University fees crisis
UCU members explain the challenges of organising in the face of the market-driven crisis affecting education, which affects students and university workers alike.
Report from the 2024 UCU Congress
rs21 members in UCU report on the recent Congress of the Further and Higher Education workers union
Who should be UCU’s next general secretary?
rs21 members in UCU discuss the candidates and offer their voting recommendations.
UCU dispute: members can win the marking and assessment boycott
As the UCU’s marking and assessment boycott gets underway, rs21 members in UCU underline the need for more rank-and-file initiatives and a commitment to genuine member-led democracy in the union. Even before the marking and assessment boycott (MAB) by UCU members in the higher education sector got underway, the union was racking up some successes. […]
Everyone to London on 15 March!
15 March will be the biggest day of action so far in the current strike wave – we urge everyone to join the London protests on that day.
UCU dispute at the crossroads
rs21 members in UCU analyse the current UCU dispute and consider the role of the UCU bureaucracy in recent weeks. In January, the future of the UCU dispute over pay, pensions and conditions was in a precarious situation. A vote by the Higher Education Executive committee (HEC) to call indefinite strike action had been publicly […]
Half a million on strike – organise in your workplace to beat the Tories
A brilliant day – now escalate the strikes, build our unions at the grassroots.
UCU dispute: escalate university strikes to win
rs21 members in UCU say indefinite strike is the most effective way to fight.
Support the UCU strikes!
UCU workers are escalating industrial action in their disputes. Jaswinder Blackwell-Pal explains why this is a vital move and how to support.
Universities battles ahead – UCU Congress 2022
The University and College Union (UCU), which organises teachers, researchers and some support staff in further and higher education, held its annual congress earlier this month. Two rs21 members who were delegates report on the key debates.
Lowering expectations: misrepresentations of McAlevey
Trade unionists have been inspired by McAlevey’s work. But now sections of the union bureaucracy are co-opting her insights.
The Difference is Striking in Higher Education
Thousands of UCU members took three days of strike action last week in a resumption of long-standing disputes with employers. Nick Cimini reports on what the other higher education trade unions are doing.
Strikes coming in Higher Education?
Grant Buttars discusses the UCU ballot results and prospects for action.
When is it right for a union to support dismissal?
Kathleen Stock has blamed UCU for her decision to resign from her position.
Obituary: Eileen Cook, 1950-2021
Eileen Cook, who died on 6 October 2021, was a life-long trade unionist, feminist campaigner, and revolutionary socialist. She is much missed by many, including her comrades in Edinburgh rs21, who remember her in this obituary.
Queen Mary University of London – stop evicting students now!
A statement from the QMUL Rent Strike Campaign from early April 2021 opposing evictions from Queen Mary University of London student accommodation.
‘The fight of our lives’ | Interview with Marian Mayer
Marian Mayer, candidate for Vice President of UCU, spoke to rs21 about the fightback in the higher and further education sectors
Strikes in the time of coronavirus
How can workers respond to the unfolding coronavirus crisis, without forfeiting our collective power? A UCU member reflects. Originally published on Notes from Below.
Organising in response to COVID-19
As criticism of the UK government’s response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic mounts, rs21 members highlight the flourishing grassroots responses that aim to provide support and to demand more effective action from government and employers
Statement: Students stage occupations at 11 UK universities in support of UCU staff
Students occupy buildings at eleven UK universities in support of striking staff.
A crucial week for the university strikes
With negotiations reportedly going well, but the current wave of strikes ending alongside the climate strikes on Friday, rs21 members explain why this is a crucial week and explore some of the debates among strikers.
Feminists to the pickets!
The Women’s Strike Assembly are calling for feminists to link up with the current higher education strikes and organise feminist pickets on Monday 9 March 2020.
University strikes escalate from Monday
UCU and EIS members are briefly returning to work before escalating their strike on Monday. rs21 reports from the higher education strike around Britain.
Solidarity needs rebuilding, urgently
The university strikes provide an opportunity to relearn traditions of collective solidarity which strengthen both the strikers and those giving solidarity.
University strikes resume: day 1
The latest wave of strikes for pensions, pay, equality and against casualization and unsafe workloads began today (20 February 2020). We bring you some initial reports.
Support the UK’s biggest ever HE strikes
From Thursday 20 February, workers across the higher education sector will be taking strike action over pensions, pay, equality, casualisation and workloads.
Picket line conversations
A Unison member reflects on conversations on the picket-lines that offered a different vision about how universities could and should be run.
Our universities! Our planet!
The end of the first week of UCU strike action coincided with the latest climate strike on Friday 29 November. rs21 members report on pickets from around the country.
Support the climate strikes!
Tomorrow striking university workers will be joining the next youth strike for climate. What can the movements learn from each other?
UCU strikes: a fighting start
Eight days of strikes got off to a confident start across sixty Higher Education institutions today.