Campaigns

USS plus Pay & Equality disputes

There's more information on these two disputes on the UCU website: www.ucu.org.uk/heaction

Branch Hardship fund

We have added a page with information on the branch hardship fund.

Donation information

If you want to donate to our Branch Hardship fund then please send an email to ucu@open.ac.uk pledging the amount you wish to donate, or you can make a bank payment to this account:

Sort code: 60 83 01 and Account number: 20392138

Or you can post a cheque payable to "UCU the Open University LA064 Hardship fund" to the UCU Office, Room 015, Wilson C Block, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA.

Picket lines and strike events - February and March 2020

If you can join the picket please contact ucu@open.ac.uk and we will put you in touch with the picket coordinators.

Milton Keynes (meet at Security Lodge, St Michael’s Drive) all weekdays (20, 21, 24,25, 26, 27, 28 Feb; 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 March) 7:30-10 am normally followed by coffee at the Marriott Delta 10:30am. There is a WhatsApp group for MK Picketers to join. Parade and Rally Tuesday 25 February 12:30 starting from Security Lodge with speakers to be confirmed.

Nottingham office: all weekdays (20, 21, 24,25, 26, 27, 28 Feb; 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 March) 7:45-10am; Saturday 29 Feb 8:30-10:30 and nearby rally/meeting 11-12:30 location to be confirmed.

Manchester office: all weekdays (20, 21, 24,25, 26, 27, 28 Feb; 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 March) 8-10am.

Cardiff office: 20, 21, 24, 26, 27 and 29 February 7.30am to 10am. NO PICKET LINE on 25 and 28 February. Monday 5 and Thursday 9 March. Lunchtime meeting with UNISON being arranged for Thursday 27 Feb at 12 noon at the Radisson Blue Hotel..

Edinburgh office: all weekdays (20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 Feb; 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 March) 8-10am.

Belfast office: initially 20, 21 February and then dates to be confirmed, 8-10am.

Tuesday 25 February 2020: Solidarity Assembly with John McDonnell MP and speakers from across the trade union movement. Updated information: 6pm, Imperial Hotel, 61 Russell Square, Bedford Way, London WC1B 5BB 

Letter for Open University Students: view letter, 22nd November 2019

Picket line leaflets, February and March 2020

Why are we on strike again leaflet

Casualisation leaflet

Workload leaflet

Time for fairness leaflet

Pay gap leaflet

USS explained leaflet

Student Point of view leaflet

Unpaid work leaflet

Mental health leaflet

Student Working conditions leaflet

USS fit for the future leaflet

Workload and insecurity, penultimate day leaflet

Final day leaflet

Picket line leaflets, November and December 2019

Why are we on strike leaflet

Four nations, one strike leaflet

Alt. University of the Air leaflet

Casualisation leaflet

Pay gap leaflet

Saving USS leaflet

Workload leaflet

Newsletters

UCU newsletter - February 2020

UCU and UNISON Second USS newsletter - 9 October 2019

UCU and UNISON USS newsletter - 4 September 2019

UCU news article: University staff balloting for pension strikes £240,000 worse off as costs rise and benefits cut

USS Ground hog day update - 16 August 2019

UCU website - USS page

UCU website - HE Pay & Equality page

Workload Campaign

We launched a workload survey at the end of 2018 and published the report in April 2019 - view news article.

We trained 10 new Workload Health & Safety reps in October 2018, contact the Branch office for further information, ucu@open.ac.uk. UCU information on workload: www.ucu.org.uk/workload

UCU Higher Education Pay campaign

Full information is on the UCU website: www.ucu.org.uk/he2019

USS Pensions dispute - 2018

Branch page on the USS dispute

UCU national page on the USS pensions dispute: https://www.ucu.org.uk/strikeforuss

Possible Outsourcing of OU IT

Update August 2017: The University has announced that it does not intend to proceed with putting IT out to tender.  This is fantastic news for the loyal and dedicated staff in IT, who were facing the prospect of transfer to an external company.  It is also great news that the University will now retain control of the IT services on which the future depends.

We launched a petition about the possible outsourcing of IT and we would like to thank all of the 8229 people who signed it: www.change.org/p/stop-privatisation-at-the-open-university

IT meeting about TUPE - FAQs added 1st August 2017

Regional Office closures information 

The information we sent to all members about the Locations Agreement with the OU is on the Regional Office closures page.