The University and College Union Glasgow (UCUG) stands in solidarity with Serbian students, academics and the wider movement protesting government corruption and Aleksander Vučić’s presidency. We are gravely concerned at the violent suppression of demonstrators which obstructs their democratic right to protest.
Student-led protests initially emerged in response to the collapse of the Novi Sad railway canopy which killed 16 people. Protests have spread across the country as people demand government transparency, accountability and full implementation of the rule of law.
Protestors have been met with insults and intimidation. Journalists have been subject to threats of physical violence for covering the movement. A smear campaign directed at the University of Belgrade’s rector escalated into a full-scale campaign by pro-regime figures calling for his arrest. These attacks against citizens exercising fundamental democratic rights are designed to silence critical voices and undermine academic autonomy.
The alleged use of an illegal sonic weapon at a demonstration on March 15 was intended to incite fear and undermine the right to assembly as well as presenting a risk to life with the panic it caused.
We echo the call made by Serbian academics and students for Serbian authorities to conduct a transparent investigation into the events of the protest and to hold accountable those responsible for any use of unlawful means against demonstrators. We urge the international academic community to share this call and affirm our commitment to the right to protest.

More info here: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/13734/UCU-UK-elections-2024-25

A list of candidates is available here: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/13734/UCU-UK-elections-2024-25

The UCU Glasgow inbox has received various election communication from candidates, all of which are copied below. Please note that these are NOT ENDORSEMENTS, just a collation of materials we have received. UCU Glasgow does not endorse candidates in internal elections.

If you are a candidate and would like for your materials to be displayed here, please email ucug@glasgow.ac.uk.

Vice President (Higher Education) – Rhiannon Lockley

Rhiannon for UCU VP (Higher Education) Vote Rhiannon Lockley (she/her) for UCU Vice President (Higher Education): ballots are live 27th January till 3rd March 2025 rhiannonforucuvp.wordpress.com

Trustee – Mike Barton

The UCU elections for the Vice President, Honorary Treasurer, Trustees and the National Executive Committee have opened and members are now receiving ballot papers.

I am standing for election for the position of trustee, and I would appreciate it if you would circulate my election material to all of your members for their consideration: https://bit.ly/MikeBarton4UCUTrustee.

This is in line with UCU’s policy to encourage the circulation of information about all candidates standing in elections.

In addition to circulating my election material, I would very much welcome the endorsement by your branch or region of my candidacy if you feel you are able to do so.

In solidarity,

Mike Barton

mikejbarton@gmail.com

UCU Scotland President – Grant Buttars

https://grantbuttarsucu.wordpress.com/2024/12/04/election-address-2025/ 

I am standing for the role of UCU Scotland President.  At present, I am UCU Scotland Vice President and this is my third term on UCU Scotland Executive, having also served 2 terms as an ordinary-elected member. I also chair UCU Scotland Education Committee.

I am also separately elected to NEC, sitting on HEC and Education Committee, and previously on ROCC. I also sit on Academic Related Professional Staff (ARPS) Committee.  I have worked as an archivist at the University of Edinburgh since 2001. Between 2018 and 2023, I was Branch President at Edinburgh, where I have also served as Communications Officer and as an Ordinary Committee member.  I am currently branch ARPS rep.  I bring knowledge and expertise of all levels of union work to the role of President.

It is incumbent on anybody holding elected office within the union to represent members and to hold power to account on behalf of members.  The power we hold as elected representatives is loaned to us by our members and is exercised on their behalf. If we see the union not functioning as it should, we must not be silent.

Anybody in elected office has the responsibility, when acting in that capacity, to represent the policy of the union and not engage in activity contrary to such policy.  That is not to say we are merely empty vessels with no opinions of our own and that dissent should be avoided.  I am an unapologetic socialist and these are my guiding principles. In appropriate fora I will argue and advocate from that position.  However, when representing our union as Scotland President, I will always put democratically agreed union policy first.

In the current crisis, with challenges around cuts and redundancies affecting every branch directly or indirectly, it is more important than ever that we fight back together, building solidarity with our fellow campus unions and our students.   Our strength comes from our numbers as a collective.  Atomised fights only benefit the bosses.

A trade union must be an exemplary employer and nurture within itself the same values and principles we demand of employers, government and others.  The ongoing disputes between UCU and its staff cast a very dark shadow upon all of us.  UCU staff are workers just like us and I reiterate my solidarity with them.  These disputes must be resolved satisfactorily without delay and likewise the one with Black Members Standing Committee with which they are entwined.  A union cannot properly fight for equality for its members with this issue unresolved.

UCU Scotland Secretary – Carlo Morelli 

https://uculeft.org/carlo-morelli-2/ 

Dundee University is at the centre of the storm over the funding of higher education
in Scotland. We have just successfully balloted for industrial action to save hundreds
of jobs due to a projected £30m deficit. As a member of the University at Dundee
and current Honorary Secretary for UCU Scotland I understand the need to ensure
branches fight redundancies and cuts but also ensure UCU Scotland gives its full
backing to branches resisting cuts.

Save Higher Education

Half of UK universities are cutting jobs. This includes many in Scotland. The
existence of the sector is under threat. Marketisation in Scotland is driven by
managements who share the group think of forcing debt via maintenance loans for
home students and exploiting international and rUK students’ tuition fees.
Simultaneously, the racist ‘hostile environment’ consciously used racism to
undermine the University sector.
Attempts to leave branches to fight these cuts institution by institution weakens us.
We need a UK-wide and Scottish-wide campaign to save HE, against job cuts and
end the racist environment. Unity is our strength. Unity can build a campaign to drive
the market out of education.
As Honorary Secretary for UCU Scotland I made the case for a lobby of the Scottish
Government and encouraging branches to ballot for industrial action when facing job
cuts.

Stand Up To Racism

Trump, Farage and the rise of fascism in Europe means we must place anti-racism
central to our union and workplaces. Racism is designed to scapegoat minorities and
divert attention from where the problems in our society originate. No immigrant is
illegal, and universities should stop policing immigration through draconian
monitoring and reporting on students and staff. I have been a supporter of the Sheku
Bayoh campaign since the start and stand up for students facing racism Blind
student facing deportation says university reneged on support | University of Dundee – The Guardian

USS and pensions

I was a USS negotiator during the 2018-19 strike. Five years of strike action shows
we can win. I am currently leading the campaign in the USS Advisory Cttee to
ensure cohabiting relationships are recognised for automatic survivor pensions. As
an NEC member I will continue to focus attention on threats to the Scottish TPS and
USS. I support our union’s policy on decarbonising and decolonising our pension
schemes.

Equality

Equality continues to be under attack. I am committed to ensuring equality remains
central to UCU Scotland. I will always support members standing up for trans-rights,
facing threats of internal complaints or employment tribunals.
I am a strong ally of my transrights and all LGBT+ siblings. I don’t believe we are
stuck as human beings by our DNA and hold strongly to the analysis of the social
model arising out of the disability movement, that it is society that creates structures
for disadvantage and oppression not our biology.

Palestine and Academic Boycott

I welcome the ceasefire in Gaza, hope it holds but fear for the lives of Palestinians
and others in the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria. Israel is an apartheid state and
universities in Scotland are legally complicit in genocide in Gaza, via their
investments and engagement with Israeli Universities. The IHRA definition facilitates
the clamp down on student protest and pro-Palestinian voices. It hinders rather than
supports the campaign against antisemitism due to its false conflation of antizionism
with antisemitism. UCU Scotland should continue its work on identifying with and
solidarity with Higher Education in Palestine. We can all play our part by individually
refusing to the Academic Boycott of Israeli Universities.

Trade union service

• Chair of USS Advisory Committee: past USS negotiator on USS JNC.
• UCU Scotland Honorary Secretary NEC member: previously UCU Scotland
• President & UK-wide elected member for 6 years.
• Member of Dundee UCU Committee for over 20 years & past president
• Delegate to UCU Congress, STUC and TUC
• Member of UCU Left and Stand Up To Racism
• Senior Lecturer in Economics, Dundee University

The University and College Union Glasgow (UCUG) is deeply disappointed and outraged by the decision of the University of Glasgow not to divest from the arms industry. The ongoing Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza is a warning of what investment in the arms industry entails.

The university acknowledges their decision was taken in spite of the fact that a clear majority of staff and students responding to a consultation exercise backed divestment from arms. In disregarding the views of thousands of staff and students, as well as of their representative organisations, University Court makes a mockery of democratic process at the University as well as undermining its commitment to socially responsible investment.

Our position remains as ever unchanged: full divestment from the arms industry. We stand in solidarity with staff and students who have campaigned on this issue and share the anger expressed by many at the university’s decision. We will continue to engage our members and work alongside student groups, the Student’s Representative Council, our sister campus unions and the Rector of the university, Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah.

The following statement has been agreed by the Joint Union Liaison Committee, comprising the campus trade unions at University of Glasgow (GMB, UCU, UNISON and Unite).

We want to express our unwavering solidarity with our migrant members, our Muslim members and members of colour, and we want to acknowledge and echo the statement from the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI): The escalation of far-right, racist and Islamophobic violence against our communities in recent days is horrifying. These targeted attacks do not occur in isolation – they are the direct result of years of racist, de-humanising policies and language being peddled by our politicians and the media.

We also endorse the statement from the Scottish Trades Union Council (STUC): We have witnessed appalling scenes of racist rioters targeting Muslim, black and minority ethnic communities, spreading fear and mayhem. The deliberate assault and arson of hotels accommodating asylum seekers is nothing short of barbaric. These hateful events must be condemned as Islamophobic and racist by politicians of all parties and the media.

We have highlighted a number of key bits of information in relation to our stance below.

Safety

If you feel part of a targeted group, you may wish to avoid areas where far-right marches or events are announced. We would urge you to have your mobile phone and ID with you at all times and a trusted contact you can check in with.

We would also like to highlight UofG’s SafeZone app, which can be installed on personal devices and allows you to press the emergency number if you need help on or off campus (or use the 4444 extension to reach security on Campus). The app is available on UofG’s Campus Security webpage.

Make sure you attend any demonstrations with someone you know and do not attend alone. We note that rights to protest and rights during a protest can vary based on nationality, and we advise those who are concerned to refer to the helpful advice and resources provided by the Scottish Activist Legal Project, including their extremely extensive Guide to Activism, Scottish Law and the Police, and more specifically their Guide for Internationals.

Note in particular that if you are on a visa and arrests are made during a demo, even if the demo is peaceful and lawful and you are released without charge, the arrest can go on your record and compromise future visas. While we deplore this racist immigration policy, we entirely understand any members who do not feel that this is an acceptable risk.

If you prefer to work from home to avoid traveling during these times, please get in touch with your line manager in the first instance. These requests should be taken seriously. If you run into any trouble with a response to your request, please get in touch with your local branch office. If students are expressing worry and distress, please listen first, but then put them in touch with the Student Representatives Council and the dedicated Student Support services on campus who can provide specialised assistance.

Above all, given our highly international community across staff and students, our priority is to look after each other. We encourage members to support each other, particularly those feeling at risk locally during this difficult time.  While hate grabs the headlines, kindness can go a long way for those who are scared and worried for their safety.

Upcoming Demonstrations

Our branches will be taking part in a demonstration against the far right at George Square in Glasgow this Saturday, 10 August 2024 at 11am. Some of our branch banners will be there and those who feel able to attend are invited to assemble with other UofG members from 10.40am onwards. We believe it is vital to come together to oppose the far right in Glasgow and show solidarity with those directly targeted by violence and racism.

There is also a far-right rally called on 7 September 2024 at George Square, and the STUC have put out a call for Trade Unions to attend a counter protest.

We recognise that some members might not feel safe to attend and we respect members’ self-assessment on what is right for them.

Contact Us

The unions will be organising to resist and oppose the far-right however we can, and members can get in touch with their branches as usual to ask for support or offer their assistance. Our contact details can be found below.

• GMB: gmbg@glasgow.ac.uk
• UCU: ucug@glasgow.ac.uk
• UNISON: UNISON@glasgow.ac.uk
• Unite: Unite-smb@glasgow.ac.uk

We have included links to further resources below, should anybody want to refer to them. Please feel free to share this statement and the resources with anyone you feel may find beneficial.

Look after each other, be kind, and if you are able and so inclined, please reach out to your branch to get involved. We are all in this fight together.

In Solidarity,

GMB, UCU, UNISON and Unite

Further Resources

Saheliya: one on one counselling for BAME and migrant women and girls. Glasgow contact: admin.glasgow@saheliya.co.uk. Edinburgh contact: info@saheliya.co.uk.

Ubuntu: shelter for migrant women with no recourse to public funds, LGBT+ inclusive.

Amina: Muslim women support centre. No appointment required, call 0141 212 8420 for helpline or just drop by.

The Well: Multicultural support center in Govanhill. No appointment required, call 0141 424 4523 or just drop by.

The Scottish Refugee & Migrant Centre: Legal advice on migrant and refugee rights

Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights

Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants

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PDF: Union statement

UCU Statement

If you have any queries please contact ucug@glasgow.ac.uk

Dear everyone,

2023 – 24 has been another very busy year for the UCU Glasgow Branch. Our Secretary put together a report for the AGM on 5 June 2024.

You can download a copy of the report here.

Secretary’s Report 2024

As always, if you have any questions on this please email ucug@glasgow.ac.uk.

From April 2024, a number of changes to immigration requirements will come into force. These include changes to earnings thresholds for those applying for new skilled worker and family visas, as well as updates to SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) codes and rules on supplemental work.

UCU’s immigration lawyers, Bindmans, have prepared a summary of these changes for members which can be found here.

The UCU migrant members’ standing committee also has some information listed on the UCU website here.

Locally, our Migrant Members Subcommittee have been negotiations with the University on reimbursement for visa fees. You can read an update on their local work here.