💥 Join our active, growing branch and be part of the campaign for a safer, fairer university: ucu.org.uk/join · birminghamucu.orghttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mvczrp6zws2iPlease read and share this open letter from staff at risk of compulsory redundancy in Modern Languages at the Uni of Birmingham. It calls for the redundancies to be halted, for the equality impact assessment to be released, and for meaningful consideration of alternatives. https://birminghamucu.org/2026/09/09/a-national-catastrophe-at-home-open-letter-on-the-modern-languages-redundancies/12 Sep 2026 11:59 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvczrp6zws2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mvaer66jwi2f📢 UoB staff: your unions need to hear from you. UCU & UNISON have launched an anonymous survey on "Future Shape" and the restructure to a 3-Faculty model — how it's led, what it means for your job/School, and how (or whether) you're being consulted. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefM6jJSmGWsq_JaBoR3gILJIHVGopvInoyd7QnEkMrQkm_kg/viewform?fbzx=322425376192902413511 Sep 2026 10:38 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvaer66jwi2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mv6ibeyuq52mSign our petition to stop compulsory redundancies of five Translation & Interpreting colleagues at the University of Birmingham. Stand with staff and defend Modern Languages. https://www.change.org/p/stop-redundancies-at-the-university-of-birmingham10 Sep 2026 16:35 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv6ibeyuq52mhttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mux624h4dg26Next BUCU General Members Meeting 17th September 12:30 on zoom. Keep an eye out for a BUCU update email with agenda and joining instructions.07 Sep 2026 18:43 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mux624h4dg26https://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mutvhq7khj2d📢 Joint unions (UNISON & UCU) open meeting on UoB restructure (5 Colleges → 3 Faculties). All affected/worried staff welcome — non-members too, please forward. 🗓️ Mon 7 Sept, 12:00–13:00 📍 Aston Webb Main Lecture Theatre 👥 In-person only06 Sep 2026 11:32 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mutvhq7khj2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3murritwuej22Five colleagues in Translation and Interpreting, specialists in Arabic, Chinese and Italian, all from ethnic minority backgrounds — received redundancy risk letters at the beginning of June 2026. 1/805 Sep 2026 15:16 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3murritwuej22https://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3muox65drh327Five staff specialising in Arabic, Chinese and Italian were placed at risk of redundancy after the planned closure of the MA Translation Studies and MA English–Chinese Interpreting programmes. 1/504 Sep 2026 12:19 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3muox65drh327https://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mulzcfszs72jJob security. Contractual rights. Meaningful equality processes. These are the proposed BUCU red lines for negotiations during the restructure. Members are invited to give feedback at the meeting at 1:30pm today. DM me if you don't have the link03 Sep 2026 08:19 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mulzcfszs72jhttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mukluziq5l2cKnow who represents you. Help shape what happens next. Meet the incoming BUCU committee, hear about the issues facing colleagues, and contribute to the branch’s priorities for the year ahead. GMM: Thursday 3 September, 1:30–2:30pm on zoom. DM me if you need the link02 Sep 2026 18:47 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mukluziq5l2chttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3muh2b7bzha2vThere have been 6 rounds of redundancies at UoB since July 2025. There no doubt there will be more. We need to organise to resist. Come to the BUCU meeting at 1:30 on 3rd Sept to get involved.01 Sep 2026 08:53 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3muh2b7bzha2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mufgchwnlg2gYour voice matters as the University enters an institution-wide restructure. Come to BUCU’s GMM on 3 September, 1:30–2:30pm, to help shape our branch motion and strategy on job security, contractual protections and equalities processes. 31 Aug 2026 17:23 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mufgchwnlg2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mucdl6qpon27Five academic colleagues in Translation and Interpreting, specialising in Arabic, Chinese and Italian, are facing proposed redundancy. Come to the next meeting at 1:30 on 3rd Sept to find out what this means for you 30 Aug 2026 11:57 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mucdl6qpon27https://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mu7quf2lzb2zYour voice matters as the University enters an institution-wide restructure. Come to BUCU’s GMM on 3 September, 1:30–2:30pm, to help shape our branch motion and strategy on job security, contractual protections and equalities processes.29 Aug 2026 11:16 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu7quf2lzb2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mu4z7lhsd52gBUCU members: join our first General Members’ Meeting of the academic year. Thursday 3 September, 1:30–2:30pm on Zoom. We’ll discuss the proposed redundancies in Translation and Interpreting, BUCU’s red lines for the institutional restructure, and how members can get involved. 28 Aug 2026 09:08 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu4z7lhsd52ghttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mtvyr2jcrm2eA decision point for Birmingham UCU. General Members’ Meeting Thursday 3 September | 1:30–2:30pm Venue / online link TBA Please put it in your diary. The branch’s response to redundancy proposals will be decided collectively by members. 25 Aug 2026 14:11 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtvyr2jcrm2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mttmrpkvh427Quote - Birmingham said its voluntary redundancy scheme for 238 members of staff was “to help protect the university from future volatility and help ensure that we can continue to invest in our long-term strategic ambitions”. From https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/universities-redundancies-staff-costs-cuts-students-zl5h830w3 Is everyone now feeling less volatile? 24 Aug 2026 15:31 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mttmrpkvh427https://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mtsxonbtyr27No compulsory redundancies. Join BUCU’s General Members’ Meeting on Thursday 3 September, 1:30–2:30pm. Together, members will decide how to challenge the University’s approach and defend jobs. Venue / joining link to follow.24 Aug 2026 09:14 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtsxonbtyr27https://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mtrj5keeu22vSundayTimes reports that the University of Birmingham spent £12.4m on redundancy payments in 2024–25. This was the fourth-highest among the eight Russell Group universities listed as spending more than £10m, and sixth-highest across all 117 institutions analysed. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/universities-redundancies-staff-costs-cuts-students-zl5h830w323 Aug 2026 19:21 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtrj5keeu22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mtr67xir4f2lBUCU General Members’ Meeting: Thursday 3 September, 1:30pm. We need management to engage with the union in good faith, with proper transparency, due process and meaningful consultation. Join us as members decide our next steps. 23 Aug 2026 16:06 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtr67xir4f2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mtonff2z7n2sManagement is pressing ahead with redundancies, most recently in Modern Languages. BUCU members will meet on Thursday 3 September, 1:30–2:30pm, to decide how we respond and how we defend colleagues from compulsory redundancy.22 Aug 2026 15:59 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtonff2z7n2shttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mtlm247jq527Save the date: BUCU General Members’ Meeting Thursday 3 September, 1:30–2:30pm Venue / joining link to follow. This is a crucial moment for our branch. Members will decide next steps in the fight against compulsory redundancies. Every voice matters.21 Aug 2026 10:57 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtlm247jq527https://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mqryqmwhp72mGrateful to Birmingham UCU’s retiring organiser Russ for years of care, graft and steadfast solidarity with staff and students. Wishing you a radical, restful and joyful next chapter – thank you for everything, In Sol.16 Jul 2026 19:45 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqryqmwhp72mhttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mqa5hixqdw25Redundancies don’t just affect those selected. Where posts are cut but work remains, other staff absorb extra duties, increasing workload and impacting wellbeing, teaching quality and student support09 Jul 2026 17:21 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqa5hixqdw25https://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mq5jkoa3ve2xIf your consultation felt predetermined, tell us. Birmingham UCU is mapping where the university’s official narrative about process doesn’t match what staff actually experienced.08 Jul 2026 16:20 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq5jkoa3ve2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mq4xqr5ehn25Members reported consultation that felt like a tick-box exercise, with decisions effectively made before discussion. Meaningful consultation should shape outcomes, not rubber-stamp them.08 Jul 2026 11:01 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq4xqr5ehn25https://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mq4olw7uax2oNot in UCU yet? This is exactly when union membership matters. It gives you a voice and a route to challenge consultation processes that don’t meet basic standards of fairness. www.ucu.org.uk/join08 Jul 2026 08:16 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq4olw7uax2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mq34r3dxw22aOur members’ meeting heard serious concerns about the ‘business cases’ behind recent redundancies. In some areas, the savings claimed weren’t properly evidenced. When jobs are on the line, that’s not good enough.07 Jul 2026 17:25 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq34r3dxw22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/birminghamucu.bsky.social/post/3mq2ktlw2b42gHave you been told ‘the business case is clear’ without real information? Share your experience with Birmingham UCU. Member testimony helps us challenge weak or unjustified decisions.07 Jul 2026 12:04 +0000at://did:plc:tbae2in3oabujtx26randphg/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq2ktlw2b42g