Monthly Archives: May 2017

MMU UCU strike action announced

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The University and College Lecturers’ Union at Manchester Metropolitan University is calling two days of strike action on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st June in solidarity with colleagues facing compulsory redundancy this summer.
 
We ask every eligible member of academic staff to join the union, respect our picket lines, and support our action to defend our colleagues’ jobs.  
 
On Tuesday 20th, UCU General Secretary Sally Hunt will speak at an open lunch-time rally, with speakers, music, and food.   
 
On Wednesday 21st, a University Open Day, UCU will take our vision of an inclusive, open and caring Manchester Met directly to prospective students and their parents, carers and friends.  In our ‘Alternative Open Day’, UCU calls on students to choose Manchester Met.  We celebrate the dedication and inspiring teaching of MMU UCU colleagues.  We argue that every UK University must invest more in their staff, for students’ sake.  We love our jobs too much to lose them.  Above all we show how Manchester Met is a place which values open debate and argument.
  
UCU remains ready and willing to sit down at any time with the University to find a resolution to this dispute, and together to make use of the conciliation services offered by ACAS.   
For more information go to our blog:  http://mmu.web.ucu.org.uk
Like our Facebook Page: Manchester Metropolitan University UCU
Follow us on Twitter: @ManMetUCU 
Sign our petition:  http://speakout.web.ucu.org.uk/mmu/

Strike action temporarily suspended in response to Manchester Arena atrocity

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Out of respect for the dead, the injured and those who have lost loved ones in the terrible events at the Manchester Arena last night, and amid continuing security concerns, the University and College Union (UCU) has advised Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) that it intends to suspend the strike action planned for this week.  Members will be grieving with the bereaved and the whole of the city and will want me to send a message of sympathy and solidarity for all those directly affected.  While we grieve we shall not forget our determination to stand by those of our colleagues who remain at risk of losing their jobs.

Julie Wilkinson
MMU UCU Branch Secretary

Final year student support UCU strike

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MMU Art School students approaching their final degree shows have got together to write to their tutors in support of UCU’s industrial action against compulsory redundancies:  they have collected 39 signatures and counting.   Here is what they say:

” May 2017.  Dear Tutors.
We would just like to say a big thank you for all the help and support you’ve given us over the years.  We really appreciate this now that we are madly preparing for our final shows and works!
We’ve heard that your trade union has called strike action next week on Wednesday and Thursday because our University is trying to make people redundant at Crewe.  We are shocked that the management of this vibrant university can’t find a better way of working things out, and we feel very bad for those people who might be left without a job or a career.  Don’t they realise how much students lose out when courses are shut and experienced staff are fired?
We’d just like to say that we support you in going out on strike.  We understand that this is about these jobs and also about the future of MMU.  Many of us would like to think that maybe we might end up working in a university too – and we really appreciate the way you are defending education in this way.
Solidarity with you!”