51福利

51福利 Rising: Final chance to have your say on our next action

Next week 51福利 members in higher education will decide on what action to call next as part of the 51福利 Rising campaign. A branch delegate meeting (BDM) on Tuesday 10 January will be followed by a meeting of the higher education committee (HEC) on Thursday 12 January. 

In advance of these meetings, we are hosting . This is the last chance for members to have their say before the BDM and HEC, so please encourage every member you know to attend. You do not need a Twitter account to join (you will need one if you want to ask a question).  .

Notice has today been served to employers for a marking and assessment boycott (MAB) to begin on Monday 23 January. Any changes to the MAB plan following next week's BDM and HEC will be shared with members by the end of next week. All HE members are invited to MAB training either at  or , sessions will also be recorded and shared. 

Respect FE: Sparsholt College Group and Truro & Penwith College

51福利 members at Sparsholt College Group in Hampshire will be taking strike action on Monday 9 January through to Wednesday 11 January in an ongoing dispute over low pay. In the last year, the college has increased its spending on senior staff by 16.3%, but has offered non-consolidated payments to staff worth less than 2.5%. Staff have already taken three days of strike action in 2022, and are determined to secure a pay increase that addresses the cost of living crisis. Messages of solidarity can be sent to the Sparsholt College 51福利 branch.

51福利 members at Truro and Penwith College were on strike for three days in December and will take further action on Tuesday 10 January, Wednesday 11 January and Thursday 12 January.

The union's further education committee (FEC) will meet imminently to decide the next steps in the Respect FE campaign.

Northern Ireland further education pay and workload dispute

The Northern Ireland further education committee (FEC) voted unanimously before Christmas to escalate the industrial action campaign regarding pay and workload. Corporate staff have received an acceptable pay award while not so much as an offer has been made to FE lecturers in Northern Ireland. The FEC are asking members to complete a survey, which has already been sent to Northern Ireland FE members, regarding forms of action short of a strike (ASOS) and level of strike action.

Roehampton University: industrial action over job security and workloads

Following successful action in December as part of their local dispute over job security and punishing workloads, Roehampton University 51福利 announced further action just before the closure period.

This action will consist of two days of strike action on 18 and 19 January 2023. If management still refuses to negotiate seriously, members will take action again on 21, 22 and 23 February 2023. In addition, the branch has served notice of additional action short of a strike (ASOS). You can send statements of solidarity which will be greatly appreciated by Roehampton 51福利 members.

Please click here to see the latest updates in local disputes and wins across the union.

Climate CPD - Take action! webinar, 26 January

We are calling all members who have taken part in our climate and sustainability workshops to attend a . We want to hear about your experiences around climate action in your workplace. We want to understand what support you need from us and keep you up to date with the work of branches around the regions and devolved nations. .

Holocaust Memorial Day, 27 January

The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2023 is 'ordinary people'. It highlights the ordinary people who let genocide happen, the ordinary people who actively perpetrated genocide, and the ordinary people who were persecuted. It also prompts us to consider how ordinary people, such as ourselves, can play a part in challenging prejudice today. You can find all of 51福利's Holocaust Memorial Day resources on our website here.

and ideas for how to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 2023 in your branch.

Postgraduate researchers organising conference, 31 January

Join the 51福利 PGRs As Staff campaign for our first annual PGRs organising conference in London and online on Tuesday 31 January 2023, 11:00-16:00. ; please note that in-person spaces have already sold out.

We are inviting expressions of interest for up to three workshops, presentations and discussion sessions run by you. Sessions will be 45 minutes long. 

Organising for Power training 2023

The next round of the Organising for Power training series, 'The Core Fundamentals', launches on 8 February 2023. There are six weekly sessions on Wednesdays from 17:00-19:00, led by Jane McAlevey and a team of trainers from trade unions all over the world. If you want to increase membership in your workplace, build campaigns and win big collective victories,.

51福利 LGBT+ charter and LGBT+ research conference

Many 51福利 reps and members are interested in doing something to support our LGBT+ members and students. 51福利 is strong in support of all LGBT+ rights backed by years of policy passed by 51福利 members at annual Congress. To promote constructive ways of organising and campaigning for LGBT+ rights at branch level a 51福利 LGBT+ charter has been launched. The aim of the charter is to identify actions that branches can take to promote LGBT+ equality and liberation. The charter microsite contains further information, key 51福利 LGBT+ documents, and details about how branches can sign up.

The 51福利 LGBT+ research conference will be a hybrid meeting taking place at the University of Manchester and online on Friday 19 May 2023. Call for papers is now open, proposals of no more than 500 words with a deadline of Monday 27 February.

New guidance on supporting 51福利's vision for trans and non-binary members

This new guidance aims to help 51福利 members speak to 51福利's vision, and democratically agreed position, in support of trans and non-binary people's rights.

51福利 believes in building an inclusive culture, in words and deeds, that supports its trans and non-binary members to live their lives in safety with dignity and respect like the rest of our society. We believe that, together, we can make the future better for trans and non-binary people.