University of Leicester UCU

Below is correspondence between Bath UCU and University of Leicester UCU. Our branch donated £500 to their hardship fund.

Hi there all,

We’re reaching out to your branch in the hope that you will be able to help us in our struggle.

The University of Leicester is currently threatening to launch a redundancy programme in November 2025 with the goal of cutting the staffing budget by £11m. Six academic areas have been targeted for potential redundancies — Chemistry; Geography, Geology & the Environment (GGE); Modern Languages; History; Film Studies; and the School of Education. Hundreds of professional services staff across the university have also been through a pre-change engagement process, which may also lead to redundancies. LeicesterUniversity executive has already announced the first compulsory redundancy programme for the new academic year—targeting a group of academic-related professional services staff in the Division of Biomedical Services (DBS).

In the ballot for industrial action, there was an impressive 62% turnout of which 79.5% voted in favour of strike action and 87.0% in favour of action short of a strike. In light of this result, we have called members to go out on strike for 3 consecutive weeks, which started the 29th of September. This means a considerable financial loss for hundreds of members, as well as being a morally challenging period for them. Therefore, we are asking for both your financial and moral support for our action.

We invite you to consider donating to the branch (this will be available first to the most in need, colleagues on temporary contracts, PGR students, colleagues on lower grades, etc.). Really, any donation matters. We also warmly invite you to send a message of solidarity to our branch members, and/or if you are able, come and visit our picket lines on the main University Road every day from now until 17th October (Mon, Wed and Fri 9 – 12; Tue and Thu 11 – 2).  We realise it’s a long way!

The webpage with dispute background and link to the bank account is available here: https://www.uculeicester.org.uk/leicester-ucu-fighting-fund-2025/

There is also a lot of information on our website, on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Bluesky accounts already, so give us a follow to receive all the latest, including what each day of strike will look like.

Thanks in advance and solidarity,

Railene Barker
Joint Branch Secretary
University of Leicester UCU

——————————————————————————–

Dear University of Leicester UCU,

On behalf of the University of Bath UCU branch, I would like to respond to your call for financial and moral support and to offer our solidarity to all members of your branch in your dispute with university management over the devastating round of redundancies that been proposed. Our branch recently passed a motion without opposition to extend moral and financial support to all UCU branches requesting this, and in line with this motion we are donating £500 to your hardship fund. All of us from Bath UCU wish you strength and courage in your struggle against these cuts. Know that you have the support of UCU members across the UK: an injury to one is an injury to us all.
In solidarity,
Ben

Dr Benjamin Ralph
President, University of Bath UCU

—————————————————————-

Dear Ben,
Thank you for this generous donation. The solidarity is very welcome at this time and will help us sustain the struggle we’re involve in. We’re always happy to send strikers to speak at other meetings online, so just let us know if that’s something you’d like.
Solidarity,
Joseph Choonara
Leicester UCU co-chair
——————————————————————
Dear Bath UCU comrades,
Thank you very much for your very generous donation of £500 to our fighting fund. I can confirm that it has reached our account. It is appreciated by the Leicester branch more than you can imagine!
After five weeks of strike action, there have been shifts in the management’s attitude. Initially, they were to close several Departments which would have entailed compulsory redundancies of all staff in them. Now they are contemplating what a colleague in the Chemistry Department called a shotgun wedding between bits of Chemistry and Geography. They have not ruled out compulsory redundancies, however; and we remain strong and determined to eliminate them. Up to date information on our struggle is posted on our website, our X (formerly Twitter) and BlueSky accounts.
Thank you again for your support, much appreciated.
In solidarity,
Emi Mise (Leicester UCU branch treasurer)