New stretch target
The additional funds will be disbursed to casualized staff who need it during any upcoming industrial actions.
Help us to support the ability of the most precarious Kingston UCU members to take action by topping up the branch's hardship fund.
by Kingston UCU in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, United Kingdom
The additional funds will be disbursed to casualized staff who need it during any upcoming industrial actions.
Since the autumn of 2021, Kingston UCU members have reluctantly turned to industrial action in an effort to push their employer to move forward on the national Four Fights, in recognition of the overwork, increasing casualisation, diminishing pay and pay gaps we experience. These actions were taken with the support of the Union of Kingston Students and many of our students, all the more so as they became aware of what our working lives are like. That we are at the breaking point.
However, the employer has dug its heels in, and has even commenced punitive action against those who have exercised their democratic rights to strike to date.
For this reason, in April 2022, Kingston UCU members voted yet again to support further industrial action (71% voting for strike action and 85% for action short of a strike).
We recognize that any further action will mean that our more casualized members will have to choose between taking further strike action to improve their working lives and potentially risk already precarious jobs and income. This includes the over 3,000 Kingston staff members on zero-hour contracts, some of whom receive as little as £8.70 an hour. They’re already living pay cheque to pay cheque.
It’s times like these when we need to see solidarity in action, not just words.
We believe that a democratic and inclusive union is one that makes it possible for all members to exercise their right to fight to improve their terms of employment. We deeply believe that, in a public sector university, this fight is ultimately about defending the learning conditions of our students.
For all these reasons, we are asking fellow Kingston members, trade unionists and other allies to help us to top up the Kingston UCU hardship fund. Your donations will go directly to hourly-paid lectures and other members on casual contracts who need it.
For more information on the criteria to qualify for the fund, or to apply, please go to the Kingston UCU branch website.
To make a donation from outside of the UK, please use this SWIFT/BIC Code: NWBKGB2L