Confessions of a cleaner A fictional account of a day in the life of a university cleaner, based on real events I get up around 3.30am, shower, grab something to eat and then scurry for my first bus due 4.45am. I’m quite lucky because others don’t live where buses run late so they have the added expense of…
UNISON strike action at the University of Birmingham – ‘Real Birmingham Heroes’ support staff are demanding better pay, equality, and improved working conditions UNISON branch’s demands are that the University: Gives an above RPI inflation pay increase to all support staff; Becomes a Living Wage Accredited employer; Eliminates the gender pay gap by 2020; Fixes the…
We have been sent lyrics in relation to our strike, by two members, the night before our 2nd day of strike action. Here they are: One voice. Unison: let’s talk. Management: no Unison: come on lets talk Management: no Unison: members, let’s vote Members: let’s strike Management: let’s talk (feeling nervous) Unison: too late,…
Yesterday we held three meetings with large numbers of members where we considered an offer from the University of: A 1% one off payment, based on salary at 31st July, with a minimum payment of £100 *IF* we call off the dispute altogether They would pay 2% for the 2019 settlement on the 1st of…
Read the letter here: uobunison.org.uk/challenge List of supporters: https://uobunison.org.uk/supporters-of-the-challenge Hundreds of higher education staff, students, and alumni have endorsed a letter challenging University of Birmingham senior managers to live off the salary of a typical member of support staff for a month. Other signatories include Birmingham MP Preet Gill and local councillors. The list can be…
You might also want to read our Strike Action mythbusters: https://uobunison.org.uk/strike-action-mythbusting
STRIKE ACTION ANNOUNCEMENT Unless the University’s senior managers make a significant offer, we will continue with strike action on The University of Birmingham’s Graduation Days: Tue 16th of July & Wed 17th of July. Have a look at the videos from our Open Day strike (Friday 28th June 2019):
Short summary of Friday (the day of strike) We had a fantastic day of strike action on Friday. We spoke to hundreds and hundreds of students and parents about our vision for a better University that would embody the spirit of democratic practices of work and learning. We have received overwhelming support from prospective students,…
Solidarity message from UNISON’s Higher Education Service Group Exec: On behalf of the higher education service group executive, I am writing to offer our full support and solidarity to members in the Birmingham University UNISON branch who will be taking strike action in support of the 2018/19 pay offer. UNISON in Higher Education, stands with…
Call for Real Birmingham Heroes photos! We find the University of Birmingham’s ‘Birmingham Heroes’ campaign problematic as it promotes a certain kind of elitism and it sends the message that only a few staff are worthy of being called ‘Heroes’. We believe that we are all Birmingham Heroes: all students all staff staff who: *…
