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Defend education. Defend your colleagues. Defend the student experience.
Help to shape the future of UoG
Talk to your fellow students and colleagues. Discuss shared concerns and introduce others to this website.
Sign the UCU petition against compulsory redundancies.
Become an active member of your union:
Sign the UCU petition against compulsory redundancies.
Become an active member of your union:
How have we responded to this crisis? Listen, this is Cheltenham. First we responded with strong words over coffee and perhaps a letter to The Times. Nobody could call our staff or students trouble makers; until recently, the UCU membership was politely quiet and the students were among the least political in Europe. This is changing.
Those of us who have attended different campaign meetings do not share any political allegiance and many of us have never been involved with workplace or student politics before. We are not all members of the same union and we range in experience from undergraduate students to lecturers who are near retirement. What we do share is a level of concern that now prohibits silence.
We share an investment in this university. Some of us have been associated with teaching in Gloucestershire for decades, remember the achievement of university status, and are distressed to see years of research development undermined. At one meeting a postgraduate student recalled the three years he spent saving to study here, and expressed his dismay at what he considered to be the university’s reckless use of his fees. Another postgraduate described how he had moved to Britain specifically to study with a researcher whose position is now under threat.
We recognise that keeping our heads down and hoping the cuts won’t hit us is unethical and impractical. We believe that members of a union who don’t defend their colleagues should not be members of a union. We know that the thirty redundancies are just a start. The university has been explicit that ‘It is unlikely that compulsory redundancies will be avoided in the future, and it has been made clear to the trade unions that an ongoing programme of efficiency reviews will inevitably result in further compulsory job losses’ (ref). They have started at FCH, they are far from finished at FCH, and they are coming to a campus near you.
Indeed this has been a defining tactic in the University’s management strategy. Visiting other campuses it has been revealing to listen to some colleagues who say that they are unaware of the grave situation facing many of us. This is in part a result of the, at best, bland and defensive, at worst deliberately obfuscatory official communication. It is also an aspect of the overall policy of ‘divide and rule’ that has dominated recent negotiations between management and the University workforce. For students of politics and the machinations of power this has been a fascinating, if depressing introduction into the ancient art of maintaining (and controlling) ‘subordinates or opponents by encouraging dissent between them so that they do not unite in opposition.’ (COED, p.418).
Those of us who have attended different campaign meetings do not share any political allegiance and many of us have never been involved with workplace or student politics before. We are not all members of the same union and we range in experience from undergraduate students to lecturers who are near retirement. What we do share is a level of concern that now prohibits silence.
We share an investment in this university. Some of us have been associated with teaching in Gloucestershire for decades, remember the achievement of university status, and are distressed to see years of research development undermined. At one meeting a postgraduate student recalled the three years he spent saving to study here, and expressed his dismay at what he considered to be the university’s reckless use of his fees. Another postgraduate described how he had moved to Britain specifically to study with a researcher whose position is now under threat.
We recognise that keeping our heads down and hoping the cuts won’t hit us is unethical and impractical. We believe that members of a union who don’t defend their colleagues should not be members of a union. We know that the thirty redundancies are just a start. The university has been explicit that ‘It is unlikely that compulsory redundancies will be avoided in the future, and it has been made clear to the trade unions that an ongoing programme of efficiency reviews will inevitably result in further compulsory job losses’ (ref). They have started at FCH, they are far from finished at FCH, and they are coming to a campus near you.
Indeed this has been a defining tactic in the University’s management strategy. Visiting other campuses it has been revealing to listen to some colleagues who say that they are unaware of the grave situation facing many of us. This is in part a result of the, at best, bland and defensive, at worst deliberately obfuscatory official communication. It is also an aspect of the overall policy of ‘divide and rule’ that has dominated recent negotiations between management and the University workforce. For students of politics and the machinations of power this has been a fascinating, if depressing introduction into the ancient art of maintaining (and controlling) ‘subordinates or opponents by encouraging dissent between them so that they do not unite in opposition.’ (COED, p.418).
A recent UCU EGM passed sixteen motions: it noted the deterioration of the university’s situation while in the charge of the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patricia Broadfoot (unanimous); it called for a management efficiency review (unanimous); it called for a ballot on industrial action if the threat of compulsory redundancies isn’t withdrawn by 31st December (unanimous); and, for at least the fourth time, UCU members voted no confidence in Professor Patricia Broadfoot and her senior management team (unanimous).
Help the UCU campaign group. Vote for industrial action to defend our university.
UCU members, press for a national ballot to defend jobs across the sector.
Students: join the Facebook group to oppose redundancies, insist the NUS support industrial action to defend the HE sector and, within your own Student Union, demand a more in touch and less naïve leadership.
Spread our news to your colleagues and friends at other institutions. See our links section for how you can support campaigns at other universities.
Distribute the UCU leaflet produced for November's successful protest at Park Campus.
UCU members, press for a national ballot to defend jobs across the sector.
Students: join the Facebook group to oppose redundancies, insist the NUS support industrial action to defend the HE sector and, within your own Student Union, demand a more in touch and less naïve leadership.
Spread our news to your colleagues and friends at other institutions. See our links section for how you can support campaigns at other universities.
Distribute the UCU leaflet produced for November's successful protest at Park Campus.
Support industrial action
