For any UoB postgrads who haven't seen it through emails & the Guild - the 'Enhanced Student Support Fund' (hardship fund) has removed the awful minimum income threshold, and it's available to those in thesis-awaited. Evidence requirements are still terrible - but it's a start.

The threat is nevertheless live in many other workplaces, where people are still facing losing their jobs. We wrote about it here: x.com/NewSocialistUK…

.John McDonnell Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle 🏳️‍🌈🏕️ thank you for attending the UCU solidarity rally! We’d like to bring to your attention this report written by doctoral researchers who’ve been let down by the UK Research and Innovation (released today). Your support would be enormously appreciated!

A whole bunch of this was created as a result of input from disabled, neurodivergent and chronically ill PhD researchers, who are *exhausted* from having to fight for the basics even outside of a pandemic. If you only read one bit of the report, read section 3.

Many postgraduate research students face funding running out before they're able to finish their work due to Covid-19. I've written to UK Research and Innovation to press APPG for Students report Recommendation 6 – on extending studentships where needed.

Last night our joint union anti-casualisation claim with UNISON & Unite was launched with powerful contributions from @acecoupe Peta Bulmer UCU Liverpool @EHayesdeKalaf & others. Read the full claim here: drive.google.com/file/d/1DBvYrf…

Please share this info on the anti-precarity research as well a link to the live questionnaire where you can input your actions and activism on this! 💚 magneticideals.org/home/research/… Precarious Transitions Gender & Precarity in Academia - EU Research Group UoBristol Anti-Precarity Network (BAPN) Precarious Brum Precarity in LIS @UoK_Precariat Precarious Liverpool @prec

🚨Twitter storm from 12pm #UCUMarkingBoycott🚨 Solidarity with branches opening the marking boycott today over fair pay #FourFights and #USSmess Send solidarity messages! Donate! Support your twinned branch!

Hello all! We will start to use this account again. Please do also follow Birmingham UCU & join UCU! ucu.org.uk/join #PGRsAsStaff #AntiCas #OneOfUsAllOfUs #ucuRISING #HelloBrum

.Birmingham UCU casualised & disabled members: This is a reminder re. the Disablement & Casualisation Survey (received by email) If you'd prefer to discuss with the Anti-Cas, Equalities, & Anti-Disablement Officers, please join the meeting on 10 Oct, 12.30pm - link in the email