October 19th, 2012:

Picket line at UEL

There is general agreement across the institution that we have entered a period of crisis and that this is largely inflicted by the UEL managment regime.  The question is what as lecturers can we do about this?The answer to this is very little if the UCU branch is not able to exercise a rational, moderate and progressive influence over the course of the University. For this reason it is absolutely vital that you continue to support the union at this crucial stage of the negotiations. By supporting the strike you empower your negotiators and ratchet up the pressure on senior managers who have thus far proved completely intransigent. We are asking not just for this support to be sustained but actually to grow over the course of the future actions. (more…)

Picket LIne at Docklands

There have been a number of important developments in our dispute:

•  The strike yesterday was a resounding success. Academic staff turned out in record numbers and from every School. For the first time there was a UCU picket at every site and only a handful of classes went ahead;
•  Lecturers were joined on the picket line by students who turned out in very impressive numbers to support us;
•  Management have made a (modest) revised offer which we will discuss with them tomorrow at Carlow Street and we will bring this and the outcome of our discussions to our emergency branch meeting. This has been called for: MONDAY 22 OCTOBER, 1.00PM, Docklands Campus, Room EB.G.14 (more…)