Katie Muth

Gender identity and sexual orientation discrimination

A useful reminder on UCU's position on trans inclusion, while the EHRC undergoes a consultation following last month's Supreme Court Decision. Short version: we're pro-trans inclusion! This is true at the national level, and true at our branch.

Exams interrupted by incorrect papers, missing data booklets, and typos across the university  - Palatinate Students have been sent the wrong exam papers and additional resources have been missing as multiple departments have made errors in examinations this year.

This is absolutely awful. So horribly stressful for the students, who had to convince the invigilator there was actually a problem on top of everything else.

Say, you don't suppose this is connected to the uni moving heaven and earth to shed dozens of PS colleagues during an exam term, do you?

cover banner for AI and the Environment episode of Machine Ethics podcast

Coming out soon: www.machine-ethics.net/podcast/

YouTube video by SJSUCollegeHA Data Feminism for AI: A Talk by Dr. Lauren Klein

If you're interested in more #ai from H&A at #sjsu, check out our other event recordings:

*Data Feminism in AI @laurenfklein.bsky.social youtu.be/p9vbNA5_t44
*AI in Creative Spaces youtu.be/o84CcpLqmNk
*The AI Con book launch
@emilymbender.bsky.social @alexhanna.bsky.social youtu.be/1FcD3-FRWD4

Omg yessssss!!!!

Again, if Cardiff can do this after a much, much worse 2024 than Durham has had, why is the employer continuing to rule out compulsory redundancies?

This is today, everybody! Let's show everyone - our university included - that we're not just going to sit quietly in a corner while people's rights are on the line. #UnionswiththeT

One more day to sign sign sign! ✍️

And shoutout for photography by the brilliant @timpacker.bsky.social

Solo link to our website, with petition front and centre: durhamucu.org.uk

Durham UCU members with placards and armbands gather for a rally outside the Bill Bryson library. We are in a trade dispute over University management's plan to cut £20M in staff costs over the next two years. Staff cuts are unnecessary and threaten our capacity to deliver world-class teaching and research. Sign the petition to let Durham University management know you oppose staff cuts.

Hi Bluesky! 👋 @ducu.bsky.social spent the week out on the picket lines in a local trade dispute over proposed staff cuts. Anyone can sign our petition to let DU management know we're not the only ones who think these staff cuts are a big NOPE! durhamucu.org.uk

The Durham UCU picket line outside of Bill Bryson library

Day four! Striking for our jobs! We are not a drain on the university! We ARE the university!

Another sunny day with some big pickets @ducu.bsky.social.

A picket line visit from local MP Mary Foy and the mighty @newcastleucu.bsky.social!

Students also voting for refucing senior management numbers as opposed to cutting professional services staff.

Thank you Caleb! This action, along with many others, would be made easier if Unite UCU were being treated fairly and with respect, in the same place way UCU members demand for ourselves. #SettleTheDispute

New picket day, new sign. As cuts go up, services go down. Upset by the cut in library hours? Just you wait until cuts take effect!

Anise pine nut cookies ready to go for the morning!
@ducu.bsky.social #veganpickets
#NoCuts
#SaveOurStaff

Day two of the strike, and we've ben getting a lot of questions from students about the action. What's it for, why are we doing it now, and how can they help.

So let's run through some Strike Questions! 🧵

Friendly reminder from an HR professor: voluntary severances aren’t really “voluntary” if future compulsory redundancies are still on the table.
#NoCuts #SaveOurStaff
@ducu.bsky.social

Great turnout today on @ducu.bsky.social pickets. On strike to protect professional services staff jobs.

An attack on one is an attack on all!

Management tried to pit academics against professional services staff - they've failed!

We are *all* the university!

Sign sign sign!
Our jobs are on the line!

McNaughtan's and Typewronger in Edinburgh!

Exactly. The hyperfocus on limitless growth 2017-2022, and now on unplanned-out shrinking, all driven by a sole focus on financial targets does not a university make. Know what we do, make the money support that. The other way round, you just get a monstrosity ever on the brink of failure.

. @uniteucu.bsky.social's dispute needs to be resolved.

It needs to be resolved bc Congress voted for @ucu.org.uk leadership to do so.

It needs to be resolved bc it's the right thing to do.

It needs to be revolved bc not resolving it makes things harder for branches in dispute.

Solidarity!

It's really hard to know when they insist on converting people to units of money before doing any maths.

Absolutely shameful.

We're not surprised to read this reporting, are we @ducu.bsky.social. Wonder if management are bothered?

This is a really important point — when we point out that governments are crippling HE by attacking visas, we also need to a) talk about international students as people not £££ and also b) point out *why* overseas tuition fees have become an apparent panacea for UK universities

Heartbreaking.

Metaphors are context dependent.

Found poem, WaPo 5 Apr.

Lutnick,
who was clutching
a large poster board sign in
the Rose Garden
ahead of Trump’s remarks,
had been tasked with
the printing of the
visual aids
Trump displayed there —
though the breezy conditions
Wednesday afternoon
prevented them all
from being displayed.