.org.uk/article/14401
10 strike days begin this week at Northumbria University over pension "robbery"
Northumbria University will be hit with ten days of strike action from Thursday 12 February in a fight to save staff pensions, the University and College Union (UCU) announced today
www.ucu.org.uk
February 9, 2026 at 11:18 AM
@georgeclarke.bsky.social UCU - 10 strike days begin this week at Northumbria University over pension "robbery" www.ucu.org.uk/article/14401
It's like Wes said, they're just not guilty by association.
February 9, 2026 at 11:46 AM
It's like Wes said, they're just not guilty by association.
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
There's no such thing as a 'tutor proof' test. Moving the test date to July may avoid holiday cramming, but tuition will simply be brought forward. This becomes a test for 9 and 10-year-olds. Are children of 9 mature enough to cope with a high stakes test? www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Grammar school will 'tutor-proof' 11-plus exams to stop pushy parents
Chris Evans, headmaster of historic Reading School, says the new exams designed for 'the curious child' will aim to 'assess creativity' and 'knowledge already learnt in state schools up to Year 5'.
www.dailymail.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 9:09 AM
There's no such thing as a 'tutor proof' test. Moving the test date to July may avoid holiday cramming, but tuition will simply be brought forward. This becomes a test for 9 and 10-year-olds. Are children of 9 mature enough to cope with a high stakes test? www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
I’m no longer shocked about the attacks on members for wanting a fair & democratic union but the UCU comment suggests they’ve forgotten the basic requirement to represent the interests of members not those of the GS alone - which is exactly what the case is all about. Our union, our subs #ucu
February 5, 2026 at 9:15 AM
I’m no longer shocked about the attacks on members for wanting a fair & democratic union but the UCU comment suggests they’ve forgotten the basic requirement to represent the interests of members not those of the GS alone - which is exactly what the case is all about. Our union, our subs #ucu
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
The @timeshighered.bsky.social has reported that @ewanmg.bsky.social and I have applied to the Certification Officer regarding concerns over the 2024 UCU general secretary election. UCU has characterised this as “smearing”, via a spokesperson.
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/jo-grad...
/1
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/jo-grad...
/1
Jo Grady’s UCU election win challenged over ‘unfair advantage’
Candidates who stood in 2024 poll seek rerun of campaign after claiming incumbent broke rules by using union resources
www.timeshighereducation.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:41 AM
The @timeshighered.bsky.social has reported that @ewanmg.bsky.social and I have applied to the Certification Officer regarding concerns over the 2024 UCU general secretary election. UCU has characterised this as “smearing”, via a spokesperson.
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/jo-grad...
/1
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/jo-grad...
/1
This is a really important case for democracy within UCU.
Thank you to Vicky and Ewan for bringing this case.
Given how difficult it is to get any legal support for @ucu.org.uk lay members wanting to go to ET, it is all the more galling that UCU leadership have hired King's Counsel.
Thank you to Vicky and Ewan for bringing this case.
Given how difficult it is to get any legal support for @ucu.org.uk lay members wanting to go to ET, it is all the more galling that UCU leadership have hired King's Counsel.
Ahead of the 10 February Certification Officer hearing, I’ve written about why Ewan McGaughey and I took this route.
This is a regulatory process, not a court case.
Ewan and I will represent ourselves. UCU has hired a King’s Counsel.
vickyblakeucu.uk/202...
/1
This is a regulatory process, not a court case.
Ewan and I will represent ourselves. UCU has hired a King’s Counsel.
vickyblakeucu.uk/202...
/1
Certification Officer Hearing: Blake & McGaughey v UCU
This is about trust and proper process: an explainer ahead of the 10 February Certification Officer hearing in Blake & McGaughey v UCU, concerning alleged non-compliance with UCU’s election rul…
vickyblakeucu.uk
February 9, 2026 at 11:32 AM
This is a really important case for democracy within UCU.
Thank you to Vicky and Ewan for bringing this case.
Given how difficult it is to get any legal support for @ucu.org.uk lay members wanting to go to ET, it is all the more galling that UCU leadership have hired King's Counsel.
Thank you to Vicky and Ewan for bringing this case.
Given how difficult it is to get any legal support for @ucu.org.uk lay members wanting to go to ET, it is all the more galling that UCU leadership have hired King's Counsel.
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
Ahead of the 10 February Certification Officer hearing, I’ve written about why Ewan McGaughey and I took this route.
This is a regulatory process, not a court case.
Ewan and I will represent ourselves. UCU has hired a King’s Counsel.
vickyblakeucu.uk/202...
/1
This is a regulatory process, not a court case.
Ewan and I will represent ourselves. UCU has hired a King’s Counsel.
vickyblakeucu.uk/202...
/1
Certification Officer Hearing: Blake & McGaughey v UCU
This is about trust and proper process: an explainer ahead of the 10 February Certification Officer hearing in Blake & McGaughey v UCU, concerning alleged non-compliance with UCU’s election rul…
vickyblakeucu.uk
February 9, 2026 at 8:25 AM
Ahead of the 10 February Certification Officer hearing, I’ve written about why Ewan McGaughey and I took this route.
This is a regulatory process, not a court case.
Ewan and I will represent ourselves. UCU has hired a King’s Counsel.
vickyblakeucu.uk/202...
/1
This is a regulatory process, not a court case.
Ewan and I will represent ourselves. UCU has hired a King’s Counsel.
vickyblakeucu.uk/202...
/1
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
Get Palantir out of the NHS
https://notopalantir.goodlawproject.org/email-to-target/stop-palantir-in-the-nhs/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_campaign=PalantirNHS&utm_medium=social_media
https://notopalantir.goodlawproject.org/email-to-target/stop-palantir-in-the-nhs/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_campaign=PalantirNHS&utm_medium=social_media
Say no to Palantir in the NHS
NHS England is rolling out software to run our health records from Palantir - fight back
notopalantir.goodlawproject.org
February 5, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Important strike and victory truthout.org/articles/str...
Striking Spanish Workers Just Showed That Amazon Is Not Invincible
The workers used creative, disruptive tactics to win. Their victory holds lessons for the global labor movement.
truthout.org
February 7, 2026 at 5:40 AM
Important strike and victory truthout.org/articles/str...
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
Pleased to see the jury make this decision.
We need to have eyes wide open this is exactly why the Government wants to abolish juries.
People protesting against a genocide are not the criminals here - it's the politicians who continue to provide cover.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We need to have eyes wide open this is exactly why the Government wants to abolish juries.
People protesting against a genocide are not the criminals here - it's the politicians who continue to provide cover.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Palestine Action protesters not guilty of defence firm burglary
The group are cleared of aggravated burglary over the alleged raid at an Elbit Systems warehouse.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Pleased to see the jury make this decision.
We need to have eyes wide open this is exactly why the Government wants to abolish juries.
People protesting against a genocide are not the criminals here - it's the politicians who continue to provide cover.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We need to have eyes wide open this is exactly why the Government wants to abolish juries.
People protesting against a genocide are not the criminals here - it's the politicians who continue to provide cover.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
Which consultancy firm told all these gullible VCs that Shiny New Buildings were more important than staff?
Nottingham records £85m deficit after buildings drop in value
University insists underlying position has improved despite sharp rise in reported losses
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
University insists underlying position has improved despite sharp rise in reported losses
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Nottingham records £85m deficit after buildings drop in value - Research Professional News
University insists underlying position has improved despite sharp rise in reported losses
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Which consultancy firm told all these gullible VCs that Shiny New Buildings were more important than staff?
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
Obviously Laura is simply observing the scrutiny rather than being part of it
February 4, 2026 at 7:11 AM
Obviously Laura is simply observing the scrutiny rather than being part of it
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
Added Yakety Sax to that video from Minneapolis
February 3, 2026 at 8:15 AM
Added Yakety Sax to that video from Minneapolis
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
As Black History Month begins, we honor the generations of Black New Yorkers who built this city into the “gorgeous mosaic” we call home.
Today, we reflect on the words of Mayor David Dinkins: our city’s first Black mayor (and a democratic socialist!).
Today, we reflect on the words of Mayor David Dinkins: our city’s first Black mayor (and a democratic socialist!).
February 1, 2026 at 2:11 PM
As Black History Month begins, we honor the generations of Black New Yorkers who built this city into the “gorgeous mosaic” we call home.
Today, we reflect on the words of Mayor David Dinkins: our city’s first Black mayor (and a democratic socialist!).
Today, we reflect on the words of Mayor David Dinkins: our city’s first Black mayor (and a democratic socialist!).
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
Israeli bulldozers begin demolishing a number of Palestinian homes in the town of Tarqumiya, the occupied West Bank, forcibly displacing its owners.
February 2, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Israeli bulldozers begin demolishing a number of Palestinian homes in the town of Tarqumiya, the occupied West Bank, forcibly displacing its owners.
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
& the binary divide in power, resources etc remains inexcusable.
Erosion of post-92 provision (thinking of Sunderland locally) often with no voice whatsoever from local MPs (including Bridget Phillipson!) is criminal. As is the lack of solidarity amongst staff & students.
Snobbery runs deep.
Erosion of post-92 provision (thinking of Sunderland locally) often with no voice whatsoever from local MPs (including Bridget Phillipson!) is criminal. As is the lack of solidarity amongst staff & students.
Snobbery runs deep.
February 2, 2026 at 11:49 AM
& the binary divide in power, resources etc remains inexcusable.
Erosion of post-92 provision (thinking of Sunderland locally) often with no voice whatsoever from local MPs (including Bridget Phillipson!) is criminal. As is the lack of solidarity amongst staff & students.
Snobbery runs deep.
Erosion of post-92 provision (thinking of Sunderland locally) often with no voice whatsoever from local MPs (including Bridget Phillipson!) is criminal. As is the lack of solidarity amongst staff & students.
Snobbery runs deep.
Quite a few post-92 union branches have won partial victories local disputes, with the exception of USS, pre-92 branches have not done any better - from a TU perspective.
I would agree nationally, it isn't impossible but it would require different approaches (and different leadership) imv.
I would agree nationally, it isn't impossible but it would require different approaches (and different leadership) imv.
February 2, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Quite a few post-92 union branches have won partial victories local disputes, with the exception of USS, pre-92 branches have not done any better - from a TU perspective.
I would agree nationally, it isn't impossible but it would require different approaches (and different leadership) imv.
I would agree nationally, it isn't impossible but it would require different approaches (and different leadership) imv.
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
'In 2025, the hottest areas included the tropical Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, North Indian Ocean, and Southern Ocean.
... and heat is still accumulating. As one researcher put it: “2025 was a bonkers, crazy warming year.”'
via From Quarks to Quasars
www.facebook.com/fromquarktoq...
... and heat is still accumulating. As one researcher put it: “2025 was a bonkers, crazy warming year.”'
via From Quarks to Quasars
www.facebook.com/fromquarktoq...
February 2, 2026 at 11:14 AM
'In 2025, the hottest areas included the tropical Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, North Indian Ocean, and Southern Ocean.
... and heat is still accumulating. As one researcher put it: “2025 was a bonkers, crazy warming year.”'
via From Quarks to Quasars
www.facebook.com/fromquarktoq...
... and heat is still accumulating. As one researcher put it: “2025 was a bonkers, crazy warming year.”'
via From Quarks to Quasars
www.facebook.com/fromquarktoq...
Reposted by Sol Gamsu
This is the warehouse of books that Anthropic kept to be scanned and used to feed their AI and then FUCKING PULPED. Monsters.
February 2, 2026 at 11:20 AM
This is the warehouse of books that Anthropic kept to be scanned and used to feed their AI and then FUCKING PULPED. Monsters.
Not simply the management class of the institution as Glen
implies.
implies.
February 2, 2026 at 11:27 AM
Not simply the management class of the institution as Glen
implies.
implies.
* the management class will take whatever supplicatory measures they deem to be necessary, often with little or no strategic thought whatsoever. Staff and students will do other things. The university is not a monolithic entity.
February 2, 2026 at 11:26 AM
* the management class will take whatever supplicatory measures they deem to be necessary, often with little or no strategic thought whatsoever. Staff and students will do other things. The university is not a monolithic entity.
Wow windows 11 is so incredibly bloated, absolutely shocking use (i.e. waste) of resources.
January 31, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Wow windows 11 is so incredibly bloated, absolutely shocking use (i.e. waste) of resources.