Ian Curwen - Unite the Union - Lancaster University Branch

We have received letters, supporting us fighting redundancies at Lancaster University, from the local Labour and Green parties. These letters are shared separately on the website for you to read.

No correspondence, or support, from Conservatives, Liberal Democrats or the Reform Party, has been received to date.

Our sister union UCU have sent a letter to the University Senior Management Team and The University Council, containing many questions that need answering. This has been shared with members via email.

It is important that the whole area understands the potential impact of cuts here at Lancaster University. Less staff and less students will have a significant impact on the local economy including potential effects on public transport i.e. bus, rail and taxi’s, food and retail shops, cafés and bars, and much more.

Let’s make everyone aware, as it could change the area for ever.

COnsultative ballot

There has been a meeting scheduled between the branch exec committee, the regional officer and the national officer to plan the ballot. Further information will be made available as soon as possible.

Win £100 Voucher

We thought it would be an opportunity to remind everyone that if you recruit a new member, you will receive a voucher with a value of up to £25, dependent on membership type and qualifying period of time. Additionally, this term, you will be entered into our branch draw with a chance to win a £100 voucher instantly.

This will be drawn at the Christmas branch meeting. All you have to do is email Ian Curwen with the name and membership number of the person you have recruited. The prizes for all branch meetings, including this one, is paid for from the recruitment of members by reps as it is against the rules for reps to receive rewards for recruitment.

Employment Rights Bill

The government’s Employment Rights Bill was developed with unions and is currently being debated in parliament. The bill promises the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation. If delivered in full, the bill is set to benefit over 10 million workers, including many on low incomes, in the following ways:

Sick pay: The Bill will strengthen sick pay provisions and ensure that every worker has access to sick pay from the first day of illness.
Protection from unfair dismissal: The Bill will provide workers with protection from unfair dismissal from their first day on the job.
Protections for pregnant workers: The Bill will strengthen protections for pregnant workers, ensuring they are protected from redundancy from the moment they inform their employer of their pregnancy until six months after returning to work.
Parental leave: The Bill will grant workers the right to parental leave from their first day at work.
Bereavement leave: The Bill will introduce a right to bereavement leave, including for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, such as miscarriage.
Flexible work: The Bill proposes to make flexible working the default and that any refusal must be reasonable.
Union access: The Bill will give trade unions the right to access workplaces to meet, support, recruit, and organise workers.

In Solidarity,

Unite the Union, Lancaster Uni Branch Exec Committee

Dear Unite Members,

Below is an update on the key areas Unite has been actively involved in recently.

LU Futures

You should have recently received an all-staff briefing from the Senior Leadership Team, along with a video, outlining the current status of the LU Futures project as it relates to Professional Services staff.

The timeline and process have been outlined by the University. Please be assured that Unite will actively engage with management to mitigate potential redundancies, and challenge any proposals that we believe are not in the best interests of staff. Further information on the proposals for Professional Services staff can be found here.
You can also refer to the official LU Futures site for ongoing updates.

We recognise this is a deeply worrying and uncertain time for many. We strongly encourage all members to take time to read the available materials. If there is anything you do not understand, please ask, we’re here to support you.

Questions we can’t immediately answer will be passed on to the University for clarification.

We also advise members to speak with their pension providers so they are fully informed should voluntary redundancy become an option (note: voluntary redundancy is not guaranteed).

At present, proposals for voluntary redundancies have not yet been shared with us. However, we have made it clear to University management that any future communications must include clear criteria and processes.

In the unfortunate event that the University moves toward compulsory redundancies, Unite will be fully involved in discussions about selection criteria and terms offered.

As your trade union, we continue to be in regular communication with University management, both formally through their legal consultation obligations, and informally via weekly exchanges of information.

The campus trade unions are working together to address shared concerns around LU Futures. We are advocating strongly for equal treatment of all staff, whether academic or professional services.

At the most recent informal consultation meeting, Unite emphasised to POE the levels of stress and anxiety staff are currently experiencing due to this process.

If you are being asked to contribute to discussions where final plans are being suggested, please contact your local rep immediately. These discussions may form part of the University’s obligation to consult with trade unions. We need to ensure all proper processes are followed.

KPMG Report

The University has now released a redacted version of the KPMG report and a summary overview. (To access the documents you must use the University email account.)
Getting the University to publish the report took a considerable amount of effort. This resulted in a FOI request as well as a request under the Trade Union legislation.

We don’t agree with the amount of redaction in the report and will continue to seek more information which has led to the University making these staff cuts.

Petition

UCU has launched a petition opposing mass redundancies at Lancaster University. You can read and sign the petition here.

Portering and Security

We recently met again with management regarding proposed changes to holiday allocation. We’ve requested clarification on several aspects and suggested changes to the proposal.

We believe it is inappropriate to implement these changes now, given the uncertainty around LU Futures and the lack of guarantees that services won’t be affected as part of that process. This concern has been clearly expressed to the University.

Car Parking

Unite has met with University managers to discuss the proposed ANPR-based car parking charges. Thank you to everyone who submitted questions, we received detailed responses to all of them and expect an updated FAQ to be published soon on the University’s website.

We believe our collective action has encouraged the University to think more carefully about this rollout and make some concessions, but we continue to push hard on key issues. We are pleased to say that the University has now rolled back on their original plan to charge those staff who hold a “blue badge” – these will now have free parking on campus.

Pay

The University has now implemented the 2025/26 pay award of 1.4% across all grades. This is far below what the Unions were seeking, and we recognise that, in real terms, it represents a pay cut. Unfortunately, there was no mandate to take industrial action in support of a higher claim. We will continue to press national negotiators for a better settlement going forward, including much-needed reform of the pay spine.

Support and Contact

We know this is a period of stress and uncertainty. Please continue to look out for one another and remember, you are not alone. Reach out to a rep, a colleague, or a member of the Executive Committee if you need advice or support. We are here to help.

Support is also available via the University’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

In Solidarity,

Unite the Union, Lancaster Uni Branch Exec Committee