Approaching retirement? Become a Retired Member
If you are coming up to retirement, we recommend that you consider remaining a member of UCU and either join the UCU East Midlands Retired Members Branch or switch to a retired membership whilst remaining in the LUCU branch, whichever you prefer. Retired members are entitled to most of the same benefits as other members.
East Midlands Retired Members Branch
UCU has an active Retired Members’ Branch for the East Midlands Region, which ‘Loughborough Legend’ Russ Bowman was instrumental in setting up. It gives you an opportunity to remain part of the union movement and be informed of issues of importance to retired members. Retired Members Branches focus on issues which are of particular concern to their members, e.g. pensions, health and social care, transport, and the environment. They campaign on these issues and support other organisations active on these issues. The branch operates like a normal workplace branch and sends delegates to the UCU Regional Committee and UCU Annual Congress.
East Midlands Retired Members Branch Meetings
The EM Retired Members branch meetings are held three times a year and they invite speakers on matters of interest to their members. In 2024, for example, they have, so far, invited Dr Sascha Auerbach from the University of Nottingham to speak on imperial history, and Stewart Lansley on Universal Basic Income. The venue rotates around the East Midlands. The meetings are held from 11:00am – 1:00pm. Most members stay afterwards for a sociable lunch. The meetings give a good opportunity to talk to other retired members from around the region.
East Midlands Retired Members Branch Newsletter
Three times a year, retired members receive a newsletter on issues of interest to retired members. The newsletter has been well received regionally and nationally within the union by both retired and working union members. (Please follow this link for the latest edition: April 2024.) Branch newsletters will be sent out by email to you unless you do not have an email address. If you decide to join the East Midlands Retired Members Branch but would still like to receive the LUCU Newsletters as well, please let the branch know by emailing ucu@lboro.ac.uk and requesting you remain on the mailing list when you leave the branch.
Changing your Membership & Subscriptions
There are two ways to update your membership and subscription details:
On the MyUCU website: Log on to MyUCU by clicking here and update your membership category to retired. If you wish to move to the East Midlands Retired Members Branch, you can also do this here. Make sure your home address and email address are correct.
By email: Send an email to membership@ucu.org.uk letting them know you are retiring, let them know if you wish to remain in the LUCU branch or join the East Midlands Retired Members Branch. Include your home address and email.
Whichever method you chose to update your membership, it is important that you provide your home email address to assist with dissemination of information. Much of UCU‘s communications now go out by email within the branch and wider union.
Retired Membership is the same price in both LUCU and the EM Retired Members Branch: £3.08 per month, including 5p for the political fund (correct as of October 2024). If you currently pay your subscriptions by Check Off from pay, your membership will lapse immediately when you retire because your subscription will not be paid. If you pay your subscription by Direct Debit your membership will be retained. If you were on Check Off you will need to arrange a Direct Debit via MyUCU or by requesting a direct debit form from membership@ucu.org.uk.
If you would like to receive further information on the East Midlands Retired Members branch, please contact either Rob Kirkwood (former LUCU Branch Secretary) or Harry Ziegler.
We hope you will choose to remain a UCU member, and we wish you a happy retirement.