Action sweeps universities
University employers are undermining employment protections, attacking pensions, and casualising work across the sector, across the country. Workers continue to resist.
Universities
Universities
Universities: Victory at Sheffield Hallam [print version]
A dispute at Sheffield Hallam University involving lecturers in the University & College Union (UCU) has been resolved – at least for now...
Universities: Nottingham threat [print version]
Nottingham University wants to cut 609 academic jobs, including many posts in its prestigious physics department. It is facing resistance from its workers.
Victory at Sheffield Hallam University
23 June 2026
A dispute at Sheffield Hallam University over lecturers’ conditions has been resolved after solid strike action during May and June. The employer withdrew plans that would have worsened pension provision, but a threat to jobs remains.
Nottingham University jobs threat
23 June 2026
Nottingham University wants to cut academic jobs, including many posts in its prestigious physics department. It is facing resistance from its workers and wider criticism.
University academics in action
23 April 2026
University and College Union members across the country continue their fight for jobs. This is taking place separately in each institution, as part of a united campaign.
University academics in action [print version]
University and College Union members across the country continue their fight for jobs. This is taking place separately in each institution, as part of a united campaign.
University staff strike over insulting pay offer
25 March 2026
London university workers have launched a series of strikes after rejecting an “insulting” 1.4 per cent pay offer. They say this amounts to a pay cuts as their household costs are increasing.
University actions continue
27 November 2025
UCU members in universities across Britain are fighting the imposition of job cuts and worse conditions with some successes in forcing talks and suspension of compulsory redundancies.
The real university challenge: debt
Many of Britain’s universities are sliding deeper and deeper into debt. Yet, instead of looking for solid foundations, they are calling for yet more dependence on the volatile global market for international students…
‘Super university’ – or not?
In September, the University of Greenwich and the University of Kent announced a plan to create a new “trailblazing” multi-university.
Universities in dispute
All over Britain university workers are dealing with the consequences of the current funding crisis in the sector.
Universities: free speech
30 October 2025
New laws protect the freedom of speech at universities in England. This is necessary because too many bodies have actively promoted constraints on academic freedom.
Bradford Uni strike for jobs
26 June 2025
Bradford University staff are striking over job cuts. They have criticised the university’s response to a £16 million deficit, forcing through job losses.
Defending higher education
20 May 2025
Members of the University and College Union continue to take action in defence of higher education in this country
Fighting university redundances [updated]
23 April 2025
Many UK universities face ruin due to their reliance on the bloated fees of international students. Student numbers are dropping; it’s left to university staff to pick up the pieces.
Scotland: perks for foreign students
25 February 2025
Despite having no power to alter UK immigration policy, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has called for a visa scheme to let foreign students work in Scotland after they graduate from a Scottish college or university.
University pay still not settled
Pay for university workers is still not settled. The five unions representing higher education workers submitted a claim in April, but there’s no agreement.
Universities: Action across the country
Members of the University and College Union are taking action across the country in defence of jobs and conditions.
Open door to study in Britain
24 November 2023
The number of overseas students coming to study in Britain has reached a record high. Universities and government welcome this, but it’s to the detriment of British students.
Critical period for UCU members
24 September 2023
Members of the Universities and Colleges Union face difficult choices in continuing their action on pay and conditions in the face of employer resistance.
Universities: Strikes to resume [print version]
The University and College Union (UCU) is to take more strike action before the end of September unless the employers agree to return to negotiations.
Students: Universities look abroad
The Russell Group of universities is now offering more places on courses to international students than to British students – and bringing in more income as a result.
University strikes resume
24 August 2023
University academic staff will resume strike action in their pay and conditions disputes before the end of September unless employers agree to return to negotiations.
University pay fight resumes
On 17 April University and College Union declared that university members have won a “historic victory” in achieving restoration of their pension.
Universities - UCU pay progress [print version]
Following significant progress in negotiations with university employers on pay, working conditions and pensions, the university staff’s union, the UCU, is suspending for two weeks the remaining seven days of its planned 18 days of strike action.
Universities: UCU pay and pensions progress
22 February 2023
University staff look to have made progress in their struggle on pay and conditions. This shows the power of a united workforce.
New wave of action set to hit university employers
22 January 2023
Next month will see 70,000 members of the University and College Union striking across Britain in 150 universities, beginning on Wednesday 1 February.
Unprecedented strike action sweeps universities
27 November 2022
Three days of strike action are hitting virtually every university in the country, with action on 24, 25 and 30 November in the biggest walkout that the University and College Union has ever taken.
University staff vote for UK-wide strike action in historic ballot
24 October 2022
The University and College Union has announced that over 70,000 university staff at 150 universities could strike after an overwhelming Yes vote for strike action in what it calls “two historic national ballots”.