The night before our strike began, a colleague reflected on what we have to do and why… Taking action  Having been an active trade unionist over many years I am aware that no union official or negotiator is in the business of losing their members’ money. Asking the wider membership to take industrial action is … Continue reading Taking action, taking a stand, taking heart and taking a step

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons Throughout covid19 we at UCU Lancaster have worked hard to ensure our picket is as covid-safe as possible.  This reflects our deep commitment to health and safety which we have maintained throughout the pandemic, and which is indeed one of the fundamental pillars of trade unionism. It is with sadness therefore … Continue reading Safety First on the UCU Picket

Every day we bring you a summary of the previous day’s Teach In.  Here is the conversation so far. Students and staff have been urged to “come together” and create a “new and democratic university” at a teach-in sponsored by our Lancaster's UCU branch. The series of events—organised by staff and students and held on … Continue reading Staff-student unity “key to reimagining and reclaiming the university”, Lancaster teach-in hears

Student: why have I failed again, when I really, really hoped I would pass this time?Teacher: because you hoped but didn’t actually change what you did – I’m so sorry. Anyone who works or studies in higher education knows this story.  While hope is powerful, hope is not enough.  This is our message for the … Continue reading If you want the strike to make a difference – strike differently

Being a student right now is hard. Our universities are becoming ever more focused on squeezing money out of us, and ever less interested in offering a genuinely rewarding experience of learning. Our stress goes up: our teaching hours go down. The cost of living skyrockets: we try not to think about how much money … Continue reading Why I’m supporting my striking lecturers: from a Lancaster University student

This strike is a time for thinking differently. For stepping out of our routine and imagining a different way of organising our university life. Lancaster UCU is proud to present an event series with a difference. Where - every day of the strike- students, staff and the rest of the local community can come together to … Continue reading Join the Teach-ins #WeAreTheUniversity

Another sunny day of strike on Thursday! Once again, the pickets were well-attended and lively, also thanks to the support of our great students. We were also visited by MP Cat Smith. Lancaster UCU is grateful for Cat Smith's continued support and commitment to fair working and learning conditions at Lancaster University, and more broadly … Continue reading What would a sustainable HE system look like?

On Wednesday, the first day of strike went very well. Members s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out on the four COVID-safe pickets, even enjoying a few sun rays and a rain-free morning. We were warmed by cheerful students once again showing their support, and we welcomed the solidarity by other unions and groups in Lancaster's community. In other words, … Continue reading Why the raid on pensions is the final straw: working into a cold, bleak future

Students and staff must stand in solidarity against the greedy and irrational behaviour of senior management.  Higher education doesn’t have to look like this.  Let’s fight back!   Higher education is in crisis. Those who suffer most in this crisis are students and staff, and yet they are not the authors of the crisis.  Elitist … Continue reading The System is Broken and Unsustainable: students and staff win or lose together