After months of slow and frustrating pay talks, UNISON members have firmly rejected the University’s final pay offer for 2024/25 following a consultation in March. At a meeting this month, members overwhelmingly backed plans to move to a formal strike ballot. What happens next A formal strike ballot will open on Tuesday 3 June and…
The Supreme Court Ruling: How it affects all staff at Universities We stand in solidarity with our transgender, non-binary, intersex and gender diverse members and colleagues. The Supreme Court ruling that ‘woman’ is defined in the Equalities Act as someone who was biologically female at birth is in direct violation of the Gender Recognition Act…
We’ve created a guide on building a culture of inclusion to guide you in support yourself or neurodivergent colleagues and ultimately, build inclusion. Why inclusion at work matters now more than ever Many previously undiagnosed people are getting late in life diagnoses, which is a testing process of unlearning harmful coping mechanisms and re-learning what…
The good, the bad, and the thought-provoking: Our members’ experiences with AI and technology. The use of AI and automation at the University of Birmingham has become a talking point amongst our members at Unison University of Birmingham Branch. From drafting emails with AI tools to managing workflows with Power Automate, many staff are looking…
The past year has been one of horror and tragedy for the people of Gaza, Palestine and Lebanon. It has been necessary for all activists, trade unions and those who defend humanitarian values to bring the attention of the world to this situation, and to use their voices within their institutions to reduce suffering and…
We are launching a Workplace Stress Campaign in response to alarming trends identified in our casework, with the first stage being a survey open to all professional services (non-academic) staff at the University. This campaign aims to shine a light on the critical challenges many staff at the University are facing, including shrinking teams, rising…
UNISON is thrilled to announce a significant victory in our dispute with the University of Birmingham over the pay spine reform. Thanks to our members’ unwavering support and strength, we have successfully negotiated key improvements in working conditions. Members voted to draw our strike to a close, but our campaign continues as we work to…
At 5am this morning, a squadron of bailiffs descended on the Green Heart and forcibly evicted our students from campus. This comes less than 48 hours after the Encampment has been served with a Possession Order, and represents an aggressive choice, clearly timed in order to punish and go unchallenged. Our unions strongly condemn this…
Updated Friday 21 June. After serious consideration by both the committee and members in our latest meeting on Friday 7 June, our consultation on the offer from the University is now open. You will receive your voting link by email, with a text voting link to follow shortly afterwards for those who would prefer to…
Joint statement from the UCU and UNISON branch committees We are writing in response to Adam Tickell’s message from the VC. He has announced that the university has decided to seek legal action against its own students based on their peaceful, disciplined and orderly protest. This protest asks us to not turn our gaze from…
