“Irish third-level institutions are to be affected by strikes and other actions over pay and conditions in the coming months. This comes as lecturers and researchers in 60 universities across the UK and Northern Ireland began an eight day strike on Monday over pensions, pay and conditions …” (more)
[TheJournal.ie, 1 December]
“We are now mid-way through eight days of strike action taking place in 60 universities throughout the UK. Industrial action began on Monday 25 November and is scheduled to last until Wednesday 4 December, affecting over one million students. From Thursday 5th December, strike action will continue with many academics working to ‘action short of strike’, meaning they will not reschedule cancelled classes or cover for absent colleagues …” (more)
[Rachel Ashe, The Gown, 29 November]
“Brilliant to see students and staff united. Our working conditions are their learning conditions …” (more)
[UCU @ Ulster, 27 November]
“The anticipated strikes of staff from UK universities have begun: they will last from today (November 25th 2019) until December 4th. The cause of the dispute is twofold: (1) the long-running saga of the Universities pension scheme (about which there were strikes in 2018); and (2) over pay, equality, workloads and the ever-increasing casualisation of lecturing and other work …” (more)
[In the Dark, 25 November]
“Many lecturers and support staff at Queen’s University (QUB) and Ulster University (UU) are beginning eight days of strike action on Monday. The action by University and College Union (UCU) members is due to disputes over pay and pensions. The strike is expected to continue up to and including Wednesday, 4 December …” (more)
[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 25 November]
“Queen’s University and Ulster University face eight days of strike action from many lecturers and support staff, starting on 25 November. The action by University and College Union (UCU) members is due to disputes over pay and pensions. The walkout follows votes in favour of industrial action and will affect about 60 universities across the UK …” (more)
[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 7 November]
“We have started a Petition in relation to the Review of the Industrial Tribunal which ruled that Ulster University had breached the Employment Rights Order (NI) by failing to consult the University and College Union (UCU) over staff cuts …” (more)
[UCU, 4 July]
“Here is a link to the ‘Independent Review of the Circumstances Leading up to the Employment Tribunal Judgement in the Case of University and College Union v Ulster University‘ …” (more)
[UCU, 2 July]
“A row has broken out following complaints by unionist politicians about views expressed by lecturers at Queen’s University. The University College Union (UCU) at Queen’s has hit out at what it termed ‘wholly unfair and worryingly authoritarian attacks’ on local academics’ right to voice opinions … ” (more)
[Adrian Rutherford, Belfast Telegraph, 18 May]
“The union that represents the majority of lecturers at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) has accused some unionist parties and politicians of attacks on academic freedom. The University and College Union (UCU) said they were aimed at gagging academics, especially over Brexit …” (more)
[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 17 May]
“An Ulster University lecturer has threatened to take legal action against her employers after being barred from standing in elections to its governing body. The University Council is responsible for oversight of all the institution’s affairs …” (more)
[Mark Bain, Belfast Telegraph, 7 December]
“Vital research and collaboration projects at universities are at risk of collapsing if the UK exits the EU without a deal, the leader of the largest union of higher education staff has warned. Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), which has more than 100,000 members, said the fall-out from Brexit is the ‘biggest challenge facing higher education’ …” (more)
[Eleanor Busby, Independent, 26 August]
“Predicted grades should not be used by universities to make offers to students, a union has said. The UK is ‘out of step’ with the rest of the world on university admissions, according to the University and College Union (UCU) which is calling for an overhaul of the system …” (more)
[Alison Kershaw, Belfast Telegraph, 19 June]
“Some students at Ulster University (UU) could have exam marks increased if they have been affected by strike action, the BBC reports. Due to strike action by the University and College Union (UCU) a number of classes at UU were cancelled earlier this year …” (more)
[Belfast Telegraph, 13 June]
“University staff have suspended strikes which were set to hit summer exams after agreeing to fresh pension plans. Planned changes to staff pensions prompted 14 days of strike action at 64 universities in February and March, and more strikes were planned …” (more)
[Hannah Richardson, BBC News, 13 April]
“We apologise for not arranging a members’ meeting to discuss the ballot which closes this Friday. The timing was unfortunate for us given Ulster University closes during Easter week. In the absence of a meeting, we are instead publishing our thoughts through our social media channels …” (more)
[UCU, 12 April]
“Hi all, now that the strikes are over (for now) I just want to record my thanks to all of you for all your support throughout the strike period. We have surpassed all expectations and have had pickets on every campus, at every entrance, every day. We have had staff from across the university, at every level, from every school or department, striking with us and have been supported by our students and the Student’s Union. We have shown that we are united, principled and can influence decision making at the highest level …” (more)
[UCU@Ulster, 16 March]
“University strikers have turned down an agreement reached by university union leaders and employers to end the pensions dispute. It means the strike will continue – with threats to final year exams and assessments in the summer term …” (more)
[Sean Coughlan, BBC News, 13 March]
“Striking university staff have expressed anger and widespread opposition to a deal struck by their own leaders to bring an end to a bitter dispute over pensions. The proposed agreement between the University and College Union (UCU) and employers represented by Universities UK (UUK) was reached on Monday night after six days of talks at the conciliation service Acas and three weeks of strike action …” (more)
[Sally Weale, Guardian, 13 March]
“Strikes by university staff, which have caused widespread disruption on campuses across the UK in a bitter dispute over pensions, could be suspended later this week after a breakthrough in talks. Employers and union leaders have agreed a revised proposal to reform pensions, which – if endorsed by all parties – will be introduced as part of a three-year transitional arrangement …” (more)
[Sally Weale, Guardian, 12 March]
