Category: Uncategorized

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of our colleague and ARU UCU member Sophie Jackson. Sophie will be missed by everyone who had the privilege of working with her. Below you find a tribute to Sophie written by Nina Lübbren.

‘I first met Sophie when I taught her on the MA in Film and those of you who also taught on that MA will remember her brilliance and dedication. I recall one presentation which just blew everything out of the water; it was on Australian film and post-colonialism and was so nuanced, passionate and exceptionally well presented and researched.

I also know, as all of you do, that Sophie was 150% committed to her students and was always trying to find ways to enhance their learning and push them to do their best.

As a colleague, and I hope this is not inappropriate to say, Sophie could be ornery. This came from the same dedication and commitment that can be seen in her scholarship and student engagement because Sophie CARED. And I for one really, really came to value Sophie’s ability to ask questions of management and challenge accepted verities.

I am really sad to hear this news. ARU is poorer for not having Sophie around.’

We extend our deepest sympathies to Sophie’s family, and we are holding them close in our thoughts during this incredibly difficult time. 

ARU UCU Branch Executive Committee

Dear Colleagues,

UNISON and UCU are pleased to announce that both the Vice Chancellor and Chief People Officer have agreed to address a joint union meeting, staged to take place on May 11^th at 12 noon.
Meeting details
Date:11 May 2026
Time:12:00 to 13:00
Online link: Please email smurphy@ucu.org.uk for the link to this event.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide an opportunity for direct engagement with the university leadership on matters concerning the present state and future direction of Anglia Ruskin University.

Submitting questions
Colleagues are encouraged to submit questions in advance to inform the discussion. Questions can be submitted in advance via email. Deadline for questions is 5pm Thursday 7th May.

UCU Members: smurphy@ucu.org.uk
UNISON Members: unison@aru.ac.uk

All questions will be collated by UCU and UNISON and as many as possible will be presented on behalf of members during the meeting.

This joint meeting reflects the commitment of UNISON and UCU to work collaboratively and transparently in representing members’ interests. We encourage all members to attend and take part in this important conversation about the future direction of ARU and current negotiations.

If you have any questions about the meeting, or if you have yet to get around to joining, please contact your UNISON or UCU representatives via the above email addresses.

In solidarity,

John Hogan UCU President & Chris Herbert, UNISON Chair.

UNISON & UCU

Unison and UCU branches jointly declare dispute with ARU over threats to jobs in Research.

Staff members in Criminology have been voicing concerns for over twelve months about completely unsustainable and excessive workloads, without an adequate response from Faculty and School management. The Branch Executive has therefore decided to declare a dispute on behalf of its members and request that the problems be urgently rectified.

You can read our Declaration of Dispute here.

In solidarity,

ARU UCU Branch Executive

The ARU UCU Executive Committee has sent an Open Letter to Professor Laurie Butler, the Dean of FSE.

We have had multiple staff members from the School of Psychology, Sport and Sensory Science raise serious concerns about the improper implementation of our Collaborative Agreement within their School, resulting in serious staff dissatisfaction and overwork. We have investigated the matter, and identified a series of problems, including the imposition of workloads (instead of assigning workloads through negotiations), staff working significantly over 100% and AWBM figures being massaged to hide this, inadequate teaching preparation and research time being given to staff, and numerous others.

We have requested an investigation into the matter and for Professor Laurie Butler to respond to us by Friday, September 19th.

You can read the full Open Letter here.

In solidarity,

ARU UCU Executive Committee

The ARU UCU Branch has adopted a new constitution. You can read the new constitution here.

ARU UCU Branch Executive

A major crisis is unfolding at ARU-Peterborough, where it is apparent that Social Work Education is being sabotaged.  Professional standards are under threat, our workload agreement has been systematically ignored and members are being placed under unbearable strain and made ill. Students have taken the lead and mounted protests against institutional failure.

We have written to our Vice Chancellor, Professor Roderick Watkins, calling upon him to intervene.  With no meaningful progress, UCU members have taken the decision to go to ballot in support of an all-out indefinite strike. (See our correspondence with the VC here.) UCU wants to avoid unnecessary open conflict.  However, we are not going to tolerate any further temporising or the degradation of standards.  It is not good for our members, our students, and our university.  The crisis is here and now.

We very much hope than an amicable solution can be reached, protecting students, colleagues and standards.

ARU UCU Branch Executive

Staff members from the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care, especially in Nursing, have been raising serious concerns with ARU UCU around a number of issues relating to excessive workloads and their effects on staff health; the non-implementation of the AWBM; inadequate communication with students; bad management around teaching cover; lack of time for research, conference attendance, CPD and formal qualifications; and lack of clarity with regards to promotion criteria.

The ARU Branch Executive has sent a letter to Professor Jackie Kelly, conveying these issues and demanding that management commit to an action plan to resolve them.

You can read our full letter here.

ARU Branch Executive

At the ARU UCU Branch Meeting on September 26th, 2024, the Branch adopted the following motion:

“This branch NOTES the wave of riots and Islamophobic attacks which followed the demonstration of 20,000 organised by the fascist ‘Tommy Robinson’ in July.

It further NOTES that ‘Robinson’ has called another demonstration on October 26^th in central London and that Stand up to Racism, with the support of the TUC, has called a counter demonstration.

This branch BELIEVES that combatting racism and fascism is a Trades Union issue, because  racism is reprehensible, because it divides us and because, as Pastor Niemöller put it,  ‘then they came for the Trades Unionists.’

This branch BELIEVES that it is essential, in light of the rising tide of far right and fascist activity across Europe, to ensure that the October 26^th counter demonstration outnumbers that of the fascists.

This branch RESOLVES to support the Oct 26^th counter demonstration and to actively urge our members to attend.

This branch further RESOLVES to make a donation of £100 each to Harlow and Cambridge SUTR groups, the two nearest groups to ARU running transport to the demo on the 26^th, to help fund that transport and in addition RESOLVES to affiliate to SUTR nationally.”