Northumbria UCU Branch
@ucunorthumbria.bsky.social
Shy Bairns Get Nowt!
Pinned
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
Academia loves asking for proof.
Proof of abuse. Proof of discrimination. Proof your pain is valid.
But when it’s time to hold institutions accountable? Suddenly, testimony isn’t enough.
🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾🔬 👩🏼🔬 👩🏾🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #HigherEd #PhDChat
Proof of abuse. Proof of discrimination. Proof your pain is valid.
But when it’s time to hold institutions accountable? Suddenly, testimony isn’t enough.
🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾🔬 👩🏼🔬 👩🏾🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #HigherEd #PhDChat
November 10, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Academia loves asking for proof.
Proof of abuse. Proof of discrimination. Proof your pain is valid.
But when it’s time to hold institutions accountable? Suddenly, testimony isn’t enough.
🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾🔬 👩🏼🔬 👩🏾🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #HigherEd #PhDChat
Proof of abuse. Proof of discrimination. Proof your pain is valid.
But when it’s time to hold institutions accountable? Suddenly, testimony isn’t enough.
🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾🔬 👩🏼🔬 👩🏾🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #HigherEd #PhDChat
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
This is to fund a 'strategy'. What kind of 'strategy' relies on impoverishing staff?
Northumbria University attempts to move employees to cheaper pension scheme to bring down sky-high contribution rates
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
November 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM
This is to fund a 'strategy'. What kind of 'strategy' relies on impoverishing staff?
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
HOW TO DESTROY A UNIVERSITY IN ONE EASY STEP. @bbcnews.bsky.social @itvnews.bsky.social @itvnewspolitics.bsky.social @northeastbylines.co.uk @danhollandnews.bsky.social @chroniclelive.co.uk @northumbriauni.bsky.social @northumbriaiww.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk @unison.org.uk @chionwurah.bsky.social
Northumbria University attempts to move employees to cheaper pension scheme to bring down sky-high contribution rates
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
November 10, 2025 at 9:28 AM
This is to fund a 'strategy'. What kind of 'strategy' relies on impoverishing staff?
Northumbria University attempts to move employees to cheaper pension scheme to bring down sky-high contribution rates
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
November 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM
This is to fund a 'strategy'. What kind of 'strategy' relies on impoverishing staff?
HOW TO DESTROY A UNIVERSITY IN ONE EASY STEP. @bbcnews.bsky.social @itvnews.bsky.social @itvnewspolitics.bsky.social @northeastbylines.co.uk @danhollandnews.bsky.social @chroniclelive.co.uk @northumbriauni.bsky.social @northumbriaiww.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk @unison.org.uk @chionwurah.bsky.social
Northumbria University attempts to move employees to cheaper pension scheme to bring down sky-high contribution rates
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
November 10, 2025 at 9:33 AM
HOW TO DESTROY A UNIVERSITY IN ONE EASY STEP. @bbcnews.bsky.social @itvnews.bsky.social @itvnewspolitics.bsky.social @northeastbylines.co.uk @danhollandnews.bsky.social @chroniclelive.co.uk @northumbriauni.bsky.social @northumbriaiww.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk @unison.org.uk @chionwurah.bsky.social
Northumbria University attempts to move employees to cheaper pension scheme to bring down sky-high contribution rates
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
November 10, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
I knew @northumbriauni.bsky.social had taken away staff desks in NBS this summer, making them essentially hotdesk. Now the employer has informed staff that they are gutting their pensions, too.
If there was EVER a time to join @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social, NOW is the time!
If there was EVER a time to join @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social, NOW is the time!
November 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM
I knew @northumbriauni.bsky.social had taken away staff desks in NBS this summer, making them essentially hotdesk. Now the employer has informed staff that they are gutting their pensions, too.
If there was EVER a time to join @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social, NOW is the time!
If there was EVER a time to join @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social, NOW is the time!
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
First the employer took staff desks from them. Now they’re taking their pensions.
Join your trade union, people.
@ucunorthumbria.bsky.social
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northum...
Join your trade union, people.
@ucunorthumbria.bsky.social
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northum...
Northumbria to freeze pay if staff refuse TPS-USS pension switch
University says moving employees from more expensive scheme will save it up to £11 million a year
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:09 AM
First the employer took staff desks from them. Now they’re taking their pensions.
Join your trade union, people.
@ucunorthumbria.bsky.social
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northum...
Join your trade union, people.
@ucunorthumbria.bsky.social
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northum...
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
November 9, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
oh the irony that as Northumbria announces its going to try ti push us onto USS because TPS costs too much USS costs are going to go up (salary sacrifice pensions will incur NI above £2k pa) @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social on.ft.com/482NXev
Reeves plans £2bn Budget raid on UK retirement savings
Move would reduce tax benefits from salary sacrifice pension schemes as chancellor aims to fill fiscal hole
on.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:12 AM
oh the irony that as Northumbria announces its going to try ti push us onto USS because TPS costs too much USS costs are going to go up (salary sacrifice pensions will incur NI above £2k pa) @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social on.ft.com/482NXev
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
$1 trillion pack packages reflect an economic model which is broken and in urgent need of radical reform
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 PM
$1 trillion pack packages reflect an economic model which is broken and in urgent need of radical reform
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
SAVE GEOGRAPHY at Leicester University (UK) - We call on the University of Leicester to urgently reconsider the proposal to dissolve Geography. This is direct attack on the discipline of Geography at Leicester with likely loss of Geography staff. Please sign + share
www.change.org/p/save-geogr...
www.change.org/p/save-geogr...
November 7, 2025 at 12:02 PM
SAVE GEOGRAPHY at Leicester University (UK) - We call on the University of Leicester to urgently reconsider the proposal to dissolve Geography. This is direct attack on the discipline of Geography at Leicester with likely loss of Geography staff. Please sign + share
www.change.org/p/save-geogr...
www.change.org/p/save-geogr...
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
Naw, that ain't it.
Maybe if Northumbria hadn't built a stupid Space Center that we really don't need, it wouldn't need to be here.
But freezing pay for SEVEN YEARS just because faculty don't want to downgrade to the shitty pension plan is a terrible look.
www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/11/07/t...
Maybe if Northumbria hadn't built a stupid Space Center that we really don't need, it wouldn't need to be here.
But freezing pay for SEVEN YEARS just because faculty don't want to downgrade to the shitty pension plan is a terrible look.
www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/11/07/t...
The time for change is now: reducing pension costs in post-92 universities - HEPI
This blog was kindly authored by Jane Embley, Chief People Officer and Tom Lawson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, both of Northumbria University. It is welcome that the government’s recent white ...
www.hepi.ac.uk
November 7, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Naw, that ain't it.
Maybe if Northumbria hadn't built a stupid Space Center that we really don't need, it wouldn't need to be here.
But freezing pay for SEVEN YEARS just because faculty don't want to downgrade to the shitty pension plan is a terrible look.
www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/11/07/t...
Maybe if Northumbria hadn't built a stupid Space Center that we really don't need, it wouldn't need to be here.
But freezing pay for SEVEN YEARS just because faculty don't want to downgrade to the shitty pension plan is a terrible look.
www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/11/07/t...
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
After squandering millions on Castle Meadows purchase, University of Nottingham is now axing modern languages & music
It also plans to cut its nursing programme
Leaders of the bungleocracy continue to draw handsome salaries
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It also plans to cut its nursing programme
Leaders of the bungleocracy continue to draw handsome salaries
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Music and modern languages courses suspended at University of Nottingham
In a statement the institution also says it is
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 8:37 AM
After squandering millions on Castle Meadows purchase, University of Nottingham is now axing modern languages & music
It also plans to cut its nursing programme
Leaders of the bungleocracy continue to draw handsome salaries
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It also plans to cut its nursing programme
Leaders of the bungleocracy continue to draw handsome salaries
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
I find it hard to stay civil when employers suggest cutting DB pensions and replacing them with a DC, they did it at Durham for new staff on grades 5 and below which was a gendered attack on working-class people. It is cruel and nasty.
Solidarity in resisting this!
Solidarity in resisting this!
November 7, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I find it hard to stay civil when employers suggest cutting DB pensions and replacing them with a DC, they did it at Durham for new staff on grades 5 and below which was a gendered attack on working-class people. It is cruel and nasty.
Solidarity in resisting this!
Solidarity in resisting this!
From a @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social member: "it is wrong to frame this as saying staff will have options, when all options correspond to a significant reduction from the status-quo, and the status-quo corresponds to decades long losses in academic pay. This endangers the future of the UK academia."
Northumbria University attempts to move employees to cheaper pension scheme to bring down sky-high contribution rates
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 AM
From a @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social member: "it is wrong to frame this as saying staff will have options, when all options correspond to a significant reduction from the status-quo, and the status-quo corresponds to decades long losses in academic pay. This endangers the future of the UK academia."
From a @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social member: "it is wrong to frame this as staff will have options, when all options correspond to a significant reduction from the status-quo, and the status-quo corresponds to decades long losses in academic pay. This endangers the future of the UK academia."
This article has now been amended to include a statement from UCU.
Put more accurately - it is pension cuts or pay cuts. That's the 'choice'.
November 7, 2025 at 11:40 AM
From a @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social member: "it is wrong to frame this as staff will have options, when all options correspond to a significant reduction from the status-quo, and the status-quo corresponds to decades long losses in academic pay. This endangers the future of the UK academia."
This article has now been amended to include a statement from UCU.
Put more accurately - it is pension cuts or pay cuts. That's the 'choice'.
Northumbria University attempts to move employees to cheaper pension scheme to bring down sky-high contribution rates
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
November 7, 2025 at 10:13 AM
This article has now been amended to include a statement from UCU.
Quite so. Or, indeed: hell yeah.
Urgh. Solidarity. Northumbria have fought attacks once and can do it again 👍 #UKHE
Put more accurately - it is pension cuts or pay cuts. That's the 'choice'.
November 7, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Quite so. Or, indeed: hell yeah.
Put more accurately - it is pension cuts or pay cuts. That's the 'choice'.
Northumbria University attempts to move employees to cheaper pension scheme to bring down sky-high contribution rates
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
November 7, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Put more accurately - it is pension cuts or pay cuts. That's the 'choice'.
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
Reform UK Council Grifter in Northumberland.
Councillor Shaun Knowles turned up to a meeting yesterday for the first time in just under 6 months.
This means he avoids disqualification by just a few days and keeps his councillor salary.
Councillor Shaun Knowles turned up to a meeting yesterday for the first time in just under 6 months.
This means he avoids disqualification by just a few days and keeps his councillor salary.
November 6, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Reform UK Council Grifter in Northumberland.
Councillor Shaun Knowles turned up to a meeting yesterday for the first time in just under 6 months.
This means he avoids disqualification by just a few days and keeps his councillor salary.
Councillor Shaun Knowles turned up to a meeting yesterday for the first time in just under 6 months.
This means he avoids disqualification by just a few days and keeps his councillor salary.
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
I am hearing that @uniofnottingham.bsky.social is suspending (i.e shutting down) *all modern language courses* in 2026-27. One of the largest departments in the UK. A shocking short sighted move that damages regional and national prospects @britishacademy.bsky.social @hetanshah.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I am hearing that @uniofnottingham.bsky.social is suspending (i.e shutting down) *all modern language courses* in 2026-27. One of the largest departments in the UK. A shocking short sighted move that damages regional and national prospects @britishacademy.bsky.social @hetanshah.bsky.social
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
Which one is more English?
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Which one is more English?
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
Horrific, stupid news from @uniofnottingham.bsky.social — they are closing their music department. Apparently they all found out suddently in a meeting yesterday.
It is one of the best music departments in the country — solidarity with my colleagues and their students
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It is one of the best music departments in the country — solidarity with my colleagues and their students
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Music and modern languages courses suspended at University of Nottingham
In a statement the institution also says it is
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Horrific, stupid news from @uniofnottingham.bsky.social — they are closing their music department. Apparently they all found out suddently in a meeting yesterday.
It is one of the best music departments in the country — solidarity with my colleagues and their students
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It is one of the best music departments in the country — solidarity with my colleagues and their students
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Northumbria UCU Branch
There's still time to register for next Thursday's FREE online event: Autism and maternity: information for parents and supporters (6-7.30pm UK time).
I'll be joined by 3 brilliant Autistic midwives: Karen Henry, Rebecca Warboys & Diane Fox.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/autism-and...
I'll be joined by 3 brilliant Autistic midwives: Karen Henry, Rebecca Warboys & Diane Fox.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/autism-and...
Autism and maternity: information for parents and supporters
Join for the online launch Dr Aimee Grant’s Autism-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy – an inclusive resource for parents and professionals alike.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 11:37 AM
There's still time to register for next Thursday's FREE online event: Autism and maternity: information for parents and supporters (6-7.30pm UK time).
I'll be joined by 3 brilliant Autistic midwives: Karen Henry, Rebecca Warboys & Diane Fox.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/autism-and...
I'll be joined by 3 brilliant Autistic midwives: Karen Henry, Rebecca Warboys & Diane Fox.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/autism-and...