This blurred line between research “impact”, paid political access, and secretive spending should alarm everyone who cares about public universities, academic integrity, and democratic accountability in higher education.
3/4
As Private Eye Magazine reports - Over six years, management paid Lodestone to run public affairs campaigns and curate “engagement” with ministers in order to boost REF “impact”, yet refuses to explain what exactly was bought because it would “prejudice commercial interests”.
2/4
We will be asking why this money was not spent on secure contracts, student support, and protecting jobs – and how staff and students can have any confidence in governance when such decisions are taken behind closed doors.
4/4
The University of Birmingham can apparently find £879,828 for a Westminster lobbying firm, but claims there is no money to end casualisation, reverse cuts, or fund decent pay for staff.
1/4
UCU runs excellent training – from health & safety rep inductions to Challenging the far right: rebuilding solidarity. These courses build skills we need locally in BUCU: negotiating, organising, and defending members. If you’re curious about stepping up your involvement, drop us a DM.
We are already seeing employers misinterpret the EHRC Code of Practice around gender identity. Our position is clear: equality duties still fully apply, and any changes must be consulted on and legally robust.
Casualisation is not inevitable. We are formally requesting detailed data from UoB on insecure contracts and pressing management to change course. This national exercise will arm us with evidence to challenge precarity in our own institution.