Latest news with #JoGrady
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Durham University staff vote for more strike action
Staff at Durham University have voted to take further industrial action in an ongoing row over job cuts. Members of the University and College Union (UCU) have announced plans for three additional walkouts in UCU said it followed what it described as management's rejection of its recent offer to pause strike action if "no compulsory redundancies could be guaranteed until the end of the calendar year".Durham University called the move "unnecessary", insisting there were "no current plans for redundancies". The strikes will take place on 13, 14 and 19 June. 'Needless hostility' Earlier this year, UCU members at Durham overwhelmingly backed industrial action in opposition to the university's plans to slash millions of pounds from its budget, putting 200 jobs at union said the cuts were targeting professional services and support staff who provide the backbone infrastructure that allowed the facility to run general secretary Jo Grady accused the university of "needless hostility" over its refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies. She said staff had already made "huge sacrifices to deliver the vast majority of savings through voluntary means". "All that remains is a small gap that could easily be managed without threatening jobs, but instead of offering reassurance management has chosen provocation."Our members will not stand by while livelihoods hang in the balance and the ball is now in the university's court." A Durham University spokesperson said the action was "unnecessary". "We have tried strenuously to ensure financial savings can be made through voluntary means," they said."Durham UCU know there are no current plans for redundancies and we will continue to work constructively with our four trade unions to ensure the university's financial sustainability."They added any examinations would not be affected by the proposed strike dates and students would be kept updated on any important developments. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Strike action threat over university cuts
Union members at the University of Bradford have voted to strike over a £16m budget cut which could see jobs axed and some courses closed. The University and College Union (UCU) said a ballot had a turnout of 57% of which 82% voted in favour of industrial action. The union said members would meet on Thursday to decide on what steps to take, which could include a strike or action short of strike beginning as soon as 12 June, unless management ruled out compulsory redundancies. A University of Bradford spokesperson said, like many similar institutions, it was "facing significant financial challenges" and was in the middle of a review to help "reshape" how it delivered higher education. The UCU said the university had failed to set out where the cuts would fall, but said 230 professional service staff and more than 90 academics were already at risk. The union said a further 200 academics would be put at risk of redundancy in the coming weeks. At an all-staff meeting earlier this year, the university's chief financial officer said the aim was to reduce staffing to the level it was in 2019, the UCU claimed. "This would equate to around 300 full-time equivalent jobs, but well over 300 staff once part-time roles are included," a union spokesperson said. The cuts would see chemistry and film & television courses shut down, according to the UCU. UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "Bradford staff have overwhelmingly backed strike action because they refuse to see important courses cut, jobs axed, and staff and students pay the price for management's financial failings. "The proposed cuts would also harm businesses throughout the region that rely on the university and limit the cultural offer available to local students." She said management and the vice chancellor needed to listen to the union's concerns and rule out compulsory redundancies. The university spokesperson said: "Like many UK universities, we are facing significant financial challenges. "We are currently in the middle of a review that will help reshape the way we deliver higher education. "We appreciate this is a difficult time for our staff and we will continue to support them in any way we can." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. UCU University of Bradford Parents fight closure of university campus nursery
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Strike action threat over University of Bradford cuts
Union members at the University of Bradford have voted to strike over a £16m budget cut which could see jobs axed and some courses University and College Union (UCU) said a ballot had a turnout of 57% of which 82% voted in favour of industrial union said members would meet on Thursday to decide on what steps to take, which could include a strike or action short of strike beginning as soon as 12 June, unless management ruled out compulsory redundancies.A University of Bradford spokesperson said, like many similar institutions, it was "facing significant financial challenges" and was in the middle of a review to help "reshape" how it delivered higher education. The UCU said the university had failed to set out where the cuts would fall, but said 230 professional service staff and more than 90 academics were already at union said a further 200 academics would be put at risk of redundancy in the coming an all-staff meeting earlier this year, the university's chief financial officer said the aim was to reduce staffing to the level it was in 2019, the UCU claimed."This would equate to around 300 full-time equivalent jobs, but well over 300 staff once part-time roles are included," a union spokesperson cuts would see chemistry and film & television courses shut down, according to the UCU. UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "Bradford staff have overwhelmingly backed strike action because they refuse to see important courses cut, jobs axed, and staff and students pay the price for management's financial failings."The proposed cuts would also harm businesses throughout the region that rely on the university and limit the cultural offer available to local students."She said management and the vice chancellor needed to listen to the union's concerns and rule out compulsory university spokesperson said: "Like many UK universities, we are facing significant financial challenges."We are currently in the middle of a review that will help reshape the way we deliver higher education."We appreciate this is a difficult time for our staff and we will continue to support them in any way we can." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
UCU calls for staff rights to use facilities matching gender identities
It follows the Supreme Court ruling last month that the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex. In the wake of the ruling the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued interim guidance, saying trans women 'should not be permitted to use the women's facilities' in workplaces or public-facing services like shops and hospitals, with the same applying for trans men using men's toilets. More detailed draft guidance was published last week, with a consultation period running until June 30. The guidance says people can be asked to confirm their birth sex so long as it is 'necessary and proportionate for a service provider, those exercising public functions or an association to know an individual's birth sex to be able to discharge their legal obligations'. It cautions that any such question 'should be done in a sensitive way which does not cause discrimination or harassment'. The University and College Union (UCU), which is the UK's largest post-16 education union and represents more than 120,000 education staff, held its congress on Monday where delegates backed four motions committing the union to 'fight back against unprecedented attacks on trans people's human rights'. General secretary Jo Grady said: 'Our congress has once again committed our union to stand shoulder to shoulder with the trans community in the fight for equality. 'This year trans people have suffered a wave of attacks against them, but UCU remains steadfast as one of their most vocal allies. 'We refuse to allow trans people to be the collateral of a right-wing culture war and while they continue to experience violence at home, in the workplace and on the airwaves, we will stand by them.' As a result of one of the motions, the UCU has resolved to call on employers to support the right for staff to use the gendered spaces appropriate to them, saying that the Supreme Court ruling contradicts the current practices that allow this at most post-16 institutions. The draft EHRC code will be presented to women and equalities minister Bridget Phillipson in July (Ben Whitley/PA) As part of the motion the congress also committed to issuing a statement to members and on social media platforms 'expressing concern' at the ruling and 'reaffirming our steadfast commitment to defending trans people', and to call on employers to develop and implement trans-inclusive policies 'as a matter of urgency'. Another motion criticised the Government's 'decision to ignore the damning critiques' of the Cass Review, and in its wake the union will write to the Health Secretary condemning the report's findings and methods. Published last year, the review concluded children had been let down by a lack of research and evidence on medical interventions in gender care, which led to NHS England announcing a new plan which requires new referrals into the clinics to have been seen by a GP and mental health specialist or paediatrician first. The UCU will also advocate for healthcare that 'affirms and values' trans people in its letter to Wes Streeting as it criticised the ban on the supply of puberty blockers for young trans people – which was made permanent in December and which means they are not prescribed on the NHS to children for the treatment of gender dysphoria. Plans remain in place to set up a clinical trial into the use of puberty blockers this year, although no patients have yet been recruited while ethical and regulatory approval is awaited. Two motions were concerned with the actions of US President Donald Trump's administration, with one condemning its 'concerted attacks upon trans people'.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Universities should defy law on lavatories for trans people, says union
Universities should defy the Supreme Court ruling on lavatories for transgender people, a union has said. The University and College Union has said transgender women should be allowed to use women's facilities and transgender men should be allowed to use the men's lavatories. Its congress voted to 'stand shoulder to shoulder with the trans community' after the Supreme Court last month ruled that the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex. In the wake of the ruling, the Equality and Human Rights Commission issued interim guidance, saying trans women 'should not be permitted to use the women's facilities' in workplaces or public-facing services like shops and hospitals, with the same applying for trans men using men's lavatories. More detailed draft guidance was published last week, with a consultation period running until June 30. The guidance says people can be asked to confirm their birth sex so long as it is 'necessary and proportionate for a service provider, those exercising public functions or an association to know an individual's birth sex to be able to discharge their legal obligations'. It cautions that any such question 'should be done in a sensitive way which does not cause discrimination or harassment'. The University and College Union (UCU), which is the UK's largest post-16 education union and represents more than 120,000 education staff, held its congress on Monday where delegates backed four motions committing the union to 'fight back against unprecedented attacks on trans people's human rights'. Jo Grady, the union's general secretary, said: 'Our congress has once again committed our union to stand shoulder to shoulder with the trans community in the fight for equality. 'This year trans people have suffered a wave of attacks against them, but UCU remains steadfast as one of their most vocal allies. 'We refuse to allow trans people to be the collateral of a Right-wing culture war and while they continue to experience violence at home, in the workplace and on the airwaves, we will stand by them.' As a result of one of the motions, the UCU has resolved to call on employers to support the right for staff to use the gendered spaces appropriate to them, saying that the Supreme Court ruling contradicts the current practices that allow this at most post-16 institutions. As part of the motion the congress also committed to issuing a statement to members and on social media platforms 'expressing concern' at the ruling and 'reaffirming our steadfast commitment to defending trans people', and to call on employers to develop and implement trans-inclusive policies 'as a matter of urgency'. Another motion criticised the Government's 'decision to ignore the damning critiques' of the Cass Review, and in its wake the union will write to the Health Secretary condemning the report's findings and methods. Published last year, the review concluded children had been let down by a lack of research and evidence on medical interventions in gender care, which led to NHS England announcing a new plan which requires new referrals into the clinics to have been seen by a GP and mental health specialist or paediatrician first. The UCU will also advocate for healthcare that 'affirms and values' trans people in its letter to Wes Streeting as it criticised the ban on the supply of puberty blockers for young trans people – which was made permanent in December and which means they are not prescribed on the NHS to children for the treatment of gender dysphoria. Plans remain in place to set up a clinical trial into the use of puberty blockers this year, although no patients have yet been recruited while ethical and regulatory approval is awaited. Two motions were concerned with the actions of US president Donald Trump's administration, with one condemning its 'concerted attacks upon trans people'. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
