UCU Logo

University and College Union

The Open University branch of the University and College Union

You are here

  1. Home
  2. News

News

University and College Union #OneOfUsAllOfUs

Take action, make change

Academic related staff members Amy Ryall and David Conway explain we need to take collective action between the 14th February and 2nd March 2022.

1st February 2022
Stamp out casual contracts

UCU's Anti-Casualisation Annual meeting 26 February 2022

If you are on a casualised contract, or have an interest UCU's work on behalf of those who are, you may be interested in attending UCU's annual meeting on 26th February, view further information.  Members can attend as branch delegates, or self-register. Priority is given to branch delegates, but self-registering delegates nearly always get a place.

7th January 2022

Branch Hardship fund has been opened

We have now opened the branch hardship fund - there's guidance, FAQs and an application form on the Hardship fund page

UCU members risk their pay being docked for the December wave of industrial action during the USS and Pay/Equality disputes.  Whilst UCU is not able to give assistance to all members taking strike action, the union offers the financial support both nationally and locally for members at risk of serious hardship. UCU members must ensure they are paying subscriptions at the correct rate in order to be eligible. 

20th December 2021
USS pensions dispute

Online rally strike day videos

We have now published videos of our strike day online rallies, day 1 was Wednesday 1st December 2021, day 2 was Thursday 2nd December and day 3 was Friday 3rd December 2021. 

Day 1: Watch the video

Day 1: Read the transcript

Day 2: Watch the video

3rd December 2021

Branch Committee Response to Blog

We agree with the author about the excellence of UCU's national policy statement of principles on academic freedom, a position that the branch formally re-affirmed in 2019. That is why the email complained of included a link to this policy statement. The Open University branch of UCU does not discriminate or encourage discrimination against members.

19th November 2021
A rotten retirement and we're at breaking point

Industrial action dates announced

There is a press release about the industrial action, starting on 1st December for 3 days, on the UCU website.

View press release

17th November 2021
A rotten retirement - UCU USS dispute

Video - Three reasons to vote to support strike action

Some of our branch members, including one of our Vice Presidents, Kit Power, have produced a short video with three reasons to vote in the UCU ballots on the USS and Four Fights disputes. The ballot closes on 4th November at 12noon so please post your ballot papers by 2nd November 2021. 

Watch the video.

 

FAQs on the USS dispute: UCU - USS FAQs

1st November 2021
UCU colours mini crochet blanket

AL newsletter issue 4

Our AL reps commitee newsletter group have produced a new issue of our AL newsletter, read the newsletter here

We are running a short survey on 2021J AL recruitment, please complete the survey here

6th October 2021
UCU - USS Pensions dispute

UCU ballot news

UCU has confirmed that strike ballots will open at UK universities on Monday 18 October 2021 in rows over USS pensions and pay, unsafe workloads, casualisation and equality failings.

View the UCU Press release.

27th September 2021
Remembering Norman Maxfield

Norman Maxfield

 

Norman Maxfield (Normax) died in July 2021 aged 98. He was a very long term AL, residential school tutor, examiner, and course team participant with the Business School. His son is keen that this news is shared with any OU friends and colleagues who might wish to hear.  

Norman was interviewed by FutureLearn back in 2014​, when he was one of the early testers of their pilot courses. 

10th August 2021

Page 5 of 16

Join UCU today

UCU Logo

Join UCU online

Contact information:

Like our Page on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Phone us on 01908 6(53069) or Deb Shann on Skype for Business or Teams

Call into Room 015, Wilson C block, Walton Hall

Email us