Revelations. Reflections. Revolution. These are the words that characterised the fifth teach-in on building an anti-racist university. The atmosphere was poignant and raw, but moments of hope were found in collective solidarity. Delivered by Why is My Curriculum White? (WIMCW), a student campaign, and the Lancaster University Race Equality Network (LUREN), the event centred student … Continue reading Revelations, Reflections, Revolution: Building an Anti-racist University

Student support for the current strike has been amazing.  In fact it has been more than support.  They have been with us side by side – and through our Student-staff Teach-ins – they have certainly been teaching us a lot. Students have also been active, trying to make Senior Management listen.  Many have written messages like the one below … Continue reading Students writing to the Vice-Chancellor: when will he listen, when will he reply?

Trade unionists and students have discussed the widespread “despondency” about precarity and casualisation in higher education at an online teach-in organised by Lancaster UCU as part of their strike programme. Participants at the teach-in called for staff-student solidarity, better awareness of existing policies and co-ordination between union members in different areas of the university, to … Continue reading Staff-student solidarity and trade union support key to fighting the “despondency” of casualisation, teach-in hears

Storm Dudley might have put the picket line on hold, but the teach-ins are carrying on as planned, offering a platform for wide-ranging discussions to build new networks of staff-student solidarity whatever the weather.  Wednesday’s teach-in brought together trade unionists and students from across the university to discuss their experiences within unions and to discuss the role … Continue reading There is Power in a Union

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