Newcastle University UCU Branch Newsletter – June 2026
Joint Negotiating Committee Report Back
There was a JNC with management on Wednesday afternoon.
We put workload onto the agenda. This is a long-running campaign, requiring a patient evidence-based approach linking workload to stress-related illness (you can order our new workload leaflets from the branch office). Management explained that the delay in a follow up workload survey was due to unforeseen difficulties with a new survey platform but committed to a survey – as we have asked for – that is modelled on the Health and Safety Executive’s Management Standards stress indicator tool with comparators to the Workload and Wellbeing Survey of December 2023. They also agreed to follow up areas that were workload/stress hotspots from meetings that the branch has had with particular sections: psychology and SELLL that had very concerning scores in the 2023 survey. We will continue to respond to sections that flag up to us significant workload/stress problems and are planning more member meetings of this nature.
Management put the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s updated guidance from April on the agenda saying that they were in a consultation phase listening to all sides. We restated our position of defence of trans colleagues’ and students’ rights, objected to the hostile environment that the Supreme Court ruling created and called on management not to respond disproportionately.
Anti-Racism: After the May Council Elections
The growth of racism, the far right and anti-migrant sentiment is a threat to our colleagues and to trade union solidarity in general. Our branch has a strong record of unity and anti-racism. We announced three events at our AGM.
There is a counter-protest to Rupert Lowe MP’s Restore UK coming to Newcastle next Saturday 13 June. As before, we would like to see as many members as possible on the counter-demonstration as we have done previously. If we meet outside Northern Stage at 11am we can take the banner down together.
Women against the Far Right. The far right have tried to exploit violence against women in order to pursue their anti-migrant and refugee agendas. Up and down the country, Women against the Far Right networks have emerged. There is a Newcastle launch meeting on Thursday 25 June at 7pm at the Alphabetti Theatre.
Women Against the Far Right: North East Launch Tickets, Thursday, June 25 • 7 PM – 9 PM | Eventbrite
Public meeting: Palestine, Militarism and the Right to Protest: 6.30 pm Thursday 11 June, Tyneside Irish Centre. For tickets (Free, £5, £10 solidarity, donation) register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/palestine-militarism-the-right-to-protest-tickets-1990181571655
BREAKING NEWS: Former South African MP Andrew Feinstein is joining the platform.
Jarrow Rebel Town Festival, 11 am Saturday 20 June, by the Pedestrian Tunnel in Jarrow.
Union-Rainbow Network Meeting on EHRC Guidance
Following release of the Equality Human Rights Commission’s Statutory Guidance for Service Providers, Newcastle University campus unions and the Rainbow Network will hold a second joint meeting. Venue: Armstrong Building ARMB.1.04, 12:30-13:30 on Monday 22nd June.
Allies are very welcome, but particularly trans, non-binary and intersex members, and others likely to be directly affected by the new statutory guidance. It is extremely important that we take every opportunity to have policies that are formed through discussions that meaningfully involve the people who are most directly affected by them. UCU are the only trade union to have made this clear in public statements about the guidance, but it falls to us to turn this ambition into reality. UCU’s statement on the EHRC guidance can be found here:
UCU – Statement from UCU general secretary on EHRC Code of Practice
Proposed Closure of the Psychological Therapies Training and Research Clinic
At a time when the Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce has just concluded and is about to produce a final report and the Office for Students is insisting on greater responsibility for student mental health and suicide prevention, the university has decided to close the PTTRC that caters to 400 students a year. Waiting times for a NHS referral for the kind of counselling that they provide is 12 months. Three colleagues could face redundancy. We are challenging the decision.
Understanding University Finances Training
If any rep or member wishes to attend a session explaining university finances, please contact the union office: ucu.office@ncl.ac.uk We have a meeting with the Director of Finance late July so understanding how the university finances work are key for the branch to understand.