51¸£Àû

51¸£Àû Congress 2024

The union's supreme policy-making body is its annual Congress, which has been taking place in Bournemouth from Wednesday 29 to Friday 31 May:

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At the end of Congress 2024, Maxine Looby (Oldham College) takes over as president of 51¸£Àû and becomes chair of the national executive committee (NEC). We thank outgoing president Justine Mercer (University of Warwick) for her immense contributions over the past years. Please look out for messages from our new president and from the general secretary soon.

Win at the University of Aberdeen

Congratulations to University of Aberdeen 51¸£Àû who have called off their industrial action ballot and resolved their dispute after the principal ruled out compulsory redundancies at an open meeting about the university's finances last week. The branch's attention now turns to addressing high workloads after the recent voluntary severance scheme left many areas understaffed.

Reclaim Higher Education updates

The UK higher education sector is facing unprecedented threats and attacks; earlier this month 51¸£Àû launched its Reclaim Higher Education (Reclaim HE) campaign. You can view a recording of the live launch event here and .

Please support the following university branches where 51¸£Àû members are continuing to defend jobs and education:

• Edge Hill University: Edge Hill 51¸£Àû is leading a campaign to stop job cuts in the Department of English and Creative Arts. The employer has confirmed that 11 out of 29 academic staff will be sacked, and that formal redundancy notices will be issued in June.  which has already attracted over 2,000 signatures
• Goldsmiths, University of London: in response to the employer's stated intention to levy punitive pay deductions for ongoing action short of strike in the form of a marking boycott, Goldsmiths 51¸£Àû members are to take two weeks of strike action in the weeks beginning 17 and 24 June. Members demand a withdrawal of the threat of over 130 redundancies to settle the dispute and an acceptance from management that there is no financial imperative for these proposed cuts. ; an academic boycott will also begin on Monday 3 June 
• University of Lincoln: a strike ballot is closing on Tuesday 4 June; university management is targeting over 220 employees, including one in ten academic staff
• University of Portsmouth: in its ongoing campaign to defend job and education at the university, Portsmouth 51¸£Àû has launched an online petition asking for the withdrawal of compulsory redundancies. 
• University of Surrey: in a ballot organised by 51¸£Àû and other campus unions, Surrey staff and students have overwhelmingly voted (97%) that they have no confidence in the vice-chancellor, provost and executive board. The vote was initiated because of a threat of large scale job losses
• University of Winchester: Winchester staff will strike on Tuesday 4 June over drastic job cuts (around 40 academic staff), unless the university halts plans to get rid of staff and impose excessive workloads. Action short of a strike will begin on Wednesday 5 June.

TUC project on Black women's experiences of workplace sexual harassment

51¸£Àû is working alongside sister unions to identify and tackle sexual harassment, misconduct and violence in our individual unions, and across the wider trade union movement.  (deadline: Saturday 15 June), which will bring Black women union members together to share experiences.

Ceasefire NOW!

51¸£Àû joins with many others in Palestine, the UK, and beyond to reiterate the demands for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid, and the lifting of the siege of Gaza. 

We are very concerned by the sharp rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia across the UK and beyond since October. We restate our unwavering opposition to all forms of antisemitism and Islamophobia--hate has no place on our campuses or in our society.

51¸£Àû also has a dedicated 'Ceasefire Now' web area where you can find downloads, information and resources.

51¸£Àû's LGBT+ work

Pride season fast approaches, with Birmingham being the first 51¸£Àû has a stall at, on Saturday 25 May. 51¸£Àû is looking for volunteers to help staff stalls. .

Justice for Sheku Bayoh vigil, 6 June

On Thursday 6 June there will be a mass vigil for Sheku Bayoh outside . Sheku died while being restrained by up to seven police officers in Kirkcaldy in 2015. Individual trade unions such as 51¸£Àû, and the , have been supportive of the Sheku Bayoh campaign's work for justice, and we encourage members and branches to attend the vigil. Meet at Festival Square, Edinburgh on Thursday 6 June (08:45-10:00).