Lancaster UCU's campaign to stop mass redundancies at Lancaster University continues to attract support. Now it has the backing of local Labour and Green parties who are standing firmly with staff and unions. Both the Lancaster City Council Labour Group and the North Lancashire Green Party have issued powerful statements of support, making clear that … Continue reading Local Political Parties Stand with Lancaster University Staff
In June 2025, Lancaster University released its “Future Academic and Professional Services Blueprints and Implementation Roadmap,” a document intended to set out a transformative plan for the institution’s future. Produced with input from external consultancy KPMG, the report positions itself as a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy to deliver substantial financial savings and structural reform. Yet, on … Continue reading Challenging the Blueprint: A Critical Response to Lancaster University’s KPMG Report
Dear LUCU members We have now received the KPMG report – see below. It is redacted, as expected. The reasons for redactions and refusal to disclose the full report are outlined in the attachments. We will take further advice on the report (in terms of partial disclosure and redactions); as well as take time over … Continue reading KPMG report via Freedom of Information request
On Monday 21st July, a national consultation opened following the ending of negotiations on the 2025/2026 pay claim and the receipt of UCEA’s final offer: an uplift of 1.4% on each point of the New JNCHES pay spine, taking effect on 1st August 2025. The consultative e-ballot will be open until 17:00 on 15th August. The official steer from HEC is to vote to reject the offer (which the committee and all negotiators deem to be very poor) and to vote yes to willingness to take industrial action (IA).
Higher Education in the UK is a minefield at the moment. Plans to cut thousands of jobs in about a year are not restricted to this or the other group of universities. While UCU branches are fighting this draconian attack locally, we also know we can count on the solidarity and support of union colleagues … Continue reading Solidarity with sister branches in dispute in HE
Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Wyre, has presented a petition in Parliament about Lancaster University redundancies. While speaking in the House of Commons, the MP noted that: “My constituents are concerned about potential job losses at Lancaster University”. The petition, signed by Lancaster and Wyre constituents, Declares that Lancaster University is currently considering a … Continue reading Cat Smith MP presents petition to Parliament about Lancaster University redundancies
We are publishing these FAQs to support and offer initial guidance to members, with a specific section (Q1 to Q6) for those on probation, with details about the redundancy process.
It was truly wonderful to learn about the recent win by Newcastle University UCU. After 44 days on the picket line, they achieved a fantastic result: ZERO compulsory redudancies. Well done to all in Newcastle! Thank you for your fight, which is ours too, and thank you for insipiring us to resist, fight back, show … Continue reading Newcastle won!
Most academic staff members in full-time positions work over 1650 hours a year. This artificial system imposed on us forces us to misrepresent how long tasks actually take. And since the TRAC system is used to justify budgets and investments, the underreporting of our actual work generates under-resourcing, precipitates casualisation, and results in misleading performance assessments.
This seminar, organised by Dr Martin Quinn (LUMS), is based on the book “Shaping for Mediocrity” written by colleagues who went through the forced redundancy of critical management and political economy staff at Leicester Business School a few years ago.
Lancaster UCU 