In today’s episode, recorded Wednesday 21 May 2025 branch president Jenny Rivas Perez and branch honorary secretary Vicky Blake give their initial thoughts on the University of Leeds management’s “white paper” on the direction of travel of the university for the next five years. With Alan Smith.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

(What happened to episodes 7 and 8? They were affected by industrial action by UCU staff who are members of the Unite LE127 branch. Episode 7 was recorded and may eventually be released (as branch old news).

In today's episode, recorded Wednesday 14 May 2025: waiting for management plans about the university size and shape, and its trans policy; supporting members at risk of redundancy, call out for members to volunteer as caseworkers, new AGM date.

With Jenny Rivas Perez, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

In today's episode (recorded 19 June): pay and grading review, freedom of expression protocol, review of HR policies, department rep elections

With Aisha Walker, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

Episode links

https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/choosing-your-ucu-department-representatives/

In today's episode (recorded 5 June): pay and grading review, hybrid working, anti-casualisation improvements, department rep elections, general meetings and socials.

With Aisha Walker, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

Episode links

https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/choosing-your-ucu-department-representatives/

In today's episode (recorded 8 May, published late because: reasons): PGRs who teach, hybrid working as a flexible working request, 3-days-on-campus not-rule, pay and grading review, UCU higher education special sector conference, AGM, new starters meetings

With Aisha Walker, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

Episode links

Branch committee roles and standing for election

In today's episode (recorded 24 April, and not edited, transcribed and published until long after the intended release date because: reasons): working in shared spaces, the new university social media policy, overseas working policy discussions, dignity and mutual respect policy, changes in IT, biomedical research facility, career pathways programme, university’s financial support, Education Support, general meetings, getting involved, workers memorial day, Leeds TUC May Day rally, socials

With Aisha Walker and Rachel Walls (and Alan Smith).

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

Episode links

Branch committee roles and standing for election

https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/

In today's episode (recorded 10-11 April): posters celebrating our win on pensions, all about the committee elections at the AGM, the latest Home Office pressure on migrant workers. With Aisha Walker, Emily Haikney, Laura Loyola Hernandez, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith.

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/ 

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

LeedsUCU website post, including link to legal guidance, UK government changes affecting migrant members

More about branch committee roles and standing for election

Original music by Fred Verity.

In today's episode (recorded 27 March): pay and grading review, ways of working, casework, management training, joining the union before problems arise, gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps, flexible working, the next general meeting, amending motions on the UCU congress agenda, and the AGM in May, getting involved as a UCU department equality rep, department rep, branch committee member or caseworker.

(No Rachel today - we really should have mentioned that in the recording!)

For transcript see ⁠https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

In today's episode (recorded 13 March): pay and grading review, ways of working, Home Office visa changes, gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps, the next general meeting and the AGM in May.

For transcript see ⁠https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/⁠

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

Recorded 28 March. In today's episode: New ways of working, workload principles, pay and grading, PGR lead on committee, socials and branch general meetings. For transcript see https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/ To join UCU go to https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

In today's episode we talk to Mark Taylor-Batty about UCU's achievement on USS pensions and having more money in our take-home pay each month, and other changes to the pension scheme.

For transcripts of this and other episodes go to https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

For Mark's webpost on this subject, which includes how to make payments to the branch hardship fund: https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/ucu-win-on-uss-increase-in-take-home-pay-and-benefits-restored/

join the union at https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

In today's episode: a department reps meeting, a peace demonstration, pay and grading, fixed-term contracts, 'ways of working', General Secretary election hustings, national meeting of academic-related professional and managerial staff and national meeting of staff on casualised contracts.

For transcript see https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

In today's episode, recorded Wednesday 26 February 2025: committee by-elections, new casework officer, university strategic review, reviewing employment relations agreements and processes.

With Jenny Rivas Perez, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears,search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you getnotified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

In our first podcast (we will get better at the sound balance!) we cover the new university social media policy, proposed changes to IT organisation, the big USS pensions win, where we are with the pay and conditions dispute, what do we want in a new vice chancellor for the university, ways of working - at home or on campus, coming up: branch general meeting, general secretary election hustings, UCU national events: Cradle To The Grave policy conference, meeting of Academic-Related Professional Staff, meeting of staff on casualised contracts; and vacancies on the branch committee.

For transcript see https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

In today's episode, recorded Wednesday 12 February 2025: extraordinary general meeting on university finances and student numbers, short-notice IT system changes, annual leave policy changes, time for caseworkers, Salma al-Shehab released from prison, elections for vacant committee roles, annual meeting of academic -related professional staff.

With Jenny Rivas Perez, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

In today’s episode, recorded 29 January 2025: new casework officer role, vacancies for equality officer and ordinary committee member, future size and shape of the university – vice chancellor’s blog and UCU general meeting, Salma al-Shehab, annual meeting of academic -related professional staff.

With Jenny Rivas Perez and Rachel Walls.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

Today's episode was recorded 6 December 2024

With Jenny Rivas Perez, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith

Transcript for this episode will be delayed because of strike action by UCU staff

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

Today's episode, recorded 6 November 2024, is an update on the UCU branch’s anti-causalisation work.

With Sandy James, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

In today's episode (recorded 23 October): new committee and officers, pay and grading review for grade 10, HR policies review, annual leave policy, national pay and conditions negotiations, maternity pay policy and paternity or partner leave policy, next general meeting, Leeds trade union council sing-along With Aisha Walker, Jenny Rivas Perez, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith. If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/ To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

In today's episode (recorded 8 July): pay and grading review offer, workload, the general election, and remembering Jonathan Dean

With Aisha Walker, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

Episode links

https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/support-and-benefits/local-industrial-action-hardship-fund/

Today’s episode was due to be recorded 3 July, but, as a member of UCU staff and of Unite LE127 union branch, Alan Smith was on strike, and UCU branch committee members would, of course, not cover his work while he is striking. We have released this special LeedsUCU branch news episode without any branch news, to illustrate that the industrial action has an impact.

With Rachel Walls.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

Episode links

Moorland sounds from bbc.co.uk – © copyright 1966 BBC - https://sound-effects.bbcrewind.co.uk/search?q=NHU05104247

In today's episode, recorded Wednesday 11 June 2025: AGM, unions meeting with the vice chancellor about the review of the university’s plan, and changes to the university’s trans policy.

With Jenny Rivas Perez, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

In today's episode, recorded Thursday 4 September 2025 (and published late): Changes to our branch committee, career pathways, the White paper, changes to university policies.

With Jenny Rivas Perez, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes.

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

In today's episode, recorded Thursday 26 June 2025: campaigns officer Anja Komatar on the role of the campaigns officer, and some of the campaigns the branch is involved in internationally and in the workplace.

Content note: includes discussion of Israel and Palestine.

With Rachel Walls and Anja Komatar.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join