Reading BTL

We are a grassroots solidarity group of University of Reading staff and supporters organised against the proposed cuts.

[Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver @deepa_driver]

Do you want to take part in UCU strike action? Are you a teensy bit nervous because you’ve never picketed before?
Would you like a picketing buddy?
My DMs are open; I’d love to buddy up.
I’ll be on the UCU picket lines on 24 (Reading), 25 (London) & 30th Sep (negotiation).

[UCU @ucu]

This isn't just an attack on our members.

It is a bonfire of arts and humanities courses.

[Unite UCU @UniteUCU]

1. With the current rate of inflation at 11.1%, the pay of UCU staff has now been eroded by well over 20% compared to 2009.

[Queen Mary UCU @qm_ucu]

BREAKING: We have learned that @QMUL management is considering using external staff from Curio, an Australian Higher Education consultancy @curio_group, to try to break our marking boycott and grade student essays. A 🧵 on #TheCuriosCase: 1/13

[KCL UCU @KCL_UCU]

BREAKING: Bill Galvin resigns as #USS director "I made a total mess with #USS. I fabricated a deficit to axe members' pension while my salary jumped to £756k. Now that even the trustee says @ucu is right, it's time for me to go. To all USS members I only want to say: sorry!"

[Cathy Hume @cathyhume]

As our dispute drags on, the mismatch between how universities claim things are and the conditions university staff are actually living becomes ever starker. A thread on rhetoric vs reality for striking English staff at the University of Bristol. #OneofUsAllOfUs #FourFights 1/8

[UCU @ucu]

🚨‼️ BREAKING: USS trustees have confirmed that the basis for cuts has disappeared, as assets hit £88bn.

We need you to urgently:

❌ Lobby your VC to ask UUK to revoke the cuts: https://t.co/2MGgYnt2Oq

📝 Sign the emergency petition to the JNC chair: https://t.co/UOvsTctBRR

[Reading BTL @BtlReading]

Join us here for a discussion about the futures we can expect and fight for:
https://t.co/t7eM84souz

[Reading BTL @BtlReading]

Join us for the RUCU Virtual Picket hosted by the University of Reading tomorrow 9:00 - 10:00AM for the precarity solidarity digital picket, hosted by @pg_kollectiv.

[Reading BTL @BtlReading]

Our guests @MatildaMoors (London Metropolitan), @zinovievletter (Royal College of Art) and Julia Crabtree (University of Reading) will be speaking about what pensions might mean in the context of the precarity of early career and hourly paid academics.

[Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver @deepa_driver]

Unis have cut guaranteed pensions by 40% + hire staff on prolonged insecure & unfair Ts&Cs. Unis charge extortionate fees to students.
This destroys mental health #UniMentalHealthDay
VCs & principals need to stop gaslighting us by pretending to care.
#OneOfUsAllOfUs #ucustrike

[Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver @deepa_driver]

The gratuitous attack on #USSmess is part of a wider attack on staff pensions. See below!
To think that employers will fix USS’ problems at the next valuation or that we can win this without fighting now is naive. We need hard action now!
https://t.co/dOahjvQxZ8
#UCUstrike

[UCU Left @UcuLeft]

🔥🔥 Important chance for London #UCUstrike branches to make their voices heard!

@LondonUCU demo this Tuesday 22 Feb #OneOfUsAllOfUs #UCUstrikes #Solidarity

[Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver @deepa_driver]

Huge solidarity to the beautifully creative & generous students & staff @RcaUcu. That the RCA senior management team intentionally broke a commitment made at ACAS is disgusting.
They are trying to wear you down with these peaks & troughs. Shame on them & all power to you ✊���

[Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver @deepa_driver]

Employers don’t just want us to be underpaid overworked, unfairly treated & at their beck & call (casualisation) during our working lives.

No - they’re giving us a 35% cut to our guaranteed benefits so we can have an insecure, miserable retirement!

#ucustrike #OneOfUsAllOfUs

[Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver @deepa_driver]

Want to know why unis invest in new shiny buildings while offering poverty wages ?
Want to know how glorious mgmt claptrap can harm students’ & staff mental health?
Join us to talk financialization, ethics in finance & #USSmess pensions at 14:00 today
at https://t.co/gxV1QhxOkb

[Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver @deepa_driver]

Tomorrow, join 1000s of university staff across the UK on the picket line.

We want fair wages, workloads & treatment, a stable job & a secure old age.

Exploitation isn’t a model we will preserve for the next generation.

Beep, bring us a cuppa/biscuit or just stand with us

[KCL UCU @KCL_UCU]

We're ready for a week of strike, pickets, debates, music, poetry, quizzes, games, love and organising for the future we want! We want to win on both #USS and #FourFights, and together we will! Please come along ✊🏽♥️ #OneOfUsAllOfUs @ucu

[Reading BTL @BtlReading]

Come to this and start asking the right questions about the false deficit narrative that is being used to take away our pensions

[Defend the Arts & Hums @defendthearts]

Tuesday 15 Feb @ 2-3.30pm - @BtlReading hosts @deepa_driver's teach-out:

Deficit? What deficit? Financialisation of HE and the USS pension

Staff, students & supporters welcome!

Sign up: https://t.co/c9hTXPtaNz

[Defend the Arts & Hums @defendthearts]

** UCU cross branch digital pickets *** starting 14 Feb @ 2pm! All welcome! Come along & share ideas, creative practice on pickets & spread some revolutionary cheer! Staff, students & supporters welcome
Sign up: https://t.co/c9hTXPtaNz