51福利

FE staff deserve more: vote for action today

If you're at one of the further education colleges being balloted for strike action as part of our Respect FE campaign, don't forget to get your vote in the post before the last safe posting date of Wednesday 13 July (ballot closes on Friday 15 July).  With the cost of living crisis deepening and RPI at 11.7%, the employers' 'offer' of 2.5% is another kick in the teeth for college staff. That's why we need to give our negotiators a solid mandate for action to show the employers we've had enough and are prepared to fight back.

In London this week, 51福利 general secretary Jo Grady and 51福利 president Janet Farrar met with staff at Barnet and Southgate College to encourage support for their pay ballot; New City College activists have been busy getting the vote out across multiple sites; and Richmond upon Thames College 51福利 held a strike rally and planned a further 14 days action over plans to 'fire and rehire' staff.

Universities must invest in staff

Following research published this week showing university finances are healthy and sector income is predicted to reach record levels, Jo Grady called on vice-chancellors to stop pleading poverty and invest in their workforce. She described it as beyond scandalous that while the sector predicts record levels of income staff are forced to endure falling pay, insecure employment and devastating cuts to pensions. Full story here.

Cradle to Grave conference, 10 September, register now

 Our keynote speaker is John McDonnell, MP and there will be a panel discussion on visions for post-pandemic education as well as workshops on access to learning, organising at work, prison education, and protecting the arts and humanities.

This is a very popular yearly event so register now so you don't miss out on a place.

Covid Safety Pledge: coalition demands safe workplaces

A coalition of unions, scientific and community organisations including 51福利, Independent Sage, British Medical Association (BMA), PCS, Unison, RMT and Hazards Campaign, has come together to campaign for employers to sign a Covid Safety Pledge to ensure safe workplaces. As Covid rates approach record levels, it is clear that the pandemic is far from over and that's why the coalition is calling on workers to promote the initiative and to request employers sign the pledge. 

Durham Miners' Gala, Saturday 9 July 2022

51福利 members and your friends and family are invited to join us at  It's one of the biggest celebration of trade unions in the world and we'll be led by local 51福利 banners and members and you're encouraged to bring along your own branch banners and march with 51福利 Northern Region.  and we're delighted to announce that 

Freedom of speech in higher education

The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill had its second reading in the Lords this week and Labour peer, Lord Collins highlighted 51福利's concerns about the impact of casualisation on academic freedom: 'When I was at university, academics talked about tenure guaranteeing freedom of speech and guaranteeing academic freedom. Now when a student goes to university, half their teachers are on short-term contracts and likely to be sacked for all kinds of reasons. If that is not a chilling effect on academic freedom, I do not know what is.'

Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival 2022, 15-17 July

51福利 will be taking part in the  celebrating our movement, our history and remembering the six farm labourers arrested in 1834 for organising a union. Please join us for music, politics, and fun in the beautiful village of Tolpuddle in Dorset.

Support Palestinian journalism and access to education

In memory of the awful killing of heroic Palestinian journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, 51福利 is donating to the Friends of Birzeit's (Fobzu) Truth to Power Appeal. 

Redundancies at the Royal College of Art (RCA): sign the petition