Universities in Crisis – #SaveHE
UCU Scotland Scottish Parliament rally
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UCU Glasgow General Meeting – all online
Join Zoom Meeting: https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/91964364285
Meeting ID: 919 6436 4285
Please email ucug@glasgow.ac.uk for any queries.
UCU Glasgow Statement on UofG not divesting from the arms industry
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.
Solidarity statement with UCU Scotland President Jeanette Findlay
Our branch stands in full solidarity with UCU Scotland President Jeanette Findlay who has suffered a public campaign of harassment and intimidation after addressing a Stand Up to Racism rally on George Square on 7th September 2024.
Jeanette used her speech to bring solidarity to those suffering from recent far-right attacks on Muslims, asylum seekers and immigrants in Britain and to emphasise how much our sector relies on the enrichment which immigration brings. She also pointed out that, in Scotland , the attacks are coming from the same groups who have targeted the Irish community for generations and who march our streets on a weekly basis.
The ensuing attack on Jeanette has included calls to report her to the police, the university and the union. We wish to make clear that we see this assault on Jeanette as an attack on the freedom of speech, on the Irish community in Scotland, and the wider trade union movement.
The trade union movement stands for the unity of working people of all colours, of all creeds and none, and in all its diversity. We will not allow ourselves to be divided. Instead, we will continue to defend the right of our members and officials to speak out against injustice.
Union Statement on violence and racism, and the rise of the far right
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
If you have any queries please contact ucug@glasgow.ac.uk
UCU statement on University Court decisions on 18.06.2024
The University and Colleges Union Glasgow (UCUG) notes the decisions made by the University Court on 18 June 2024.
We are deeply disappointed by the failure of the University Court to vote to fully divest from the arms industry now. The ongoing, abhorrent Israeli policy of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza serves as a dire warning of what investment in the arms industry entails.
Our union position on divestment is therefore unchanged. We salute the tireless work of students and staff who have campaigned on this issue and pledge to redouble our efforts to get the university to divest from the arms industry as soon as possible. That the university has now called for a consultation on socially responsible investment to conclude by November is testament to their hard work.
We welcome the University Court’s commitment to support Palestinian students and universities, now and in the future, and we will continue to work with all relevant actors to ensure this support is delivered.
Over the next months, we will engage our members about the best way to proceed, and we will coordinate our next steps with our campus sister unions, the Students Representative Council, relevant student groups, and the Rector of the university, Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah. We believe that another university is possible!
Secretary’s Report 2023/24
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.
As always, if you have any questions on this please email ucug@glasgow.ac.uk.
Changes to immigration requirements
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.
RSA Boycott
UCU Glasgow is joining the boycott of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). Workers at RSA have been in dispute with the employer over pay since the summer of 2023. So far, workers have taken 5 days of strike action – the first ever strike in the RSA’s history. Workers are also fighting back against an intense management driven anti-union campaign. Management has even gone as far as illegally sacking a worker for trade union activity.
We encourage everyone to boycott any RSA activity until the dispute has been settled. 
You can find out more about how to support IWGB colleagues at RSA here: https://iwgb.org.uk/en/page/rsa-boycott/.
Advice for members on monitoring student visas
After a recent query from a member, please see below some guidance on monitoring student visas. You can bookmark this page and share it with colleagues.
UCU legal advice remains that people should not wholly boycott the attendance process, because doing so would only be likely to harm the international students and can cause them to be deported from the country.
It is certainly within the bounds of our advice for members to push back on particular mechanisms for collecting that attendance, however. For example, choosing whether to take a manual register, use a QR code, or pass around a sheet for students to tick themselves off. Passing around a sheet and then turning that sheet in to the local administrators is sufficient.
It is also worth noting that GDPR concern goes both ways: we are not supposed to collect data we don’t need or hold it for no reason. But the university is also not really meant to tell instructors which students are on visas if it’s not necessary to do so. Collecting attendance for all students has the effect of anonymizing which students have this legal constraint, and we would expect the University to push back on a request to know which specific students are on visas.
Member are entitled to push back on particular technologies, or to request a QR code system be in place for their course, but not to refuse to do this work altogether.
If you have any questions on this, or require further clarification, please contact ucug@glasgow.ac.uk.