Loes

THE FILTON TRIAL - THE VERDICTS - NO CONVICTIONS - Real Media - The View From Below Following our detailed coverage of this long trial, we bring you the verdicts as they have just been announced in court.

realmedia.press/filton-verdi...

UCU UK elections 2025-26 UCU has a national executive committee, elected by the union's members. Elections take place annually.

As a branch, we have just endorsed Susan Fitzpatrick (York St John University), Loes Veldpaus (Newcastle University), and Matt Perry (Newcastle University) for the 3 North East HE seats up for election in the UCU UK elections 2025-26
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1419...

Palestine Action protesters not guilty of defence firm burglary The group are cleared of aggravated burglary over the alleged raid at an Elbit Systems warehouse.

Pleased to see the jury make this decision.

We need to have eyes wide open this is exactly why the Government wants to abolish juries.

People protesting against a genocide are not the criminals here - it's the politicians who continue to provide cover.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Solidairy pickets join us all!

Newcastle Uni's £274m Castle Leazes halls set for approval Planners are set to approve Newcastle University's plans on Friday despite concerns from residents.

£274M. This they proudly present, at the same time they are making 38 people compulsory redundant…. To save £3.8M

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Estates not education

Open letter to Bridget Phillipson from @newcastleucu.bsky.social + UCU Northern Region. Sign and share widely. @ducu.bsky.social docs.google.com/document/d/e...

It’s the final day we can send in our ballot @newcastleucu.bsky.social to be in a position to collectively decide how what action we take in the face of proposed redundancies and changes that would transform the university for staff and students. Don’t stick your head in the sand!

On May 10, 1933, Nazis burned the library of The Institute for Sexual Science.

The Institute was founded by Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld. Its community clinic pioneered healthcare for queer, trans, & intersex people.

The Institute was targeted & attacked as part of a Nazi government censorship program.

Strike action escalates with staff at 24 more universities joining UK-wide walkout Strike action at UK universities spread to 68 institutions today as staff blamed bosses for failing to make improved offers on pensions and pay & working conditions.

But members are angry! As @ucu.org.uk estimated (in 2022) staff pay had fallen by 25.5% in real terms since 2009 (probably higher now?). Yet, number of people on the highest pay, over £100.000, and who are not on ucu-negotiated pay scales, is skyrocketing www.ucu.org.uk/article/1212...

Oh, yes, we know this is not what is going to save Higher Education. See ALL of our other posts, and for example this open letter docs.google.com/document/d/e...

A Palestinian child has been killed and two other people wounded in an Israeli drone attack on eastern Jenin as the Israeli military's deadly armed raids continued across the occupied West Bank aje.io/d7sunb

Thousands protest in Serbia to mark three months since deadly roof collapse Tens of thousands march in Novi Sad, blocking roads and bridges in protest against government corruption.

aje.io/v4l538 so little reporting on this, massive student movement

The crisis in Higher Education is biting hard. Thousands are at risk of losing their jobs across the sector. Please sign and share this open letter calling on the Secretary of State for Education to act.

"This is not an isolated problem. It is a nationwide crisis."

Thank you for taking the initiative on this letter, @newcastleucu.bsky.social! And an excellent letter it is too, clear and referenced.

Please everyone who cares about higher education and research, co-sign. #UKHE

Will bird flu spark a human pandemic? Scientists say the risk is rising H5N1 is adapting to new mammalian hosts, raising the possibility of the virus spreading between humans.

Pretty terrifying stuff this www.nature.com/articles/d41...

docs.google.com/document/d/e...
Sign our Open Letter to Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities, and Sunderland MP

Minimum annual cost of senior management at Newcastle University is £23.8 m

143*100000+52*130000+15*160000+190000*2 = 23.8 million (data from Newcastle UCU)

In many Unis, annual deficit is comparable to senior management pay bill

Newcastle Uni say they want savings of £20 m in staff costs 😉

A government needs to invest in education, in the future of people, in our young people, in people who want to deepen or broaden their knowledge and skills. The system is so clearly underfunded and broken. Fix it!

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...

Strike ballot to open at Newcastle University over the impact of £35m cuts Over 1,000 UCU members will be balloted for strike action at Newcastle University later this month over £35m in cuts management is slashing from the university's budget.

Newcastle University announcing 300 FTE redundancies. Come to the EGM Wed 1pm, and as we saw this coming, our ballot opened Monday - vote as soon as it arrives (by post). We will be fighting this, and join forces with the other two campus unions UNITE and UNISON
www.ucu.org.uk/article/13809

£715 Million was spent on the failed Rwanda deportation scheme. £715 Million could have been spent on children living in poverty in the UK or community projects or genuine reparations. As much as I detest Rwanda's participation, I will salute them not giving back any coins.

Israel violating Lebanon ceasefire agreement with dozens of strikes on south Lebanese officials are pursuing diplomatic efforts to 'stop Israeli violations'

Israel violating Lebanon ceasefire agreement with dozens of strikes on south - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-fires-deadly-strikes-south-lebanon-apparent-breach-ceasefire-agreement

The idea of conducting Research Excellence and Teaching Excellence Frameworks in these conditions (as well as National Student Survey) is a bit ridiculous really. Loads of the depts and schools they're covering won't even exist in two or three years.

Top Dutch court advised to uphold export ban of F-35 components to Israel Supreme Court's advocate general rejects all objections posed by Dutch government over F-35 export ban ordered in February

Top Dutch court advised to uphold export ban of F-35 components to Israel - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/dutch-top-court-advised-uphold-export-ban-f-35-components-israel

"Two smiling volunteers standing outdoors by a colourful brick wall, holding a cardboard box. The text overlay reads: '70 more parcels made by and for F&S members today!' In the bottom-right corner, the 'Food & Solidarity' logo is visible."

Another Saturday, another 70 parcels packed and dispatched, by our members, to our members! This is just one of the many ways in which we work together & support one another #SolidarityNotCharity

Join us on Thursday

Cambridge students renew pro-Palestine protests, call for arms deals review This marks the first escalation since the university said over the summer that it would review its ties to arms deals

Cambridge students renew pro-Palestine protests, call for arms deals review - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/cambridge-students-renew-pro-palestine-protests-call-arms-deals-review

Leeds has a fully funded scholarship program for undergraduate and Masters study for Gaza students.

**Tell Everyone**

www.leeds.ac.uk/masters-scho...

Join us on Thursday