Chris Pritchard
@chrispritchard.co.uk
Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Practice and Emergency Care at NTU. NTU @UCU.org.uk Branch Secretary, East Midlands Regional Secretary & National Executive Committee Member.
#OpenResearch #EduSky
also on #FediVerse https://mastodon.me.uk/@chrispritchard
#OpenResearch #EduSky
also on #FediVerse https://mastodon.me.uk/@chrispritchard
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
Why are you threatening #UCU staff with pay deductions for ASOS?
UCU policy is to oppose punitive deduction for ASOS
And why are you asking staff to fill out a form when UCU members at QMUL were advised not to do this?
UCU policy is to oppose punitive deduction for ASOS
And why are you asking staff to fill out a form when UCU members at QMUL were advised not to do this?
September 22, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Why are you threatening #UCU staff with pay deductions for ASOS?
UCU policy is to oppose punitive deduction for ASOS
And why are you asking staff to fill out a form when UCU members at QMUL were advised not to do this?
UCU policy is to oppose punitive deduction for ASOS
And why are you asking staff to fill out a form when UCU members at QMUL were advised not to do this?
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
UCU policy: “To work with the TUC and other TUs to campaign for a change to the law to prevent such deductions, including lobbying government and opposition parties”
Maybe while @drjogrady.bsky.social is at @tuc.org.uk in Brighton she can work on thi… oh!
policy.web.ucu.org.uk/motion-infor...
Maybe while @drjogrady.bsky.social is at @tuc.org.uk in Brighton she can work on thi… oh!
policy.web.ucu.org.uk/motion-infor...
UCU: Fighting punitive ASOS deductions
Motion from UCU Congress 2022-2023: Fighting punitive ASOS deductions
policy.web.ucu.org.uk
September 6, 2025 at 10:02 AM
UCU policy: “To work with the TUC and other TUs to campaign for a change to the law to prevent such deductions, including lobbying government and opposition parties”
Maybe while @drjogrady.bsky.social is at @tuc.org.uk in Brighton she can work on thi… oh!
policy.web.ucu.org.uk/motion-infor...
Maybe while @drjogrady.bsky.social is at @tuc.org.uk in Brighton she can work on thi… oh!
policy.web.ucu.org.uk/motion-infor...
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
Why is our trade union emulating the worst behaviour of our employers towards UCU staff? How many of our letters, motions, attempts to bring motions from lay members pressing for resolution have been ignored now? Solidarity with all @uniteucu.bsky.social #UnionStrong #ReclaimUCU
🚨 Third consecutive vote for industrial action 🚨
✅ strike action: 76%
✅ action short of a strike (ASOS): 80%
✅ turnout: 77%
ASOS begins today with @ucu.org.uk threatening staff: "We'll deduct your wages."
Double standards and vindictive attacks undermine us all.
#ReclaimUCU
✅ strike action: 76%
✅ action short of a strike (ASOS): 80%
✅ turnout: 77%
ASOS begins today with @ucu.org.uk threatening staff: "We'll deduct your wages."
Double standards and vindictive attacks undermine us all.
#ReclaimUCU
September 4, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Why is our trade union emulating the worst behaviour of our employers towards UCU staff? How many of our letters, motions, attempts to bring motions from lay members pressing for resolution have been ignored now? Solidarity with all @uniteucu.bsky.social #UnionStrong #ReclaimUCU
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
I stand by this. Solidarity with fellow workers is the first principle of trade unionism. An injury to one is an injury to all. reclaimucu.wordpress.com/2025/04/30/s...
Statement on NEC Meeting of 2 May 2025
On Friday, members of Unite UCU will be taking the final day of an unprecedented six weeks of industrial action. It is also the penultimate NEC meeting before Congress. One of the core principles o…
reclaimucu.wordpress.com
May 1, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I stand by this. Solidarity with fellow workers is the first principle of trade unionism. An injury to one is an injury to all. reclaimucu.wordpress.com/2025/04/30/s...
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
Glad @timeshighered.bsky.social is covering @uniteucu.bsky.social's dispute with @ucu.org.uk -resolution is beyond urgent (has been for over a year). But the content & tone of the UCU's anon quoted spokesperson feels emblematic of the underlying issues...
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ucu-mem...
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ucu-mem...
UCU members boycott key meeting over staff strike
Members of national executive committee claim they were ‘prohibited’ from discussion of dispute with staff in Unite union
www.timeshighereducation.com
May 1, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Glad @timeshighered.bsky.social is covering @uniteucu.bsky.social's dispute with @ucu.org.uk -resolution is beyond urgent (has been for over a year). But the content & tone of the UCU's anon quoted spokesperson feels emblematic of the underlying issues...
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ucu-mem...
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ucu-mem...
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
STATEMENT RE UCU NEC 2 MAY reclaimucu.wordpress...
I am proud but saddened to be a signatory to this: I will not cross a picket line and I am in full solidarity with @uniteucu.bsky.social, on strike again this week. So I will not attend #UCU NEC on Friday this week. We all urgently need resolution.
I am proud but saddened to be a signatory to this: I will not cross a picket line and I am in full solidarity with @uniteucu.bsky.social, on strike again this week. So I will not attend #UCU NEC on Friday this week. We all urgently need resolution.
Statement on NEC Meeting of 2 May 2025
On Friday, members of Unite UCU will be taking the final day of an unprecedented six weeks of industrial action. It is also the penultimate NEC meeting before Congress. One of the core principles o…
reclaimucu.wordpress.com
April 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM
STATEMENT RE UCU NEC 2 MAY reclaimucu.wordpress...
I am proud but saddened to be a signatory to this: I will not cross a picket line and I am in full solidarity with @uniteucu.bsky.social, on strike again this week. So I will not attend #UCU NEC on Friday this week. We all urgently need resolution.
I am proud but saddened to be a signatory to this: I will not cross a picket line and I am in full solidarity with @uniteucu.bsky.social, on strike again this week. So I will not attend #UCU NEC on Friday this week. We all urgently need resolution.
Saddened that the dispute that @uniteucu.bsky.social has with @ucu.org.uk as an employer is still ongoing and, had my tenure on the NEC started, I would be signing this letter and not attending the NEC meeting taking place tomorrow reclaimucu.wordpress.com/2025/04/30/s...
Statement on NEC Meeting of 2 May 2025
On Friday, members of Unite UCU will be taking the final day of an unprecedented six weeks of industrial action. It is also the penultimate NEC meeting before Congress. One of the core principles o…
reclaimucu.wordpress.com
April 30, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Saddened that the dispute that @uniteucu.bsky.social has with @ucu.org.uk as an employer is still ongoing and, had my tenure on the NEC started, I would be signing this letter and not attending the NEC meeting taking place tomorrow reclaimucu.wordpress.com/2025/04/30/s...
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
"When market share becomes a dominant decision criterion, broader societal benefits remain invisible on the balance sheet. The market doesn’t price in what we collectively lose when the last medieval history department in a region closes, ..."
NEW on Wonkhe: Universities serve purposes beyond market demands. Jim Dickinson asks if the pendulum between planning and markets is about to swing back - and what that should mean to protect student interests bit.ly/3XDc1z6
April 4, 2025 at 9:51 AM
"When market share becomes a dominant decision criterion, broader societal benefits remain invisible on the balance sheet. The market doesn’t price in what we collectively lose when the last medieval history department in a region closes, ..."
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
I hoped #UCU would redouble efforts to resolve the @uniteucu.bsky.social staff dispute
Instead our own union-as-employer has issued management instructions NOT to use tactics #UCU members have routinely been advised to use *by #UCU*
Then this page was deleted: web.archive.org/web/20230218...
1/7
Instead our own union-as-employer has issued management instructions NOT to use tactics #UCU members have routinely been advised to use *by #UCU*
Then this page was deleted: web.archive.org/web/20230218...
1/7
April 3, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I hoped #UCU would redouble efforts to resolve the @uniteucu.bsky.social staff dispute
Instead our own union-as-employer has issued management instructions NOT to use tactics #UCU members have routinely been advised to use *by #UCU*
Then this page was deleted: web.archive.org/web/20230218...
1/7
Instead our own union-as-employer has issued management instructions NOT to use tactics #UCU members have routinely been advised to use *by #UCU*
Then this page was deleted: web.archive.org/web/20230218...
1/7
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
Resolution of the dispute between @uniteucu.bsky.social and UCU (as employer) is now far beyond urgent. Reading these testimonials (linked in post⬇️) from UCU staff is heartbreaking & reading the recent 'management instruction' excerpt v unnerving, esp in the wake of the Hon Treasurer's resignation.
This dispute needs to be resolved - we cannot function as a union when the internal culture is so broken. It is in everybody’s interest to find a way through that restores trust & achieving this in a constructive way requires properly listening to staff voices uniteucu.wordpress.com/unite-voices/
Unite voices
In their own words: the lived experiences of UCU staff.
uniteucu.wordpress.com
March 3, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Resolution of the dispute between @uniteucu.bsky.social and UCU (as employer) is now far beyond urgent. Reading these testimonials (linked in post⬇️) from UCU staff is heartbreaking & reading the recent 'management instruction' excerpt v unnerving, esp in the wake of the Hon Treasurer's resignation.
Happy to endorse @illdoitanyway.bsky.social for UCU VP (HE)
I have really valued getting to know Chris through my work reporting to East Midlands UCU, and in our work for locked-out branches, and have seen how much he cares for our union. Thank you @chrispritchard.co.uk for this endorsement for my campaign.
rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com/2025/02/21/e...
rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com/2025/02/21/e...
Endorsement from Chris Pritchard, Secretary and HE Chair of East Midlands UCU Regional Committee and Branch Secretary at NTU UCU
Chris in UCU pink beanie outside NTU I started working with Rhiannon when I started being involved with the East Midlands Regional Committee, and at my first congress in 2023. As one of our Midland…
rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com
February 21, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Happy to endorse @illdoitanyway.bsky.social for UCU VP (HE)
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
QMUL UCU is doing the kind of work we need UCU to do nationally to highlight the catastrophic destruction of higher education across the regions & nations. Thousands of jobs & so much talent and expertise lost. Shame on this Govt for sitting by & letting it happen qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
UK HE shrinking
This is a live page of all the redundancies, restructures, reorganisations, and closures taking place across the sector at the moment. Solidarity to all. This sector is vital to the country’s…
qmucu.org
February 14, 2025 at 1:22 PM
QMUL UCU is doing the kind of work we need UCU to do nationally to highlight the catastrophic destruction of higher education across the regions & nations. Thousands of jobs & so much talent and expertise lost. Shame on this Govt for sitting by & letting it happen qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
Whilst a more formal endorsement is coming soon™️ I would definitely support @illdoitanyway.bsky.social for UCU VP (HE), see rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com for her policy platform!
Rhiannon for UCU VP (Higher Education)
Vote Rhiannon Lockley (she/her) for UCU Vice President (Higher Education): ballots are live 27th January till 3rd March 2025
rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com
February 2, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Whilst a more formal endorsement is coming soon™️ I would definitely support @illdoitanyway.bsky.social for UCU VP (HE), see rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com for her policy platform!
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
A big thank you to Elizabeth Lawrence, former President UCU. I first met Liz in the freezing cold at Sheffield station when she welcomed our branch campaign against TU victimisation to Yorks with strike funds & a list of solidarity visits booked.
rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com/2024/12/17/e...
rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com/2024/12/17/e...
Endorsement from Elizabeth Lawrence, former President of UCU
Image shows Liz Lawrence taking part in a demonstration, carrying a placard which reads “defend jobs, defend education, NO CUTS” I have known Rhiannon for over a decade as a union …
rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com
December 17, 2024 at 6:06 PM
A big thank you to Elizabeth Lawrence, former President UCU. I first met Liz in the freezing cold at Sheffield station when she welcomed our branch campaign against TU victimisation to Yorks with strike funds & a list of solidarity visits booked.
rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com/2024/12/17/e...
rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com/2024/12/17/e...
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
This year’s ESHackathon is back at the NIHR Innovation Observatory at Newcastle University. We have 15 evidence synthesis projects this year ranging from fixing bibliographic records to tackling issues around AI use in systematic reviews. Watch this space for news from the next 3 days!
December 16, 2024 at 8:25 PM
This year’s ESHackathon is back at the NIHR Innovation Observatory at Newcastle University. We have 15 evidence synthesis projects this year ranging from fixing bibliographic records to tackling issues around AI use in systematic reviews. Watch this space for news from the next 3 days!
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
Open University and Coventry both announcing Fire & Rehire in the same week.
Totally normal. Not at all something a government should urgently ask questions about.
Sort. This. Labour.
Totally normal. Not at all something a government should urgently ask questions about.
Sort. This. Labour.
The Open University's use fire and rehire is shocking and calls into question the values of the institution.
"We urge them to reconsider...or face the threat of industrial action." @oubucu.bsky.social branch president, Peter Wood 👇
"We urge them to reconsider...or face the threat of industrial action." @oubucu.bsky.social branch president, Peter Wood 👇
UCU calls on Open University to withdraw fire and rehire threat
The University and College Union (UCU) has today reiterated its call for the Open University (OU) to scrap plans to fire and rehire staff.
www.ucu.org.uk
December 16, 2024 at 1:05 PM
Open University and Coventry both announcing Fire & Rehire in the same week.
Totally normal. Not at all something a government should urgently ask questions about.
Sort. This. Labour.
Totally normal. Not at all something a government should urgently ask questions about.
Sort. This. Labour.
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
The news coming out of Coventry is 🤯
Fire-and-Rehire: numerous staff are pushed onto teaching-only contracts via a subsidiary. They're made to re-interview for roles that will increase teaching and move them onto a different pension scheme: from TPS to AVIVA, with far lower employer contributions.
Fire-and-Rehire: numerous staff are pushed onto teaching-only contracts via a subsidiary. They're made to re-interview for roles that will increase teaching and move them onto a different pension scheme: from TPS to AVIVA, with far lower employer contributions.
So compulsory redundancies are happening / have happened at:
⚠️ Goldsmiths
⚠️ Huddersfield
⚠️ Hull
⚠️ Keele
⚠️ Kent
⚠️ UCLan
⚠️ Brookes
⚠️ Arts University Plymouth
⚠️ Plymouth
⚠️ Sheffield Hallam
⚠️ York
And threatened in many others. Did we miss anyone? Or any that were avoided in the end? #UKHE
⚠️ Goldsmiths
⚠️ Huddersfield
⚠️ Hull
⚠️ Keele
⚠️ Kent
⚠️ UCLan
⚠️ Brookes
⚠️ Arts University Plymouth
⚠️ Plymouth
⚠️ Sheffield Hallam
⚠️ York
And threatened in many others. Did we miss anyone? Or any that were avoided in the end? #UKHE
UK HE shrinking
This is a live page of all the redundancies, restructures, reorganisations, and closures taking place across the sector at the moment. Solidarity to all. This sector is vital to the country’s…
qmucu.org
December 12, 2024 at 2:12 PM
The news coming out of Coventry is 🤯
Fire-and-Rehire: numerous staff are pushed onto teaching-only contracts via a subsidiary. They're made to re-interview for roles that will increase teaching and move them onto a different pension scheme: from TPS to AVIVA, with far lower employer contributions.
Fire-and-Rehire: numerous staff are pushed onto teaching-only contracts via a subsidiary. They're made to re-interview for roles that will increase teaching and move them onto a different pension scheme: from TPS to AVIVA, with far lower employer contributions.
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
Rank & File response following decisions made at UCU HEC on Thursday ucurankandfile.wordpress.com/2024/12/15/t...
The Fightback Begins – but only if we make it happen
On 12 Dec 2024, Higher Education Committee voted for two motions which together comprise a plan for a much-needed fight back on improved pay and conditions and against cuts and redundancies. There …
ucurankandfile.wordpress.com
December 15, 2024 at 4:07 PM
Rank & File response following decisions made at UCU HEC on Thursday ucurankandfile.wordpress.com/2024/12/15/t...
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
Thrilled to see voting transparency on NEC is back on the agenda, though. I hope some of those voting against it when I proposed it will work to getting it through NEC soon.
December 13, 2024 at 6:09 PM
Thrilled to see voting transparency on NEC is back on the agenda, though. I hope some of those voting against it when I proposed it will work to getting it through NEC soon.
Space really is pretty darn cool!
The galaxies in IC 1623 are known as Luminous Infrared Galaxies. These are more than 100 billion times as luminous as the Sun and need high-resolution infrared telescopes, like #NASAWebb, for detailed observations.
Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, L. Armus, A. Evans; R. Colombari. 🔭 🧪
Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, L. Armus, A. Evans; R. Colombari. 🔭 🧪
December 13, 2024 at 3:48 PM
Space really is pretty darn cool!
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
Grant is an excellent candidate for UCU Scotland President. If I was able to, I’d vote for him
My election address for the upcoming UCU elections, including voting recommendations. grantbuttarsucu.wordpress.com/2024/12/04/e...
Election Address 2025
I am standing for the role of UCU Scotland President. At present, I am UCU Scotland Vice President and this is my third term on UCU Scotland Executive, having also served 2 terms as an ordina…
grantbuttarsucu.wordpress.com
December 13, 2024 at 12:36 PM
Grant is an excellent candidate for UCU Scotland President. If I was able to, I’d vote for him
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
Shocking fire and rehire scheme at The Open University 🚨
Forcing 160 lectures to accept lower pay is unacceptable 👇
"It is a very serious situation because everyone is worried if they get away with it once, then they will do it again"
@oubucu.bsky.social
Forcing 160 lectures to accept lower pay is unacceptable 👇
"It is a very serious situation because everyone is worried if they get away with it once, then they will do it again"
@oubucu.bsky.social
Open University lecturers in contract row - union
More than 160 lecturers were asked to sign new contracts amid concerns over hours, a union says.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 13, 2024 at 11:14 AM
Shocking fire and rehire scheme at The Open University 🚨
Forcing 160 lectures to accept lower pay is unacceptable 👇
"It is a very serious situation because everyone is worried if they get away with it once, then they will do it again"
@oubucu.bsky.social
Forcing 160 lectures to accept lower pay is unacceptable 👇
"It is a very serious situation because everyone is worried if they get away with it once, then they will do it again"
@oubucu.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
We welcome Labour's decision to reverse the defunding of many crucial Level 3 qualifications, protecting educational pathways for working-class students.
The government must now ensure that course closures do not lead to students losing out.
Read more 👇
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1379...
The government must now ensure that course closures do not lead to students losing out.
Read more 👇
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1379...
UCU welcomes decision to retain over 150 Level 3 qualifications
Responding to the outcome of the Department for Education's review of Level 3 courses, UCU general secretary Jo Grady said:
www.ucu.org.uk
December 13, 2024 at 9:52 AM
We welcome Labour's decision to reverse the defunding of many crucial Level 3 qualifications, protecting educational pathways for working-class students.
The government must now ensure that course closures do not lead to students losing out.
Read more 👇
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1379...
The government must now ensure that course closures do not lead to students losing out.
Read more 👇
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1379...
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
Reposted by Chris Pritchard
We strike again tomorrow and Friday.
Please support us
SHARE our posts
WRITE to guardian.readers@theguardian.com
JOIN US - the picketline was packed last week. Will be the same tomorrow.
The strength of feeling is undimmed 💪⬇️
Please support us
SHARE our posts
WRITE to guardian.readers@theguardian.com
JOIN US - the picketline was packed last week. Will be the same tomorrow.
The strength of feeling is undimmed 💪⬇️
Third day of Guardian & Observer strikes on Thurs 12 and Fri 13 to feature carols, protest songs & a festive picket line as campaign to #SavetheObserver continues.
Please show your support by re-posting & joining us at the Guardian’s HQ, details 👇
www.nuj.org.uk/resource/thi...
Please show your support by re-posting & joining us at the Guardian’s HQ, details 👇
www.nuj.org.uk/resource/thi...
Third day of Guardian & Observer strikes to feature carols, protest songs and a festive picket line as campaign to Save the Observer continues
Show your support for striking Guardian and Observer Journalists
www.nuj.org.uk
December 11, 2024 at 2:57 PM
We strike again tomorrow and Friday.
Please support us
SHARE our posts
WRITE to guardian.readers@theguardian.com
JOIN US - the picketline was packed last week. Will be the same tomorrow.
The strength of feeling is undimmed 💪⬇️
Please support us
SHARE our posts
WRITE to guardian.readers@theguardian.com
JOIN US - the picketline was packed last week. Will be the same tomorrow.
The strength of feeling is undimmed 💪⬇️