Queen Mary UCU
@qm_ucu
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Local University & College Union branch at Queen Mary University of London. || Account checked only part-time; allow time for responses or reach us via email.
London, England
Joined August 2017
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Pinned Tweet
Quick digest of what's happening:
⭐️ reorganisation:
⭐️ management break-in in union office:
⭐️ punitive deductions:
⭐️ legal challenge to deductions:
⭐️ news:
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More good news that demonstrates the strength of our collective response!
Management have now confirmed to us in writing that no deductions will be made in March for not rescheduling classes cancelled due to the strike.
This is an important first victory for the campaign.
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QMUL: endless source of intimidation.
UNLESSSSSSSSSS you turn it into a source of fun...
BREAKING
Management at QMUL are asking students to snitch on members of staff if they speak about why they are on strike
This is another disgraceful attempt at intimidating workers taking lawful industrial action
RT IF YOU CONDEMN THIS BULLYING
#ucuRISING
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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
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📢BREAKING NEWS:
QMUCU has learnt that
@QMUL
Principal Colin Bailey is listed as the owner of over £2m in shares in graphene companies. He has not registered any such shareholdings since joining Queen Mary. The university has been carrying out research into graphene.
Thread👇
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📢BREAKING NEWS
Our local ballot over punitive deductions was successful!
84% voted for strikes;87% for ASOS with 54.6% turnout- this is the highest ever turnout we've had at Queen Mary!
@QMUL
has now been notified of 9 days of strike action, 4th-8th April and 11th-14th April.
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Very glad to confirm that SOLIDARITY WORKS! In our branch meeting today we voted to accept an agreement to stand down our local action in return for non-implementation of ASOS deductions.
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📢📢📢 QMUCU members voted on Tuesday to accept a joint agreement ending our marking boycott.
Thanks to the effectiveness of our boycott, it includes:
1) 21% increase in London Weighting
2) no August pay deductions
3) commitments to joint work on pay, conditions, and pensions
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.
@QMUL
must have set a record of sorts. In 1 module a hired hand marked close to half a million words worth of essays in 3 days.
The few lucky students who got 'feedback' were all told it was "excellent," "nice" "outstanding". Their peers who didn't get feedback truly miss out.
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In another packed branch meeting, members overwhelmingly voted to take local strike action in response to management confirming they will deduct 26 days for the 6 days of strike in February.
#ucuRISING
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Over 30 academics from leading universities have resigned as external examiners at Queen Mary over Principal Colin Bailey's decision to deduct 100% of pay on an indefinite basis from any staff who does not reschedule classes cancelled on strike days.
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📣📣 BREAKING NEWS: This is
@QMUL
Principal Colin Bailey's idea of good management. Threats to close down flourishing courses if staff don't end their democratically agreed and lawful industrial action. Staff in Film have responded clearly - hands off our department!
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We have learned that QMUL’s Principal is threatening to sabotage future student recruitment in Schools affected by the strike.
Thread 👇👇👇
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The punitive deductions machine in action: QMUL HR has pushed through payslips for July that show little humanity.
A 🧵of QMUL staff realities:
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QMUCU members have called on UCU to initiate an academic boycott of Queen Mary. If the punitive deductions policy is not withdrawn by our next branch meeting, members agreed to vote on a resolution to escalate the dispute into indefinite strike action
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From Thursday 5th May, UCU members at Queen Mary will be taking 10 days of local strike action. This action is not happening at other universities - it is in response to the punitive approach taken by QM senior management. Here’s what you need to know:
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We all thought irony died when Tristram Hunt crossed a picket line at QM to give a lecture on Marx (credit
@avoiding_bears
for the reminder), but apparently it still has more dying to do.
We all have a part to play in creating a positive mental health community at university. Join the movement this
#UniMentalHealthDay
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We are crowdfunding to prepare our fight against punitive deductions at
@QMUL
Staff at Queen Mary will not be paid indefinitely if they do not agree to reschedule classes cancelled due to the strike. The branch has raised a local dispute in response.
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Already 37 external examiners have resigned their positions at Queen Mary! 👇
Dozens of external examiners for Queen Mary University of London resign in solidarity with lecturers who were told their pay would be withheld
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As inflation continues to bite,
@qmul
management put the punitive deductions machine into motion.
Many staff have today received emails informing us that we will lose 21 days from our pay this week, with 21 more threatened next month.
This is punishment, not proportionality.
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Achieving the unthinkable? Opening the doors of opportunity? Amid the biggest cost-of-living crisis in a generation,
@QMUL
senior management have decided to impose 42 DAYS of pay deductions on staff in the marking boycott. We will not be starved back to work. You can help us win.
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.
@QMUL
holding on tightly to that trophy of ‘most vindictive university’: we’re in
@ObserverUK
. Again.
For docking pay not just for the days we withdraw labour, but for every day we refuse to do the work we hadn’t been paid for in the first place. Again.
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Good morning! Today is a day to do the work you normally do on Friday. It is not a day to do all the work that you have not been paid to do while on strike. That labour is lost and cannot be recaptured. Take good care of yourselves!
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In our branch meeting members overwhelmingly (94%) voted NO to pausing & this offer.
We'll potentially get historic leverage: marking boycott in 150 unis. Let's use that to get firm commitments & rebalance on a national scale, not let ourselves be divided in local negotiations.
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This is impressive! Big applause to the people in the School of History for reaching out to all of their external examiners.
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That 'action short of strike', i.e.: doing only what you're contractually obligated to do, i.e.: doing just your job apparently warrants 100% pay deductions.
It's almost as if employers realise their racket crumbles once everyone stops cropping up the sector with unpaid labour.
YOU THERE. YES, YOU.
WHAT'S A LITTLE-KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION THAT WOULD MAKE OTHER PEOPLE LOSE THEIR SHIT?
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This is the 3rd time this colleague gets this on their payslip, for withholding 13 scripts. Management threatens 2 more payslips like this.
MAB is over, taking this money can't shorten it.
This is not proportionate but punitive; not for the sake of students but to punish staff.
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Every day more and more external examiners are cutting ties with Queen Mary! Thank you for your solidarity
@PriyamvadaGopal
Have offered my resignation as an external examiner
@QMUL
in solidarity with colleagues threatened with draconian measures over industrial action
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The 'pain along the way' WhatsApp screenshot is going to make it very hard for UCEA lawyers to deny these deductions are punitive.
We've known that all along, and now they're almost making our legal case boringly easy.
BREAKING:
@thegaudie
can reveal that UoA Principal George Boyne told senior colleagues he wanted
@aberdeen_ucu
members to feel financial 'pain along the way.'
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Our pickets have been BUZZING! This was even just at the end. It's almost as if that staff survey that showed that very few members of staff were ok with how the university was run is a clear reflection of the feeling?
#ucuRISING
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Our marking boycott began seven weeks ago on 5 May with a ten-day strike. We have made concrete proposals for a deal with
@QMUL
senior management. So, why can't they negotiate seriously? Most boycotting UCU branches have reached a deal - let's see how quickly, and what they won🧵
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Nothing says ‘Welcome back! We’re excited about building our world-class university together in this new year
@QMUL
’ as threatening to deduct weeks of pay for what could be 1 hour of classes cancelled as part of *legal industrial action*.
A thread on the threats. 🧵
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These images should be the end of
@OfficialUoM
management.
No amount of alpacas will restore the pretence that you care about students.
🚨🚨 BREAKING: UoM have just used dozens of private baliffs to physically evict student protesters. Shame on
@OfficialUoM
that they would rather do this than consider basic demands for affordable rent. Any pretence that these scum care about student welfare is clearly bullshit.
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Aside from the academic and regulatory implications, using agency workers to break a strike is not only UNLAWFUL but could result in CRIMINAL prosecution. Are you sure you want to go there
@curio_group
? 7/13
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"the steps being taken by these institutions is not in the interest of universities, their staff, their students or the country" --
@AngelaRayner
Grateful to
@UKLabour
's Deputy Leader for showing support to one of our members and calling out
@QMUL
's dubious practices.
#ucuRISING
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Members have voted to initiate a new ballot at Queen Mary over 100% deductions for ASOS. The branch will also continue lobbying the National UCU for central action, including seeking an urgent injunction and an escalation of the current dispute.
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We've been overwhelmed by the support for this open letter from the Film Department at
@QMUL
, with over 1300 signatories in 24 hours. Please keep signing and making it clear that senior management will not get away with their intimidatory tactics
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While the first phase of strikes has concluded at most institutions across the country, we are back on the picket lines tomorrow morning along with
@KCL_UCU
,
@ucuedinburgh
,
@UCU_Stirling
, St George's UoL, Ruskin College, and the Institute for Development Studies. Good luck to all
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We are organising a meeting between branches that are facing punitive deductions for not rescheduling classes cancelled due to the strike. The meeting is happening tomorrow at 3pm on Zoom.
If you are a branch that is facing this threat, please send a rep to this meeting.
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Alongside other branches threatened with punitive deductions, we have written to the General Secretary, President, Vice President and Vice Chairs of HEC to ask for a strong UCU response, including escalation of national disputes, legal action, and resources for affected branches
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THE RMT LEGENDS! Getting the solidarity of the legends that are the RMT, now THAT is one uplifting way to end a challenging week.
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We’re not _saying_ management is scared of students who are well informed about the realities of teaching & learning conditions, but they’re showing it.
The amount of intimidation
@QMUL
about communicating with students these past few weeks has been extraordinary. A 🧵
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As Colin Bailey sees fit to cut staff pensions and push down wages, while earning over £300k, we believe it is time for full transparency about his financial affairs.
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We know we cannot let the deduction of 26 days of pay for 6 days of strike set a precedent and keep fighting to protect the right of association for workers across the UK.
But we cannot do this on our own. Can you help? A 🧵 with some suggestions -- and please add your own!
In another packed branch meeting, members overwhelmingly voted to take local strike action in response to management confirming they will deduct 26 days for the 6 days of strike in February.
#ucuRISING
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UCEA is nervous about a national marking boycott, as shown in their attempts to divide us. So hopefully the threat is enough to get them to talk seriously.
But if we have to do a MAB: WE'VE GOT THIS. Branches have done local MABs and are sharing great resources. Some in 🧵+ add!
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The posters were produced by
@UCU
and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign
@PSCupdates
(with which UCU is affiliated) and called for an end to the genocide in Gaza.
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The academic and collegiate cost of an unchecked management
@QMUL
.
We're losing the world builders, the research innovators, the inspiring teachers.
FAO: Chair of Council
@whiterhino1949
Last week I resigned my post at QMUL. Although the sector as a whole is becoming inhospitable & I loved my students & colleagues, QMUL managerial decisions made staying untenable. For me the last straw was the cruel, craven call by management for students to snitch on us.
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📢 Following our success in preventing deductions for ASOS in March, over 180 members gathered today in a jubilant mood. They voted to reschedule strikes called from 4th-8th & 11th-14th April & instead to take action later to disrupt assessment & exams until the threat is lifted.
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Today QMUCU joins UCU branches across the country in a week of strike action against the cuts to the USS Pension Scheme and the deteriorating working conditions in the HE sector. The strike will last from 28th March until 1st April.
Join us on the picket line!
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Colleagues at other institutions may find it interesting to hear that in a meeting with staff yesterday our VC Colin Bailey is reported as saying: “Deduction for action short of a strike is nuts, that’s just wrong”.
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Not satisfied with a bazillion emails bombarding our students about snitching on their own teachers,
@QMUL
has now made the Snitch Form a fixed part of the QMUL app.
What a way to show surveyance and distrust is now fully imbedded in the fabric of our university.
#ucuRISING
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Amazing turnout at our closing rally!
Thank you
@ApsanaBegumMP
for visiting our picket and speaking at our closing rally!
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An interesting attempt to correct "misinformation" in today's all staff email from management. You won't have your pay docked for ASOS unless you... participate in ASOS?!
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Every day our campaign for the academic boycott of Queen Mary grows stronger!
Read Dr Yinon Cohen's letter to Principal Bailey where he explains why he wont be participating in university ranking surveys that are used to boost QMUL's reputation.
Thank you for your solidarity!
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We stood together and protected each other. And we had the best solidarity in the world. We're grateful to every student speaking out, our Tower Hamlets community standing firm, branches showing solidarity, and every individual having our backs. 🙏🙏🙏
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Breaking news: we are delighted to announce that today’s pickets are led by our newest member, one Colin Bailey. He is looking forward to supporting QMUCU’s work towards a better university.
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@ucu
@PSCupdates
QMUCU received multiple communications on Monday requesting access to remove the posters. The posters had been in place for over two weeks by this point.
Management bizarrely claimed the posters were having a “chilling effect on freedom of speech” on campus.
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@jessjleigh
@ucu
@SussexGlobal
@SussexUni
@BBCSussex
@USSU
@SussexRU
@TheTabSussex
@SussexUniPress
@brightonargus
@BBCNews
@itvnews
Absolutely legendary levels of stage presence.
Sorry it has come to this, and feeling for the distress you must have been experiencing. Thank you for standing up for a better education for all those who come after you -- and doing so with flair.
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A reminder that we are still on Action Short of a Strike which includes not taking on voluntary duties. Unless your contract specifically requires you to work weekends, this time is yours and you should enjoy it for yourself.
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📣📣HOT OFF THE PRESS, a new report from
@timeshighered
shows just how 𝐛𝐚𝐝 things are getting with
@QMUL
's boycott-busting tactics. Students getting "very basic" feedback that is "word for word" identical to what other students have received.
Boycott-busting
@QMUL
markers blasted for “basic” feedback: one-word responses such as “excellent” and “perfect” have been given to those taking assessments.
@TWilliamsTHE
reports
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Queen Mary Staff are on strike today.
Many classes will be cancelled.
We ask staff to join us. We ask students to boycott class.
There will be picket lines around campus. If you're unsure what the strike means for you, chat to people on the picket lines, or tweet/DM us.
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That intrepid Mile End contingent, the beasts from the east, heading to march
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@QMUL
@QMUL
students worked hard on their assignments. They took out massive loans to go to a
@RussellGroup
university, paying from £9k to £27k a year. They deserve so much better than these empty phrases.
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Who achieved that,
@QMUL
? The Queens' Building? The little cameras hanging in the Mile End Library?
Queen Mary has performed strongly in today’s Knowledge Exchange Framework from
@ResEngland
, with top marks in research partnerships, public & community engagement, and IP & commercialisation.
Find out more:
Explore our work:
#Kef3
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We have already raised over £7000!
To win the fight against punitive decutions at
@QMUL
we need to increase our strike fund. This is to support staff facing 100% deductions to their pay and those who have not been paid due to participation in the strike
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86 days of deductions.
In case anyone still had any doubt whether these deductions were punitive and disproportionate: 86 days of deductions, in some cases for a couple of hours’ work.
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@ucu
@PSCupdates
The branch condemns this raid on our space. This is part of a wider unjustified crackdown on freedom of speech and the expression of solidarity with Palestinians. UCU will be seeking commitments from the university on freedom of speech and the use of union facilities.
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📰📰 HOT OFF THE PRESS: The
@timeshighered
has picked up the shocking story of Colin Bailey's threat to close
@QMUL
Film courses, as well as the resolute and courageous response from staff in Film. Over 1650 people have now signed the open letter protesting against the threats.
A UK university has warned it may have to suspend recruitment on to courses affected by a marking boycott in what the University and College Union called a “vindictive” threat intended to “break” the industrial action.
@TWilliamsTHE
reports
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📢QMUCU has voted to take 10 days of local strike action over management's refusal to withdraw the policy on punitive deductions
There will be a strike at Queen Mary on the following days: 5-6; 9-13; 16-18 May
A marking and assessment boycott will commence from 19th May
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We do not take this decision lightly – the thoughtful and lengthy exchange of ideas showed that. But we have always been clear that we will not let bullying go unchallenged, nor will allow
@QMUL
to set a dangerous precedent in undermining the right of association.
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When you, in the dead of night, install 'occupancy monitoring cameras', across teaching spaces, the library, & personal offices, and do not elaborate what you'll use that data for, you're going to face some questions...
Thanks for reporting
@timeshighered
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📰👀🧐 Private Eye have published an important story about QMUL Principal Colin Bailey’s graphene shareholdings. Have a look at p. 41 in the latest issue (only available in print!).
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Nearly 200 staff joined a branch meeting on Wednesday and voted overwhelmingly not to work under the threat of 100% pay deductions; to call for five additional local strike days; and set the timeline to meet again at the end of this month.
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The spotlight is once more on
@QMUL
@ObserverUK
. This time with management’s latest brainchild in their culture of disrespect, manipulation, and intimidation that they have been championing at
@QMUL
: The Snitch Form.
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Solidarity and congratulations to all the branches who wrapped up their picket lines today. Remember, Queen Mary is still on strike for Monday and Tuesday and we'll have some mighty pickets to finish this phase of action!
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If
@QMUL
management goes through with this plan, there could be grounds for complaints to the Office for Students, the Quality Assurance Agency, and the Office for the Independent Adjudicator.
@OfS
@qaatweets
@oiahe
6/13
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'She said she was taking part in the strikes for her students: “I don’t want them to live in a world where employers can bully staff and steal their wages for months.”'
Excellent coverage from our picket
@Independent
#ucuRISING
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Our local agreement is holding strong: our senior management is committed not to deduct for MAB for now and agreed not to deduct retrospectively if they change course and implement deductions down the line (
@QMUL
still ‘reserves the right’ to deduct 100% for ASOS).
#ucuRISING
Very glad to confirm that SOLIDARITY WORKS! In our branch meeting today we voted to accept an agreement to stand down our local action in return for non-implementation of ASOS deductions.
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Today our pickets extended further than the Mile End campus. Our School of Law colleagues were visited by students at a banner-making session at the Centre for Commercial Legal Studies, Lincoln’s Inn Fields
#OneOfUsAllOfUs
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This
#SummerOfSolidarity
, as workers across the UK take action & workers’ rights come under attack, the spotlight falls on
@QMUL
, where the Principal has been pushing the boundaries of employment law for months:
A thread of our full-page spread
@ObserverUK
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Thank you Yvette! This the truest act of solidarity. We appreciate this immensely.
If the management of Queen Mary does not drop their punitive approach to deductions, we will be calling for a full boycott of QMUL by all external examiners.
I have today resigned as an external examiner for
@QMSchoolofLaw
. I am appalled by the threats and vindictiveness of the QMUL Principal, Colin Bailey, who has threatened to sabotage student recruitment events & withhold 100% of pay for ASOS. Full solidarity with
@qm_ucu
members.
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Given the possibility that Queen Mary could be making financial and strategic decisions about graphene research, Bailey’s ownership of such shares would be a significant potential, if not actual, conflict of interest which should have been declared.
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