UCU Northern Region Podcast

Our podcast returns from an extended break, with an interview with the newly appointed TUC Regional Secretary for the Northeast, Yorkshire and Humber - Dave Pike. Jon Bryan (UCU Regional Support Official) asking the questions.Dave Pike appointedhttps://www.tuc.org.uk/news/dave-pike-appointed-new-regional-secretary-northeast-yorkshire-and-humber-tucRegional TUC comment on Higher Education in the NE:https://www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/stakes-are-high-if-university-funding-crisis-continuesTUC Reps Courseshttps://www.tuc.org.uk/training/TUCcoursesAnti-Right and Populism Briefings:MIDDLESBROUGH 24/06/25https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/tuc-education-anti-right-and-populism-regional-briefing-middlesbroughSUNDERLAND 27/06/25https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/tuc-education-anti-right-and-populism-regional-briefing-sunderland

In the last episode of our podcast for 2022, Jon Bryan (UCU Regional Support Official, Northern Region) visits a number of picket lines involving different trade unions, who are all in dispute with their employer. More details on the disputes that are mentioned in this episode can be found here: UNITE at Shelter: www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2022/december/shelter-strike-suspended-following-improved-offer RCN in Newcastle: www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/events/151222-the-newcastle-upon-tyne-hospitals-nhs-foundation-trust GMB, Baker Hughes, Newcastle upon Tyne: www.gmbneyh.org.uk/more_than_200_newcastle_energy_workers_over_miserly_pay_offer RMT Strikes: www.rmt.org.uk/news/picket-line-details-december-13 Darlington College UCU: www.ucu.org.uk/article/12629/Staff-to-strike-at-Darlington-College Furness College UCU: www.ucu.org.uk/article/12635/Furness-College-staff-to-strike-over-low-pay

In this episode, we have put together some clips to inform listeners about the disputes in our region on pay in Further Education at Newcastle College and Darlington College. This episode contains an extract from a speech by Neil Stockton, Branch Chair at Darlington College. It also has extracts from an interview given by the Branch Secretary at Newcastle College, Emma Campbell. Finally, there is an interview on a lively picket line at Newcastle College where one of those on strike tell BBC Radio Newcastle what the issues are. Be warned, this last interview is from a noisy picket line which the Branch had dubbed "Wild Wednesday". People's Assembly, Darlington Coverage: https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23103801.we-members-cant-heat-homes-darlington-protestors-demand-general-election/ Full Speeches: https://www.facebook.com/thenorthernecho/videos/830444605077178 Darlington College UCU Press Release on Ballot for Industrial Action on Pay: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/12597 YouTube Story about Newcastle College Strike Action: https://youtu.be/xVy4Oae6qhs

In this episode, we cover current industrial action in further education, as well as a look back at previous disputes and what we can learn from them. UCU Regional Support Official, Jon Bryan, speaks to UCU representatives at Carlisle College (Matthew Cookson) and Emma Campbell from Newcastle College. They tells us about their current action, and we also hear from people on the picket line. This episode also includes an introduction that Jon Bryan recently gave to a meeting of the Socialist Education Association (North) on current and previous industrial action across the FE sector.

In this in-depth interview, Sol Gamsu talks to Jon Bryan about the last 12 months of organising and action by UCU members and reps at Durham University. Sol explains how they have built on the good work of others, and outlines some of the ways that they have managed to keep members engaged through the prolonged industrial disputes that Higher Education has seen.