Loughborough UCU

Tag: London

  • GMB: A Rally of Gratitude – Honouring Care Sector Heroes

    Join comrades at the GMB for “A Rally of Gratitude: Honouring Care Sector Heroes” on the anniversary of the COVID-19 lockdown. This event is dedicated to celebrating the unwavering dedication and sacrifice of care sector workers who stood at the frontlines during the pandemic.

    This rally is a monumental opportunity to ensure that the sacrifices made by care sector workers during COVID-19 are never forgotten. Join GMB comrades and care workers in creating a meaningful tribute that resonates with the heart of our society.

    Event Highlights:

    • Speeches, Performances, and Personal Stories: Hear from those who have been directly impacted and celebrate the resilience, compassion, and strength of our care workers.
    • Campaign Focus: Raise awareness about the ongoing challenges faced by care workers and advocate for better support, recognition, and compensation, with a special emphasis on the importance of sick pay.
    • Collaborative Effort: We invite other organizations, such as Families of Covid, to join us in this powerful event. Enjoy music and entertainment as we come together to honour these unsung heroes.

    Event Details:
    Date: Wednesday 26th March – 13:30 – 17:00
    Location: Emmanuel House Westminster, Emmanuel Centre, 9-23 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 3DW

    If you’re interested please email Jim Clarke asap, then his colleague Norma Kerr will contact you with further info and register your place at the rally.

    About the GMB:
    The GMB Union’s National Care Committee is at the forefront of grassroots organizing in the care sector. They are committed to ensuring care sector workers are heard, recognized, and supported through Fair Pay Agreements and National Collective Bargaining.

  • Cradle to Grave 2025 Conference

    Registration is open for UCU’s Cradle to Grave conference, which will take place on Saturday 29th March.

    This annual conference is a chance for members to gather together to discuss some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the sectors where we organise. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Education for liberation: building progressive post-16 education policy’. You can find out more about the conference, here.

    The conference will be run as a hybrid event, with options to attend in person at the CCT Venue, Smithfields, London or online via Zoom. We expect spaces for the in-person event to fill up quickly so register as soon as possible to secure your place.

    The deadline to register is Thursday 13th March and the conference is free to attend. You can book your place here.

  • New Reps in ONCampus & London and Appointment of Branch Membership Secretary

    We are very pleased to announce that we now have two department reps in Lboro London. Matt Vidal has stepped back into the role following a short break and will work alongside our new London Rep, Anaïs Carlton-Parada. We are also delighted to announce we now have a department rep in Lboro ONCampus where Pedro Nunes has recently taken on the role. We know all three of these reps will do a great job representing members in London and ONCampus.

    In addition to our new reps, we also are also very happy to announce that Eleanor Roberts, who joined the branch committee in the summer as an ordinary member, has been appointed as the branch Membership Secretary. Eleanor will take a lead in the important areas of recruitment and organising in the branch.

    Anaïs Carlton-Parada, LUCU Rep for Loughborough London.

    “I’m Dr Anaïs Carlton-Parada and I’ve been a researcher and teaching fellow at Loughborough University London for four years in the Institute for Creative Futures. Prior to working at Loughborough, I was a graduate student at the University of South Carolina, U.S., in Anthropology. This is my first union role, although I have been involved in union actions since my start at Loughborough. My research and personal interests align through actionable care and moving toward equity in significant, tangible ways, so I’m looking forward to supporting as a rep and being a first point of contact for our union members.”

    Matt Vidal, LUCU Rep for Loughborough London.

    “I joined Loughborough London in 2017 as Reader in Sociology and Political Economy. I was deeply involved in union activism during my PhD programme at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I was an Organizing Committee and Executive Board member, Teaching Assistants’ Association, AFT #3220. I took some years off from formal union activism work after I got my first academic job at King’s College London, though was always active in following and supporting UCU and all other unions. I first started as department rep at Loughborough London in 2022.”

    Pedro Nunes, LUCU Rep for ONCampus.

    “I joined UCU during my time as an FE teacher, after coming into contact with the “Respect FE” campaign. Around a year and a half ago, I was employed by ONCampus at Loughborough University, right after the opening of the new pre-programme centre for international students. Previously, I took precarious teaching positions both at Durham and Leicester Universities. These experiences gave me insights into some of the most pernicious dynamics currently affecting the sector, and how unions are one of the main drivers of positive change. Consequently, it is fundamental for unions to stand by policies that empower our members and strengthen our collective voice.”

    We currently have vacancies for Reps in Computer Science, Lboro Sport, Chemistry, Student Services, Lboro Law & Wolfson. Interested members from those areas are encouraged to get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for more information or a chat about the role.