Dear Brother/Sister
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE UNION - TRADE DISPUTE
Yesterday (1st December), thousands of University College Union (UCU) members began 3 days of strike action in two separate disputes.
UCU members are taking action over falling pay, the gender and ethnic pay gap, precarious employment practices, and unsafe workloads and in a separate dispute to protect pensions.
UCU members say that University employers consistently fail to address these issues and they are calling on them to:
- address the scandal of the gender, ethnic, and disability pay gap
- end contract casualisation and job insecurity
- tackle the rising workloads driving their members to breaking point
- increase all spine points on the national pay scale by £2,500.
- work with the UCU to avoid future changes to pension benefits and increases in member contributions
FBU members understand all too well that pensions are not a gift from our employers and will look to our own fight to defend our pensions: university staff, like firefighters, have earned every penny. In the latest cycle of this damaging dispute, employers are proposing further cuts - amounting to 35% - to university staff's guaranteed pension.
Since 2009, university staff pay has effectively been cut by nearly 20% in real terms, while staff are being asked to work harder and longer than ever before. The employers' own analysis highlights that women, black and minority ethnic, and disabled staff experience significant pay discrimination.
UCU members want to be at work, not on strike, but the future of higher education is under threat. Growing inequality affects both students and staff - poor working conditions mean poor learning conditions.
SUPPORT THE UCU STRIKE
UCU members are asking for fellow workers and trade unionists to stand with them and:
- visit the picket lines to express your support
- tweet your support using the hashtag: #OneOfUsAllOfUs
- email your local university's vice-chancellor
- support striking staff and donate to the UCU fighting fund
All resources and info can be found at ucu.org.uk
FBU Branches and committees are also asked to discuss and pass emergency motions of support and send them to [email protected] and cc [email protected]
The FBU has a proud history of standing with other workers in dispute, a history we must continue.
The UCU are fighting to defend higher education for all of us. Please discuss this circular on branches as a priority and show your solidarity to our brothers and sisters in the UCU.
Yours in unity,
Riccardo la Torre
National Officer
