Megan Povey (centre) holding the UCU University of Leeds branch banner We are writing with the extremely sad news that Professor Megan Povey died on Wednesday 9 September, after being taken ill last week. As well as being a prolific, widely respected and cited scientist, Megan was a much loved and stalwart member of our UCU branch, and the AUT which preceded UCU’s formation. Many of you will have stood…

A number of department rep posts were unfilled after the 30 June deadline so, to ensure we’re going into the new academic year with UCU reps in as many areas as possible, the UCU branch committee is reopening nominations for UCU department reps.  The new deadline for nominations 12pm midday Tuesday 15 September. You can see where there are still vacancies for department reps at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/departmental-representatives/ Candidates who already have partial nominations in…

The first round of nominations to fill committee roles unfilled at the AGM, that closed 30 June, created new vacancies as people would be leaving one 2026-2027 committee role to take up another. Nominations were opened again to fill those vacant roles of vice president and three ordinary committee members. The results of those nominations are: Vice president: Jenny Rivas Perez Ordinary committee members (three to elect): no nominations received…

Three new vacancies have arisen for the 2026-2027 committee because members who had been elected to roles have withdrawn from them after being elected to new roles (see https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/outcome-of-nominations-for-committee-roles-not-filled-at-the-agm/) Nominations are now open for: vice president three ordinary committee members Please send nominations to ucu@leeds.ac.uk, or directly to the branch administrator’s university email address (see email version of this post) if you prefer not to alert current branch officers to your nomination….

Here are the outcomes of the nominations for committee roles for the 2026-2027 academic year that were not filled at the annual general meeting. (Department rep nomination outcomes to follow separately – there are more to process.) President Dan Howdon, elected unopposed Treasurer Andi Rylands, elected unopposed Membership officer Valeria Tolis, elected unopposed Equality officer Alexa Athelstan, elected unopposed Campaigns officer Two candidates nominated. An election will be conducted. Details…

Next general meeting – speakers from Sheffield and Nottingham 12.45 – 2pm Monday 15 June, online. At our next general meeting we will welcome guest speakers from two branches in dispute: Nottingham, who are currently undertaking a marking and assessment boycott and Sheffield, who are taking action short of a strike. Please come along to show solidarity and learn from their strategies and experiences in the face of redundancies. There…

The results of the elections for the UCU University of Leeds Branch committee for the 2026-2027 academic year were declared at the annual general meeting Thursday 21 May 2026. The results are at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/results-of-the-committee-elections-at-the-2026-agm/ There are a significant number of roles unfilled for next year’s committee, so the committee has decided to open nominations again for the following roles. President Treasurer Membership officer Equality officer Campaigns officer Anti-casualisation officer Casework…

Nominations are now open for UCU department reps for 2026 to May/June 2028. The deadline for nominations, and to consent to being a candidate, is 12pm midday Tuesday 30 June 2026. This is an ‘all-out’ election: all UCU current department reps and department health and safety reps will need new nominations to be elected again if they are to continue as UCU reps. This is separate from the UCU committee elections. Nominating…

The results of the elections for the UCU University of Leeds Branch committee for the 2026-2027 academic year were declared at the annual general meeting Thursday 21 May 2026. The results are as follows. President No nominations received. Vice-president Dan Howdon elected unopposed. Treasurer No nominations received. Honorary secretary Vicky Blake elected unopposed. Membership officer No nominations received. Equality officer No nominations received. Campaigns officer No nominations received. Health and…

The UCU department representative roles and boundaries for the June 2026 – May/June 2028 term of office have been decided by the branch committee as follows. Roles Members will be elected as a UCU department rep or a UCU department health and safety rep. Members can be elected to two roles, both as a department rep and a department health and safety rep. After election, reps may choose to additionally…

Add new Congress believes b) “No employer should consider itself justified for making duplicate and/or disproportionate pay deductions for work withheld due to industrial action”  In resolves ii, after “strike action”, add   “and any pay deductions for industrial action (including ASOS) that are disproportionate to the amount/hours of work withheld.”  Add new resolves iii: UCU should name and shame any employer engaging in such punitive tactics.  (Motion as amended would…

This branch notes:  That the university is rushing through substantial changes in the process and criteria for promotions;  That, whilst promotion is listed as a matter of negotiation in the recognition agreement between the university and UCU, these changes have not been negotiated or agreed;  That the university has prioritised academic promotions over improving career progression and promotion for non-academic staff and has created uncertainty for staff in research only…