Latest news with #UniversityandCollegeUnion
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Deadline extended for University of Aberdeen redundancy scheme
The University of Aberdeen has extended its voluntary severance scheme as it continues to search for millions of pounds in financial reopened the scheme in April this year, to try to help save £ the time it said it had made progress but needed to make more savings and described the measures being taken as regrettable but an update to staff, management said the window for those interested in voluntary severance or enhanced retirement - originally due to close in June - had now been extended until September. A university spokesperson said it was "cautiously optimistic" it had achieved about £4m of savings."Further cost savings and income generation are still needed as our three-year financial plan requires the university to break even by 2028," the spokesperson University of Aberdeen's future was described as being in "significant doubt" in its annual report in May last such as rising costs and falling numbers of international students were the university has stressed that the report was setting out the potential risk if action had not been taken, and that it was now on a firm financial Scottish government said that, along with Scottish Funding Council, it would continue to engage closely with the sector as universities - including Aberdeen - "develop their plans to address financial sustainability".The University and College Union has described it as an extremely worrying time for staff at the university.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Newcastle University students to get compensation over strikes
University students whose lessons were disrupted by strikes are set to receive classes at Newcastle University were cancelled when staff carried out industrial action between March and June in response to planned job affected by the strikes will be paid between £100 and £600, depending on how many of their modules were university said the compensation was being paid for "missed teaching" following industry guidance from the Office for Students (OfS). Members of the University and College Union (UCU) initially announced they were walking out for 14 days in April after Newcastle University said it was attempting to cut £20m from its salary bill. It is thought the figure equates to the loss of about 300 later announced a further three days of strike action in on Friday the industrial dispute ended when the UCU said it had received assurances from the university no further job losses would be made until next year. More than 200 staff have already taken voluntary severance. How much compensation? The level of compensation each student receives will depend on how many of their teaching modules were disrupted and whether they pay home fees or international fee-paying students will be handed £100 of compensation for each teaching module disrupted, up to a maximum of £ fee-payers will receive £200 of compensation, with an upper limit of £1,200.A module is classed as disrupted if "teaching has been missed due to industrial action and it has not been possible to repeat or replace", the university the compensation formula does not take into account how many lessons within a module were affected by the means a student who had one lesson disrupted would receive the same compensation as another who had three lessons disrupted in the same module."We have taken a standardised approach calculated at module level, rather than total hours missed, so that compensation can be administered quickly to students, in line with the expectations from OfS," a university spokesperson said. The Office for Students said it does not intervene in industrial disputes but students should be paid "appropriate compensation" when their education is interrupted."The OfS does not set the levels of compensation, but universities should ensure it is fair and takes into account the scale of disruption faced by students," a spokesperson said. Follow BBC Newcastle on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.
The Herald Scotland
21-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Hundreds march through Glasgow in support of refugees
Chants of 'Say it loud, say it clear! Refugees are welcome here' and 'No nations, no borders! Stop deportations' rang out in the Trongate. Henry, a member of the University and College Union (UCU), told The Herald: 'I'm profoundly disturbed by the rise of the far-right across Europe, and think that decent people who care about humanity and social issues need to stand up to these people and challenge their narrative.' Read More: Another demonstrator said: 'My father moved from Ireland to Scotland at the time of 'no blacks, no Irish, no dogs', so his experiences have shaped my perspective on this.' A range of speakers from local trade unions also addressed the crowd. Photographer and activist Sadia Sikandar, herself a refugee from Pakistan, said: 'The way the Scottish people show solidarity and compassion with asylum seekers is different from the rest of the UK. Two women holding banners supporting refugees and asylum seekers, as part of an event organised by Stand Up To Racism (Image: Newsquest) 'It's part of the reason I came to Glasgow after living in England for six years. Now my friends tease me and say I'm an 'adopted Glaswegian'. 'Keir Starmer says we are here to create 'stranger island'. That will not happen in Scotland as long as you all are over here.' A 'anti-racist' carnival has been set up at the end of the parade route at the Old Fruitmarket. Stalls at the family-friendly event include face-painting, balloon artistry, and puppeteering. A range of music guests are also scheduled to perform, including Iona Fyfe, Tom Harlow, Pilgrim Society, and Mellow Party.
STV News
20-06-2025
- Business
- STV News
Edinburgh University staff strike in dispute over threat of job cuts
Staff at the University of Edinburgh are set to strike over threatened job cuts amid plans to slash £140m from its annual budget. Members of University and College Union (UCU) will be on picket lines across the university in the first of series of strikes on Friday, a scheduled Open Day for prospective students. A rally will also be held from 11am on George Square in Edinburgh. Staff at the university will also take strike action at the start of the new academic year in September. The union said that cuts of £140m would amount to the biggest cuts ever made by a university in Scotland and could see up to 1,800 staff lose their jobs. The strike follows a ballot where 84% of UCU members at the university voted to back strike action and 93% to back action short of strike. The turnout was 60%. UCU members overwhelmingly rejected a last-minute management offer to avert the strike, with 92% voting to reject. UCU members will also take part in action short of strike, including working to contract and boycotting administrative work relating to implementing the cuts. The union is also considering a marking and assessment boycott as well as telling members not to use their personal devices for work. Chiefs say they are holding out on escalating the dispute to give senior managers the opportunity to rule out compulsory redundancies. The union said it was keen to work with senior management to try and find alternative savings to job cuts that were less detrimental to the university and the student experience. Sophia Woodman, president of the Edinburgh University UCU branch, said: 'Taking strike action is the very last thing UCU members at Edinburgh want to do but the decision of the principal to press ahead with huge cuts and the refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies has simply left us no choice. 'University staff are worried about the future and whether they'll have a job this time next year. We are striking on Open Day to sound the alarm about the future of research and teaching at the university, because we care deeply about the quality of education we provide to our students. 'Staff are stunned to see university senior management pressing ahead with plans to spend vast sums on public relations consultants and increase spending on buildings while cutting the staff who teach students and carry out world leading research. Even at this late stage it's not too late for the university to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies and end this dispute.' Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said: 'UCU members at Edinburgh are striking to save jobs and to guarantee the future of the university. 'Peter Mathieson has been warned often enough about the impact his cuts will have on staff, students and the university's reputation but the refusal not to rule out compulsory redundancies means that the fault for this strike going ahead lies firmly at his door.' A University of Edinburgh spokesperson said: 'Open Day is a hugely important event in our calendar, and we are delighted to be welcoming thousands of potential students to our campus. 'Visitors will get a taste of what classes might be like, see accommodation options as well as experiencing the city itself. 'While we respect colleagues' right to take part in industrial action, we are doing our utmost to keep any disruption to a minimum and have endeavoured to keep those planning to attend well informed.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
South Wales Argus
17-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Cardiff University UCU claims evidence was 'misleading'
The University and College Union (UCU) branch claimed Pat Younge made 'numerous (no doubt inadvertently) misleading claims' about them while giving evidence to the Children, Young Persons, and Education Committee. The union reassured members in an email, stating it aimed to 'set the record straight.' The UCU also submitted a critique of the university's "Academic Futures" cuts proposals to the council, ahead of the university council's consideration of the plans on June 17. The union said it would present more detailed criticisms of "Academic Futures" to the council in person. The University Senate, which met on June 11, unanimously rejected the "Academic Futures" proposals, citing foundational risks to academic sustainability and the financial future of the university. The meeting also noted that senior management did not vote in favour of the plans. The union, along with Unite and Unison, is urging the council to pause the proposals' implementation and consider more measured reform. The UCU reported the university to the Health and Safety Executive over concerns related to the "Academic Futures" process, following a survey highlighting potential serious health and safety consequences.
