Hardship and Fighting Fund Campaign
We have seen over the past months (and years) the incompetence of our senior management within the University to manage budgets and manage change. As a consequence, people’s jobs are now at risk, and many precarious staff are already facing cuts.
Peter Mathieson wants to cut 10% of our operating budget: £140 million. A disproportionate amount will come from staff cuts, with management proposing £90 million. This could result in as many as 2,000 job losses.
We as a Union do not think this is acceptable and are fighting back with all legal avenues available to us. But we need resources to fight, too — resources to support people to take industrial action.
Our appeal
Help us build our resources to support those who stand up on behalf of us all. Building up our kitty does two things:
It reassures those who have precarious finances that they can stand up to the injustices that are being inflicted on us.
It is a show of strength to senior management that we are ready for the fight, as long as it takes.
In the latest round of strike action (30th March to 3rd April) we are practising wage sharing. We are recommending that those who were on strike for two days or less donate a day’s wage to the HFF to support those who could strategically strike for more days. Any amount, whether £1, £5 or £50, will go a long way to support our members, but a full day’s wage will show colleagues and management that we are serious and in for the long haul!
We are asking you to either send a one-off donation or set up an ongoing monthly standing order to support your fellow colleagues in our collective fight.
How to Donate
You will need to go to your bank account and create a standing order for your monthly donation, or execute a transfer to the UCUE account for a one-off donation:
Our bank information
‘UCU Edinburgh University Hardship Fund’
Sort code: 60-83-01
Account No: 20392905
Remember, in 2023 UCU Edinburgh ran one of the most successful Marking & Assessment Boycotts (MABs) in the country, but it was not cheap. We managed thanks in no small part to our MABBackers – members who contributed a portion of their salaries to the hardship fund to help support our union comrades who lost 50% of their pay to punitive salary deductions by the university.
The Hardship and Fighting Fund needs to be maintained over the long term, especially due to the protracted labour dispute with our employer. A large number of people making sustainable donations has the potential to generate substantial sums to support our members. We believe that by asking you to commit a day’s salary a month if you are not involved in action, we can achieve this goal.
PLEASE NOTE: At the discretion of Branch Committee, unspent funds may be returned to donors. (e.g. if a MAB is declared and then later called off)
If you have any questions, send us an email at ucu@ed.ac.uk
Together we can build our fund and go into the fight knowing we’re stronger!