In the last episode of our podcast for 2022, Jon Bryan (UCU Regional Support Official, Northern Region) visits a number of picket lines involving different trade unions, who are all in dispute with their employer.More details on the disputes t

Pay and Industrial Action in Further Education: Strikes and Pickets at Newcastle College; Balloting for Action at Darlington College

Nov 6th, 2022 16m 16s

In this episode, we have put together some clips to inform listeners about the disputes in our region on pay in Further Education at Newcastle College and Darlington College.This episode contains an extract from a speech by Neil Stockton, Bran

Pay and Industrial Action in Further Education

Oct 14th, 2022 28m 35s

In this episode, we cover current industrial action in further education, as well as a look back at previous disputes and what we can learn from them. UCU Regional Support Official, Jon Bryan, speaks to UCU representatives at Carlisle College (

Branch President of Durham University UCU, Sol Gamsu, talks about the last 12 months and the future.

Jul 2nd, 2022 39m 20s

In this in-depth interview, Sol Gamsu talks to Jon Bryan about the last 12 months of organising and action by UCU members and reps at Durham University. Sol explains how they have built on the good work of others, and outlines some of the ways

Low Pay in the FE Sector and the dispute and Industrial Action Ballot at Furness College

Apr 14th, 2022 15m 25s

In this episode, Jon Bryan speaks to Neil Stockton, the UCU Chair of the Northern Region for FE, about the scale and impact of low pay in Further Education. We then speak to the UCU Branch Secretary at Furness College about pay and what they ar

A local dispute about job roles and contracts at Northumbria University - March 2022.

Mar 3rd, 2022 8m 6s

In this episode, recorded on the picket lines (02/03/22), Jon Bryan talks to Joe Street about the national Four Fights campaign by UCU. Adam Hansen then explains why the Branch are balloting for action on local issues of concern.

Industrial Action: Strike, Ballots, Action short of a strike

Dec 15th, 2021 37m 8s

In this episode, we speak to trade union reps about industrial action. Speaking to us are Matt Perry from Newcastle University UCU on the Trade Union Act and why they are re-balloting; Laura Campbell from Durham University UCU about their ballo

October Round Up of News and Views

Oct 21st, 2021 15m 30s

In this episode, there is a regional and national round up of news including: Menopause Awareness Month; the disputes in Higher Education; Tyne Coast College UCU Branch submit a Pay Plus Claim; FE Week produce a new podcast looking at further e

A conversation with a UCU representative about how you can help a member who has transitioned.

Oct 6th, 2021 16m 56s

In this episode, Jon Bryan talks to one of our union reps who has been assisting a member who has transitioned. The conversation looks at what needs to be done, and how you can help someone navigate the processes of change with your employer.

September 2021: The start of a new academic year

Sep 17th, 2021 14m 47s

In this episode, Jon Bryan updates us on recent news and commentary in post-16 education in the region and across the UK. Including: the row over pay in FE and the upcoming strikes; the new Northern TUC Regional Secretary; UCU motion on a three

Negotiating - simple steps for Trade Union Reps

Jul 16th, 2021 20m 22s

In this episode, UCU's Joyce McAndrew talks about the steps that trade union reps need to take to when negotiating a policy. Also, Jon Bryan provides an update of industrial action ballots across England on pay in further education colleges.

The basics (and top tips!) for representing trade union members

Jun 19th, 2021 37m

Chris Robinson (Caseworker) and Jon Bryan (Regional Support Official) discuss how to represent UCU members, plus the latest round up of news.

WORKING FROM HOME. What advice should the union give to members and Reps?

May 22nd, 2021 28m 48s

In this episode, Jon Bryan speaks to Fiona McGarry, the Chair of the union’s Academic-Related Staff Committee. Fiona talks about the motion on working from home that the Committee is taking to UCU Annual Congress and discusses some of the issue

Supporting the mental health needs of UCU members

Apr 25th, 2021 25m 4s

In this episode, Jon Bryan, Regional Support Official in the Northern Region, outlines some ways that UCU representatives can help members facing issues at work to do with their mental health. There are also a few updates about some Colleges an

We speak to Dr. Jonathan Saha about Myanmar

Apr 15th, 2021 17m 21s

In this episode, we speak to Dr. Jonathan Saha, and Associate Professor at Durham University. Jonathan talks to us about the growing crisis in Myanmar, and discusses the sorts of things we can do in Universities and Colleges in this country to

International Women’s Day - 8 March 2021

Mar 7th, 2021 16m 51s

To mark International Women’s Day - 8 March 2021 - Jon Bryan asks Dr Sarah Hughes to talk about her research into how precarious employment in Higher Education impacts on when to start a family. Victoria Murray talks about some of the other cha

Equality work at Northumbria University UCU and Anti-Casualisation work at Newcastle University UCU

Mar 2nd, 2021 33m 49s

In this episode, we speak to Victoria Murray, the UCU Equality Officer at Northumbria University - looking back at LGBT History Month (2021); and to Andy Clark, from Newcastle University UCU, about their campaigning (and the outcomes) from the

An interview with Dr Marek Szablewski to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2021

Jan 27th, 2021 53m 12s

Dr Marek Szablewski was born and brought up in the UK, but his family are from Warsaw, Poland. A scientist by trade, Marek researched some of the stories from his family during the second world war, and talks to Jon Bryan from UCU about their l

New advice from UCU as Lockdown 3.0 begins

Jan 17th, 2021 21m 42s

In this episode, Jon Bryan and Joyce McAndrew discuss the impact of the latest Lockdown on UCU members working in Colleges & Universities. Including: Critical Worker Status; Furlough for Parents/Carers; Remote Learning.

Looking back at Further Education in 2020 - and what to expect in 2021

Dec 18th, 2020 38m

In this episode of the podcast, Jon Bryan talks to some of our Further Education UCU Reps about what 2020 has been like, and what might we expect in 2021 and the future.

How Northumbria University UCU broke through the industrial action ballot threshold

Dec 2nd, 2020 23m 44s

In November 2020, the UCU Branch at Northumbria University achieved a first: they became the first union branch in the UK to win a ballot over health and safety relating to Covid-19. In this episode, we speak to Joe Street, Victoria Murray and

UCU wins its strike ballot at Northumbria University

Nov 27th, 2020 16m 2s

In this episode, we interview the UCU Branch Chair of Northumbria University, after the strong mandate in their industrial action ballot. Adam Hansen tells us what’s happened and what is next - and we also look at the 2016 Trade Union Act and h

Workload

Oct 23rd, 2020 16m 52s

An ever increasing workload - in breadth and depth - continues to be an issue for both further and higher education. This podcast looks at some of the issues and considers how UCU Reps could begin to challenge how work is organised and make cha

UCU reacts to the announcement that 770 students at Northumbria University have Covid-19

Oct 3rd, 2020 9m 24s

As Northumbria University announces that 770 students have tested positive for COVID-19, Adam Hansen, (UCU Branch Chair at Northumbria University) speaks to Kait Borsay from Times Radio.

Face Coverings in Further Education Colleges and the local lockdown in the north east

Oct 1st, 2020 11m 20s

As local lockdown restrictions come into force in parts of the NE, we look at the issue of Face Coverings in communal areas of FE Colleges. What does the government guidance say? What is happening in different colleges? Jon Bryan asks Joyce McA