In the next few weeks UCU will be balloting for industrial action over pensions and the Four Fights (pay, casualisation, equality, and workload). This is in response to the employers’ recent decision to impose unnecessary and swingeing cuts to your pension and the rampant decline in your working conditions. You are invited to a branch … Continue reading Branch meeting happening tomorrow to discuss the upcoming UCU ballots
10 Questions for Colin Bailey on Covid-19 and the return to campus
As the new term approaches, many staff have expressed concerns about campus safety and Covid-19. Some colleagues are worried about the safety of teaching spaces. Others in professional services are worried about an unnecessary return to minimum hours on campus. It is not always easy to raise these questions in staff meetings or with your … Continue reading 10 Questions for Colin Bailey on Covid-19 and the return to campus
Our next Annual General Meeting will be on 8th June at 3.30pm on Zoom
Every year during our Annual General Meeting, QMUCU members come together to elect the new Branch Committee. While you can run for any position, there are several roles in the Committee which are vacant. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated many of the existing crises the higher education sector has been experiencing over the past years. … Continue reading Our next Annual General Meeting will be on 8th June at 3.30pm on Zoom
Statement of solidarity with Palestine by Queen Mary staff
On Saturday over 100,000 people joined a march in London in protest against the attacks against Palestinians in Gaza, Jerusalem, and the West Bank and against Palestinian citizens of Israel. UCU was one of many trade unions supporting the march, in line with its longstanding policy in support of the Palestinian cause. Members of the Queen … Continue reading Statement of solidarity with Palestine by Queen Mary staff
QMUCU raises concerns over evictions from student residences during the pandemic
In the past couple of weeks, QMUCU has received concerning information from participants in the QMUL Rent Strike about the high rates of eviction from QMUL residences. Between September 2020 and February 2021, 20 students have been given a “notice to quit” from QMUL residences (see FOI request here). Several of these have been for minor offences including … Continue reading QMUCU raises concerns over evictions from student residences during the pandemic
Key findings from QMUL 2020 financial report – fact sheet
Since March 2020, we have witnessed and experienced a substantial increase in childcare and other intensive caring duties at home. This has been accompanied by an increase of workload, leading also to a substantial increase in stress among many staff members. While we have been told that the university is in the midst of a … Continue reading Key findings from QMUL 2020 financial report – fact sheet
How to turn an Inclusion Report into an Exclusion Report
Nearly two years ago Queen Mary comissioned a report into racism and other equalities issues at Queen Mary. Last summer the 'Inclusion Report' with appendices containing testimonies from members of staff was finally produced and presented to the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group. However by the time it was made available to staff, these … Continue reading How to turn an Inclusion Report into an Exclusion Report
Management ignoring government guidance on return to campus
Over the last two weeks you will have received messages from the Principal about the university’s plans for the next academic semester. In those emails it has been claimed that new government guidance on the return to campus in January “does not affect us”. This is not true The university is instead proposing to ignore … Continue reading Management ignoring government guidance on return to campus
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