📌 For full info on the ballot, visit: goldsmithsucu.org/2026/03/10/i...
10.03.2026 00:56
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📌 For full info on the ballot, visit: goldsmithsucu.org/2026/03/10/i...
If we wait, redundancies could be approved before members have a chance to defend themselves. A successful ballot now, instead, would give us a year-long mandate for industrial action so that we are ready to act if and when redundancies are announced.
This ballot is urgent. On 26 March, Council will likely approve the Executive Board’s plans for tackling the budget deficit. Compulsory redundancies are still on the table, and the VSS scheme announced (without warning!) on 9 March points in that direction, as with previous restructures.
The decision follows a dispute resolution meeting on 12 Feb where the employer made no concessions, and worrying reports from all Goldsmiths schools of sweeping, arbitrary course and module closures - undertaken without any serious consideration of impacts on recruitment and income.
🚨 On 2 March 2026, our branch voted with 95% support to move to ballot for industrial action. On 9 March, the UCU Higher Education Committee authorised our ballot request, and notice was served to our employer. 🗳️ The ballot will run 16 Mar – 10 Apr 2026. Here's why we are doing it:
A moment of pause. UCL UCU and other trade union banners. Goldsmiths' distinctive gold (yellow) banner on the left, CWU banner in background. National demonstration for Palestine, 31 January 2026. The Strand, Central London.
A moment of pause.
UCL UCU and other trade union banners. Goldsmiths' distinctive gold (yellow) banner on the left, CWU banner in background.
National demonstration for Palestine, 31 January 2026.
The Strand, Central London.
@goldsmithsucu.bsky.social @uclucu.bsky.social @cwunews.bsky.social
(Please note that the MBS school meeting has been moved to Friday 6 of March, from 1 to 2PM.)
Colorful gradient poster with red text reading “GUCU Presents: Upcoming School Meetings.” It lists online meeting dates and times for different schools: School of Art (Mon 2 March, 3–4 pm), School of Design (Tue 3 March, 1–2 pm), School of Music, English and Theatre (Wed 4 March, 1–2 pm), School of Global Change (Wed 4 March, 1–2 pm), School of Creative Management (Wed 4 March, 2–3 pm), School of Computing (Wed 4 March, 4–5 pm), Centre for Academic Language and Literacies (Thu 5 March, 2:30–3:30 pm), and School of Mind, Body and Society (Fri 6 March, 1–2 pm). At the bottom it says “Zoom links in e-mail :)”.
Dear Members, as senior management moves towards big cuts - with redundancies a very real possibility - GUCU will host a series of school-wide meetings over the first week of March. Please check the dates & come along if you can! As ever, Zoom links are in your email 😉
Dear Members, please note that our next equalities drop-in has been moved:
📅Fri 13 March ⏲️ 1-3PM
📌Online (link in email)
Hosted by our equalities co-officers Akanksha and Maria.
Next Friday, our comrades in @kclucu.bsky.social are hosting a solidarity fundraiser for the KCL UNISON branch, which is planning to go on strike this term! Come along if you can!
📍 From 6pm, Friday March 6th at Pelican House. RSVP: luma.com/6nw9rqd7
🚨 FIFTH consecutive vote for industrial action 🚨
🔥 Two week ballot window
🔥 75% turnout
🔥 73% YES to strike action
🔥 81% YES to ASOS
Our members will not tolerate victimisation and won’t be intimidated.
UCU staff are not the enemy. It’s beyond time for the GS to talk to us.
#HandsOffMarie
⏳ The poll will be open for at least a week.
The branch committee recommends voting YES to all forms of industrial action.
A large turnout and a strong YES vote will send a clear message ahead of Council, and will be important for us as we continue negotiations.
Please vote!
⚠️ It does not mean immediate action.
Any industrial action would still require:
• a quorate branch meeting decision
• a successful postal ballot
This is just the first step, but a crucial one!
❓What is this indicative poll?
It’s a way of asking members what forms of industrial action you would be prepared to take, in light of management’s intransigence and the looming Council decisions.
It’s about showing how prepared we are to defend ourselves and each other.
❗We’re launching this because, once again, management have made no meaningful concessions, and still refuse to commit to no compulsory redundancies.
With Council meeting on Wed 25 March, the next 5 weeks are crucial.
📩 Dear members, there’s an indicative poll in your inbox today (Mon 16 Feb).
You should have received an individual email (from our gmail account) with the link + your membership number.
Please check your inbox (and spam/junk if needed).
Photo of Marie, Unite UCU's health and safety rep, who is being victimised by her trade union employer
📣 Hands off Marie!
Tell @drjogrady.bsky.social and @ucu.org.uk to stop victimising Unite UCU's safety rep.
✍️ jgrady@ucu.org.uk
#HandsOffMarie
#UniteTheUnion @unitetheunion.bsky.social
During this time, the Executive Board has also engaged in what the branch believes to be financial mismanagement with regards to the University's expenditure on external consultants. Further context is set out in the "notes" section of the motion.
Throughout this period, the Executive Board has refused to give such a commitment, failed to meet agreed consultation obligations, and pursued immediate cost savings, as well as reckless and sudden changes to curriculum - with no transparency and no engagement with the unions.
This decision also follows over six months of sustained engagement during which the branch repeatedly sought meaningful negotiations with the Executive Board, including a commitment to no compulsory redundancies.
This follows management’s announcement of a “shape-and-size” restructure at Goldsmiths to address a forecast £12m deficit. Details remain opaque, but what’s been shared echoes past restructures that harmed our community and failed to deliver financial stability.
While the motion does not commit the branch to any specific action or timeline, it demonstrates our readiness to take action to defend not only our jobs, but also working and learning conditions at Goldsmiths.
On 28 January 2026, our branch passed this motion moving us into dispute with our employer and setting out our red-line demands. On 29 January 2026, our UCU Regional Official, Barry Jones, formally notified the college. Full text here: goldsmithsucu.org/2026/01/29/m...
🎨✊ GUCU Members are warmly invited to join this student-led banner-making session ahead of the next national march for Palestine on 31/01.
🗓 Tue 27 Jan | 🕔 5pm | 📍 SU Lounge, Goldsmiths
Free & all staff welcome.
Our branch has just passed a motion in support of @sheffielducu.bsky.social ’s struggle against compulsory redundancies & union busting. Donate to their fighting fund if you can! Full text here: goldsmithsucu.org/2026/01/21/s...
📢 On Wed 14/01, join us 3–4pm in RHB143, after the Campus Connect event (2–3pm), to debrief together. Management has announced an 11.7 mln deficit. How can we protect staff and students from further cuts and lay-offs? Come and meet your colleagues to strategise for a more just & sustainable uni!
GUCU members have passed a motion to create an archive of GUCU campaigns, industrial action, and wider student and worker activism at Goldsmiths, to preserve this history and support future organising.
goldsmithsucu.org/2025/12/10/m...
On 01/12/25, our branch passed a motion in support of political prisoner Amanda Echanis, an activist, writer and poet detained since December 2020 in the Philippines on spurious charges, and donated £500 towards her legal costs.
Full motion:
goldsmithsucu.org/2025/12/10/m...
See below a pic from our fantastic member whose ballot came late. Today, they went to Civica HQ personally to hand it in 😭💗
TODAY IS THE LAST SAFE DAY TO POST YOUR BALLOT!