Newcastle University UCU Branch Newsletter – January 2026
Some updates and solidarity and campaigning….
Colleagues at Northumbria University are currently balloting over an attack on their pension scheme and pay. If you have not signed please do, they are pushing for 1000 signatures.
Petition against attacks on the pension at Northumbria University:
Northumbria Pay and Pension Petition: Stop the Steal! | Megaphone UK
Scottish branches are all balloting for action: Heriot-Watt, Stirling, Aberdeen, Strathclyde. If you have friends at these institutions, please send a message of solidarity. More to follow.
Management at Cardiff University have agreed to no compulsory redundancies in a long-running dispute.
Against the Lock Out at Sheffield University UCU
Sheffield University UCU are holding a meeting open to all UCU members. On Monday at 3.30. Here is the link to register.
On Monday Sheffield University UCU’s meeting against the lockout had around 60 attending from dozens of branches. Thanks to who have signed their petition. Several branches reported taking action against job losses, workload, pensions and course closures were present Leicester, Heriot-Watt, Durham, Northumbria, Cardiff, Sheffield Hallam, …. The resistance to the job cuts is spreading.
Northern TUC will host a meeting will take place to build the protest against the far right on Tuesday 13 January at 6.30pm at the Unite Building on John Dobson Street. A pre-registered event.
The counter-protest against the far right attempting to intimidate refugees continues this Saturday at 11.30 in the square by the entrance to the Laing Art Gallery.
The branch was represented at Monday’s Stop the War protest at the Monument over Trump’s action against Venezuela. Get in touch with ucu.office@ncl.ac.uk if you want to campaign on this issue.
A fuller update with details of the restructures in the Innovation Observatory and NUIT and plans for reps training to follow shortly.
In solidarity with our Iranian colleagues and members at Newcastle University and against the brutal crackdown, we will have a branch photo op of solidarity on Tuesday 20 January at 12, meet by the steps of the Student’s Union Building.
The Times Higher has done an analysis of annual reports across the sector over 13,000 jobs were lost in HE last year. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/pay-spend-two-thirds-universities-shed-13000-jobs
The branch was represented at the Northern TUC hosted a meeting to organise a challenge to the far right on Tuesday with unions UNISON, FBU, UCW, UNITE, PCS in attendance. The plan is to build a local demonstration, launch a local women against the far right event close to international women’s day and get numbers to a national demonstration in London on 28 March. https://www.togetheralliance.org.uk/
Please contact ucu.office@ncl.ac.uk if you wish to be involved.
Locally….. Solidarity to…
Northumbria University UCU branch ballot closes on 23 January. https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/14281/Strike-ballot-launched-at-Northumbria-University-in-pay-and-pensions-row
Here is an early day motion to the House of Commons.
Higher education pension cuts – Early Day Motions – UK Parliament
You can write to your MP to support here: UCU – Write to your MP: Defending university staff pensions
Durham University UCU branch are balloting over workloads. https://durhamucu.org.uk/