We are writing as UCU members committed to the democratic and egalitarian values of our movement. This letter calls on the senior leadership of UCU to address the current dispute with the recognised staff union Unite UCU.

UNITE UCU have been in dispute for over a year with UCU and are still not receiving fair and honest negotiations with UCU’s senior leadership. 

The issues include: 

• Racism and serious equalities concerns 
• An alarming health and safety crisis, especially workplace stress
• Management failing to meaningfully negotiate on many workplace practices 
• Management’s creation of a dysfunctional and toxic workplace 

We are shocked to read the UNITE UCU members’ testimony:

“I developed an injury due to unsafe working practices, as a direct result of the complete dysfunction of the organisation. Years later and I still wake up in pain. I was off sick with work-related stress. I started crying every time I sat at my desk and I developed insomnia. I was having suicidal thoughts- my family were so scared. The stress at UCU is systemic and a direct result of a chaotic organisation that isn’t functioning- there is no plan, no vision, no functioning management structure.”  

The members of UNITE UCU enable UCU to represent over 120,000 academics, lecturers, trainers, instructors, researchers, managers, administrators, computer staff, librarians, technicians, professional staff and postgraduates in universities, colleges, prisons, adult education and training organisations across the UK. 

It is a huge embarrassment to our union that UCU cannot provide an unimpeachable example as an employer by abiding by collective agreements – in particular the Recognition Agreement between UCU and Unite. 

Trade unions exist on the principle ‘while an employer might be able to ignore the views of a single worker, if all workers speak with one voice the employer has to take notice.’ 

We duly raise our voices and demand that UCU General Secretary,  Jo Grady and the senior management team: 

• Adhere to agreed policies and procedures - failure to do so undermines every UCU branch and member, giving our employers the green light to engage in the same practice.
• Follow statutory health and safety duties and implement the Organisational Stress Risk Assessment as per HSE instructions, and also comply with Safety Representatives and Safety Committees regulations and re-establish the H&S committee
• Pause the proposed restructure until the outcomes of the independent investigation takes place. Doing so will ensure that any proposed new structure is based on evidence, follows the agreed process and is in keeping with the aims of the investigation to recommend improvements to UCU's culture and structure. All of this will ensure better accountability, safer working conditions and better support for UCU members
• Cease the remaining dismissal and unfair disciplinary related procedure against the black staff member 

It is appalling that our congress delegates and elected representatives on The NEC are being prohibited from exercising the oversight to which they are entitled in rule, and being prevented from raising these matters and expressing solidarity with the members of another trade union. We believe this attitude to staff and members brings UCU into disrepute and erodes trust. The NEC must be allowed to hold the GS to account in meeting her responsibilities in relation to staffing and operational matters, as determined by UCU’s rules and the GS’ job description.