Loughborough UCU

Latest Loughborough UCU News

  • Struggling with workload? Join this free CPD session on working safely

    With workload pressures continuing to affect staff across the University, Working Safely: Building Collective Strength provides a practical opportunity to explore the impact of work on our wellbeing, understand employers’ responsibilities, and develop confidence in raising workplace concerns.

    Tuesday 8 September, 1pm – 2:30pm

    Register here: https://my.ucu.org.uk/app/courses/course_booking/CourseID/1921

    Note: Attendance is open to all Loughborough University staff and is not restricted to UCU members.

    The way we work has changed significantly in recent years, but concerns about workload, stress and wellbeing remain. This interactive session will explore the impact that work can have on our physical and mental health, and look at the responsibilities employers have to ensure staff can work safely and sustainably.

    The workshop will also help participants understand the language and legal framework around health and safety, giving staff greater confidence to raise concerns and advocate for themselves and colleagues when workplace issues arise.

    During the session, participants will:

    • explore some of the challenges affecting safe working today
    • consider the impact of workload, stress and mental health
    • gain a better understanding of employers’ health and safety responsibilities
    • build confidence in discussing workplace concerns
    • learn about the support available through UCU

    Although workload pressures can often feel like an individual problem, they are frequently the result of wider workplace issues. This session looks at how we can respond collectively, support one another and help create healthier working environments for everyone.

    Whether you’re feeling the effects of workload right now or simply want a better understanding of your rights and the support available, this free CPD session is open to all staff and provides a useful opportunity to reflect, learn and share experiences.

    Book your place: https://my.ucu.org.uk/app/courses/course_booking/CourseID/1921

  • Reminder: Two Opportunities to Help Shape Our Work

    Over recent weeks, we have been asking staff to share their views on two important issues affecting colleagues across the University: commuting and parking, and workload and working practices.

    Thank you to everyone who has already taken part and to those who are still planning to contribute – there is still time to make your voice heard.

    Please also encourage your colleagues and teammates to do the same. Every response helps us build a stronger evidence base and a stronger collective voice when raising issues with the University.

    Commuter Travel & Car Parking Survey

    Our Commuter Travel & Car Parking Survey is helping us better understand staff experiences and identify the solutions that have the strongest support across the University.

    The findings will directly inform the discussions we have with the University and help shape our wider campaign on parking and commuting issues.

    If you have not yet completed the survey, please take a few minutes to do so. The survey is open to all staff, regardless of union membership.

    Click here to complete the survey.

    Staff Workload and Working Practices

    Department Representatives have also been contacting colleagues to gather views on workload and working practices.

    We are keen to hear from staff across the University about:

    • What aspects of your workload have the biggest impact on you and your stress levels, and how these have changed over time.
    • What changes to ways of working would have the biggest positive impact for you, and what barriers stand in the way of those improvements.

    Whether you are a UCU member or not, we would welcome your thoughts.

    Please send your responses to ucu@lboro.ac.uk.

  • Introducing Our New Committee Members

    Following our recent branch elections, we are pleased to introduce the 2026–27 LUCU Committee and to welcome Anaïs Carlton-Parada and Andy Woodhouse, who are joining the committee, from 1st August, as Ordinary Committee Members.

    While there have been some role changes following the election, Anaïs and Andy are the only new additions to the committee this year. Their appointment strengthens the breadth of experience represented within the branch and reflects the importance of continuing to bring new voices into our union’s work.

    Anaïs will continue in her role as Department Rep for Loughborough London alongside her committee position. Andy is also taking on a second new union role, becoming Department Rep for Loughborough Law from 1st August, succeeding Mairead Enright, whom we would like to thank for her service and commitment as Department Rep.

    Anaïs introduces herself below:

    “I am a researcher and teaching fellow at Loughborough University London in the Institute for Creative Futures. My research centres on both grassroots organising and othered onto-epistemologies, especially witchcraft. I joined LUCU as a union rep for the London campus, a role I’m still taking on, but have been involved in union actions since my start at LUL. As a rep, I’ve enjoyed contributing to an environment where more of my peers feel heard and supported, but I’m excited to engage with the union in my new capacity as an ordinary committee member. I hope in taking on this role I’ll be able to work at multiple scales and better advocate for the Loughborough community. I am particularly passionate about workload practices and employment rights, especially supporting minoritized staff. I’m looking forward to working collaboratively with the committee to strengthen our collective power.”

    Andy introduces himself below:

    “Hi, I’m Andy Woodhouse. I joined the new law department in Loughborough in October 2025. My research and teaching focuses on climate law, drawing on perspectives from Marxist political economy.

    I’ve been a longtime member of UCU, first getting involved during the 2018 USS strikes. Before joining Loughborough, I was departmental rep and committee member at University of Liverpool UCU, where the Project Shape dispute gave me a direct sense of what well-organised trade union members can achieve together.”

    We are delighted that both Anaïs and Andy have chosen to become more involved in the branch. New committee members bring fresh perspectives and ideas, helping to ensure that LUCU continues to represent members effectively across the University.

    Your 2026–27 LUCU Committee

    • Chair: David Wilson
    • Vice Chair: Angela Dy
    • Treasurer: Jonathan Causton
    • Branch Secretary: Anthony Kevins
    • Equality Officer: Marco Pino
    • Health, Safety & Environment Officer: Alec Edworthy
    • Green Representative: Marianna Coulentianos
    • Ordinary Committee Members: David Saal, Ruth Kinna, Scott Fernie, Anaïs Carlton-Parada and Andy Woodhouse

    Committee members and Department Reps are at the heart of our branch’s work. They help support members, raise and address local issues, contribute to campaigns, and ensure that members’ voices are represented across the University. Whether taking on an elected role, becoming a rep, contributing to casework, or supporting specific campaigns and activities, member involvement is what makes our branch effective.

    If you are interested in getting more involved in LUCU or would like to find out more about the different ways you can contribute, please contact our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for an informal conversation.

  • UCU Congratulates Andrew Dix on University Medal

    Loughborough UCU is delighted to congratulate Dr Andrew Dix on receiving a University Medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the University community over more than 25 years.

    Many colleagues will know Andrew through his work in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, where he is widely respected as a teacher, mentor and colleague. Across the University, he has built a reputation for generosity, integrity and an unfailing willingness to support others. The award is richly deserved.

    For UCU members, however, Andrew’s contribution extends far beyond his academic role. Over many years, he has been one of the branch’s most dedicated and trusted representatives, serving as a caseworker and, for several years, as our Casework Co-ordinator.

    In that time, Andrew has supported hundreds of members facing some of the most difficult moments of their working lives. Whether dealing with workplace disputes, grievance and disciplinary procedures, health concerns, redundancy consultations or other complex personal circumstances, he has always approached his casework with care, compassion and meticulous attention to detail.

    Much of this work is necessarily confidential and therefore largely invisible to the wider University community. Yet countless colleagues have benefited from Andrew’s knowledge, judgement and reassurance. His understanding of University policies and procedures is exceptional, but what truly distinguishes him is the humanity he brings to every case. He listens carefully, treats people with dignity, and works tirelessly to ensure that colleagues are treated fairly and respectfully.

    Andrew’s contribution has also helped to sustain a positive culture of partnership across the University. Through his thoughtful and constructive approach, he has earned the respect of members, managers and senior leaders alike. His work has not only supported individual colleagues, but also helped uphold principles of fairness and collegiality that benefit the whole institution.

    Those who have worked alongside Andrew know that he would never seek recognition for any of this. He has always seen supporting colleagues as simply the right thing to do. That quiet commitment to service is precisely why this award feels so fitting.

    Angela Martinez Dy, interim Personal Casework Co-ordinator and incoming Vice Chair, stated: “This award is richly deserved. LUCU has benefited for years from Andrew’s patient wisdom and unwavering commitment to members, which has resulted in a culture of dedication to casework that is one of our Branch’s great strengths. We are delighted to see him honoured in this way.”

    On behalf of Loughborough UCU, we offer Andrew our warmest congratulations and our sincere thanks for everything he has done for members and for the wider University community over the past quarter century. His kindness, wisdom and unwavering commitment to others have made a lasting difference to countless colleagues, and we are delighted to see his contribution recognised with a University Medal.

  • LUCU Annual General Meeting 2026

    The LUCU Annual General Meeting took place on Wednesday 1st July 2026, immediately following our branch social event, where members and branch officers enjoyed Indian street food and the opportunity to spend time together in an informal setting. It was great to see members coming together socially before turning to the formal business of the branch.

    The AGM began with a presentation from Professor Lopa Leach, President of the University of Nottingham UCU branch. Professor Leach spoke about the challenges currently facing colleagues at the University of Nottingham and outlined how their branch has responded to those issues. Members then had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the similarities and differences between the experiences of staff at both institutions.

    In the Chair’s report, members heard reflections on the broader challenges facing higher education and trade unions, alongside an overview of local issues affecting staff at Loughborough University. Particular attention was given to recent restructuring activity, redundancy processes, collective bargaining matters, and the branch’s work supporting members through a period of significant change. The report also highlighted the branch’s contribution to national UCU policy discussions, engagement with issues surrounding artificial intelligence and sustainability, and the importance of solidarity and collective action.

    The meeting formally recognised the work of branch representatives, committee members and caseworkers who have supported members throughout the year. Special thanks were given to Alec Edworthy for his long-standing service and contribution to the branch.

    The Treasurer presented the branch’s annual accounts and answered questions from members. The financial report was received by the meeting.

    The AGM also confirmed the branch committee for the 2026–27 academic year. The following members were elected unopposed and will take up office on 1st August 2026:

    • Chair: David Wilson
    • Vice Chair: Angela Dy
    • Treasurer: Jonathan Causton
    • Branch Secretary: Anthony Kevins
    • Equality Officer: Marco Pino
    • Health, Safety & Environment Officer: Alec Edworthy
    • Green Representative: Marianna Coulentianos
    • Ordinary Committee Members: David Saal, Ruth Kinna, Scott Fernie, Anaïs Carlton-Parada and Andy Woodhouse

    Several officer positions remain vacant, and members interested in becoming more involved in the branch are encouraged to speak with a committee member or the Branch Organiser.

    Members also received an update on the Professional Services Restructure. During the discussion, there was support for sharing as much information as possible with members regarding proposals and responses, subject to any restrictions on what can be released.

    With no further business raised, the meeting was closed.

    Members who would like a copy of the official AGM minutes can request them by emailing the branch.

  • Tax Wealth Not Work – Watch Gary Stevenson’s New Documentary

    Gary Stevenson, of Gary’s Economics and author of the bestseller “The Trading Game”, has just released a documentary, available on All 4, explaining his case for the introduction of a UK wealth tax to begin to tackle accelerating wealth inequality.  This is an issue LUCU has highlighted at recent meetings, with direct implications for the existence of the welfare state, public services such as Universities, and whether our children and grandchildren will live comfortably or in Dickensian poverty.  Our motion supporting a wealth tax, along with other tax reforms, was overwhelmingly supported at the recent UCU Congress.

    We encourage members to watch and share the documentary to spread understanding of this issue.  This is also crucial to tackling the rise of the far right by undermining the false premise that immigration is to blame for falling living standards, and providing an alternative explanation – that wealth is being transferred from the majority and the state to the already-wealthy.

  • Expanding Palestine Solidarity Working Group to Demilitarisation Working Group 

    Written by LUCU Palestine Solidarity Working Group 

    Based on a branch motion passed in Oct 2024, LUCU has run a Palestine Solidarity Working Group that includes members from both campuses as well as committee members. We have made a strong effort to raise awareness about the ongoing genocide and occupation and crucially, to make it possible to speak about and organise in support of Palestine without fear of reprisals at Loughborough University.   

    Since then, the working group has done the following: 

    • Repeatedly pushed the University to re-assess its projects with potential links to breaches of international law, war crimes and genocide against the Palestinians, as it did with links to Russia following its invasion of Ukraine  
    • Sought clarity from the University that students would not be penalised for boycotting “mandatory” careers fairs with military presence 
    • Advocated for the rights of students to protest and to protect their identities, given concerns around political targeting of migrants 
    • Offered to mediate a meeting between University leaders and members of the REACH network and Loughborough Action for Palestine 
    • Held a Demilitarise Education hybrid workshop at the London campus on 13th November 2024 [I can ask for the dED slides if we can link here] 
    • Held two talks by Prof Ali Bilgic: ‘Contextualising the Conflict: A Brief History of the Middle East’ 8 July 2026 & ‘When The World Looked Away’ 3 March 2026 
    • Screened Maha Haj’s 2024 Upshot and Mohammed Bakri’s Jenin Jenin (2002) for Palestine Cinema Day 2025 at LUL – 4th November 2025, in collaboration with Filmlab Palestine / Palestine Cinema Days 2025 

    Working group members agree that they have fulfilled, to the extent possible, the aims of the initial motion in creating solidarity for Palestine among staff and students and supporting student rights to free speech and protest. We feel that the appropriate next step is to expand the remit of the working group to broader efforts against university militarisation. Key aims/actions would be to:  

    • Review Loughborough’s relationship to the UK and any foreign military entities, whether through research, funding, or teaching    
    • Request information on Loughborough’s plans to try and join the Defence Universities Alliance  
    • Work against further defence/military alliances and work to de-militarise the university’s existing relationships  
    • Create resources for education on the relationship between militarisation in education and capitalist interests within the UK that affect staff and students  
    • Explore, and make visible, contradictions between Loughborough’s ethical standards in academic research, and commitment to sustainability, with militarisation   
    • Ensure all forms of military aggression are reviewed on an equitable basis (e.g. breaking ties with Russia vs. with Israel)   
    • Invite Demilitarise Education (dED) for a workshop available to LUCU members and non-members  

    We remain committed to taking action in support of Palestine when our members identify relevant opportunities to do so. We will continue to work to transform the culture of silence around the occupation and genocide and keep Palestine on the agenda at Loughborough. 

    If you would like to get involved in this work, please contact the branch via ucu@lboro.ac.uk

  • Come to the LUCU AGM and Branch Social

    All LUCU members are invited to join us on Wednesday 1st July for the LUCU Annual General Meeting (AGM), along with a pre-AGM Branch Social. It’s a chance to catch up with colleagues, hear from a guest speaker, and take part in the business of the branch.

    The Branch Social will run from 12:00 to 1:00pm, followed by the AGM at 1:00pm. The meeting will take place in Brockington Building (map), Room B007, and will also be accessible online via Microsoft Teams. If you can, we’d encourage coming along in person.

    This year’s AGM will include a talk from Professor Lopa Leach, President of the University of Nottingham UCU branch. She will speak about members’ responses to mass redundancies at Nottingham, sharing insights into the wider challenges facing the sector and what branches can learn from recent experiences. There will be time for questions afterwards.

    The social beforehand is a relaxed way to start the afternoon. From 12:00pm, you can drop in to meet colleagues from across the university, have an informal catch-up, and enjoy some food and light refreshments provided by the branch.

    We will also use the AGM to announce the LUCU Committee for 2026/27, introducing the colleagues who will represent members over the coming year.

    AGM papers, calendar invites and the link for joining online have already been sent to members by email. If you haven’t received them, or need them sent again, please get in touch at ucu@lboro.ac.uk.

    We hope you can make it to the social and the AGM.

  • Have Your Say: Commuter Travel & Car Parking Survey Now Open

    Over the past few months, we have been building a collective response to the growing concerns around car parking and commuting at Loughborough University.

    We began by highlighting the likely impact of new student accommodation on parking capacity in Central and East Park. We then invited staff to share their experiences, concerns, and suggested solutions, and you responded in large numbers. Your feedback made clear just how significant these issues are for colleagues across the University.

    Now, we are taking the next step.

    Help Shape Our Demands

    We have developed a Commuter Travel & Car Parking Survey to better understand which solutions are most supported by staff.

    Your responses will directly inform:

    • The demands we take to the University
    • A forthcoming open letter, setting out these demands and inviting staff to show their support

    This is a crucial opportunity to ensure that our campaign reflects the views and priorities of staff as strongly and accurately as possible.

    The survey is open to all staff and should only take a few minutes to complete.

    Why Your Voice Matters

    Decisions about parking, commuting, and campus development affect us all, whether you drive, car share, cycle, use public transport, or combine multiple ways of getting to work.

    By completing the survey, you will be helping us to:

    • Identify the most widely supported solutions
    • Strengthen our position by providing additional details
    • Build a united, collective voice across staff

    The stronger the response, the harder it will be for the University to ignore.

    Please Take Part and Share

    We encourage to complete the survey today and to share the survey with your colleagues, in your teams and informal networks. The more staff who take part, the more representative, and impactful, our campaign will be.

    Click here to complete the survey, you can also copy this link to share the survey with colleagues.

    Together, we can ensure that staff voices are heard and that future decisions on commuting and parking are fair, sustainable, and workable for everyone.

    Thank you for your support.

  • Seeking Staff Feedback on Workload

    We know that workload is a major issue for staff, and we’re currently working with the University to see what improvements we can push for. 

    We need your input to help Loughborough UCU decide where to focus our efforts. 

    In particular, we’re looking to collect your thoughts on:  

    • What elements of your workload have the biggest impact on you and your stress levels, and how have those aspects of your workload changed over time?
    • What changes to ways of working would have the biggest positive impact for you? What are the barriers to these being implemented?  

    Please let us know your thoughts, by emailing ucu@lboro.ac.uk, on either/both of these questions when you get a chance. Please also share this article and request for feedback with your, we are seeking input from both UCU members and non-members alike.

    In addition to feeding back locally, we are also encouraging you to complete the UCU nationally run Workload Survey for all HE staff, including those who aren’t UCU members. If you have a chance to fill that out, that’d also be much appreciated – since the branch will later be looking at the findings from that as well.  

    Thanks so much for your time and input.

  • Introducing Our New Committee Member

    We are delighted to announce that Ruth Kinna has been co-opted onto the LUCU committee as an ordinary committee member, with immediate effect. Ruth will contribute to the committee’s ongoing work while gaining experience in the role.

    We warmly encourage anyone interested in becoming more involved in the branch to contact our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, to explore the opportunities available.

    Ruth introduces herself below:

    Ruth Kinna, Ordinary Committee Member

    “Hi everyone! I’m Ruth Kinna, a political theorist in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. I joined UCU when I started working at Loughborough in 1992. I was Departmental Rep for a couple of years and enjoyed working with my fellow reps in the School. I have since participated in the UCU branch campaigns and workload committees. I’m keen to support the crucial work that the branch does to improve everyone’s work and conditions.”

    Committee members and reps are central to how our branch supports its members. Committee members contribute to a wide range of branch activities, while reps play a key role in resolving local issues, building community, and ensuring members’ voices are heard across the University.

    Whether representing a department or focusing on specific areas such as workload, reps and committee members strengthen our collective ability to make Loughborough a fairer and more supportive place to work. If you’re interested in getting more involved, or would like to find out more about what’s involved, please contact Callum Salfield for an informal chat.

  • Report from UCU Congress 2026 & LUCU’s Motion on Tax Reform

    Congress was attended this year by David Wilson, branch Chair, and Jonathan Causton, an ordinary member and relatively new recruit to the branch committee. This year we were in Harrogate, though one blacked-out conference hall looks much like another! As ever it was a very full three days of discussions and motions on a range of issues divided up according to which UCU committee they fell under – Education, Equality, Strategy and Finance, Recruitment Organising and Campaigning. Day two is split into separate meetings for Higher and Further Education sectors. Motions cover everything from the minutia of UCU rules to condemnation of international military actions.

    The motion that Loughborough UCU submitted, on growing inequality and the urgent need for tax reform, was heard on the last day and received overwhelming support. This makes it UCU policy to both lobby government and educate the membership on the importance of this issue, and to lobby sector employer bodies such as Universities UK to join us in pressing for this as a solution to the funding crisis, rather than simply demanding higher fees. Tax reform sounds like about as dry a subject as you could hope to find, but it is not over-stating things to say it is an existential issue not just for education, but all public services and indeed society as we know it. To explain why, in under a minute we recommend this video of Gary Stevenson.  For a longer discussion on the topic you might try recent appearances from leading wealth tax economist Gabriel Zucman on Bold Politics or Gary’s Economics.

    Special guest speakers at Congress were Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, and Asad Rehman, Chief Executive of Friends of The Earth.  Both spoke eloquently about the links between workers’ rights, global inequality, and sustainability – all desperately urgent topics to address if we want future generations to inherit a world worth living in, and all reliant on a flourishing education system.

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