Dear Kent UCU members,
Please see below a summary of the latest updates from the branch.
If you have any questions, please email c.hall-515@kent.ac.uk and if you need union advice about a problem at work, please email o.d.lyne@kent.ac.uk.
Thanks and best wishes,
Kester (Kent UCU branch administrator/ organiser)
In this newsletter
1. Report from Branch Meeting 26.11.25
2. Negotiator update
3. A date for the diary
4. National UCU Elections 25-26
5. National UCU training
6. UCU Cradle to Grave conference
7. UCU Kent Blog update
1. Report from Branch Meeting 26.11.25
On Wednesday 26 November, at 1pm, we held our final branch meeting of the autumn term. Negotiators shared updates (see below), we passed two motions (attached), and we also had a wider discussion about workloads and other pressing concerns. This information is of great use to us as a branch committee in planning strategy and ensuring we best represent our members. Please continue to share your concerns with me directly at ch515@kent.ac.uk.
The first motion (with a minor clarifying amendment) asked the committee to issue demands to management around job security and protection of terms (especially pensions) ahead of ongoing ‘Future Kent’ work and the proposed merger with Greenwich. If those demands are not met, the motion empowers the committee to launch a local industrial action ballot in early 2026. While we were not quorate for industrial action motions in the meeting itself, the vote did give us an indicative steer (90.9% in favour, 4.5% against, 4.5% abstaining), and a subsequent e-ballot carried the motion with overwhelming support (87% in favour, 8% against, 5% abstaining). Even this early step has already yielded results for negotiators (see below).
The second motion was one of solidarity with UCU members taking industrial action at the University of Leicester and included a donation of £500 to Leicester UCU’s Fighting Fund. This motion passed with overwhelming support (94.55% in favour, 1.82% against, 3.64% abstaining).
2. Negotiator update
There are four main areas on which UCU branch negotiators have been focusing over the last few weeks. The first is around important academic staff policies, including the University-wide WAM and the reopening of academic promotions. On both of these, we have offered extensive feedback and critique and we are optimistic that some, if not all, of our comments will be incorporated into final versions. A full version of the new academic promotion policy (set to open for the next round in May 2026) will be opened up for all staff consultation very soon. More details on how to share your views with us will follow.
The second is on workloads more generally. These remain extremely, and unsustainably, high, for both academic and PS colleagues. We have repeatedly raised this at JSNCC and elsewhere and, following the views shared with us by many members at the last branch meeting, have asked for a dedicated process to raise and address these issues. This has been agreed and will emerge in the new year.
The third is scrutinising the last few PS directorate restructures which have taken place of late, specifically Campus Services and, as a subsidiary of it, Technical Services. The one outstanding restructure is of HR, which is due to take place in January/February. Alongside supporting impacted colleagues, and subjecting the plans themselves to robust review, we have also continually questioned the logic and effects of restructuring PS directorates immediately ahead of the planned merger with Greenwich.
The fourth is the merger itself. Following the branch’s strong support for our plans to launch a local industrial action ballot in January, management were keen to meet with us and seek to address our concerns. We received some encouraging assurances about areas of key concern (pensions, job security, retention of Kent’s identity and autonomy) and we have pressed for these to be put in writing and, ideally, embedded within the formal contract between the two institutions. As soon as we have this confirmed, we will share it with members. This important progress was only possible because the branch showed its willingness to consider industrial action, and thus serves as a valuable reminder of the need to use all the tools at our disposal.
3. A date for the diary
Visit to Canterbury campus by Jo Grady, UCU General Secretary – Wednesday 25 th February, time and format tbc.
4. National UCU Elections 25-26
Nominations for officer and national executive committee (NEC) positions, and the North West further education casual vacancy have now closed. A full list of candidates can be found on the UCU election webpage. Ballots for all contested elections are expected to open on Friday 30 January 2026 and close on Monday 2 March 2026.
5. National UCU training
Click here for the latest UCU training opportunities.
6. UCU Cradle to Grave conference
UCU’s annual ‘Cradle to Grave’ education policy conference is a highlight of the calendar. The next conference will take place on Saturday 21 March 2026 at a central Manchester venue, with the option to participate online, so please save the date. Further details including how to register will be circulated in January.
7. UCU Kent Blog update
Here’s the latest update on our Blog, where you can also find previous Newsletters.