UCU Coventry – Standing Together

Welcome to the UCU Coventry Branch website.

We represent academic and academic-related staff across Coventry University. At a time of rapid and far-reaching change, our role is simple: to support members, defend our collective rights, and ensure staff voices are heard.

What’s happening now

Coventry University has been going through a sustained programme of restructuring, including the transfer of staff into subsidiary companies and changes to terms and conditions, and compulsory redundancies.

Your UCU branch is currently:

  • Progressing collective grievances against TUPE transfers
  • Challenging the transfer of staff onto contracts with inferior terms and conditions
  • Raising serious concerns about pensions, workload, and working conditions
  • Working with regional and national UCU colleagues to ensure appropriate support and representation

Pensions – urgent concerns

We are extremely concerned about the removal of staff from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS).

This has affected hundreds of colleagues and raises issues, including:

  • Loss of access to public sector pension provision
  • Pressure to move into less favourable schemes
  • Potential financial detriment
  • Lack of meaningful consultation

👉 Report a concern to The Pensions Regulator
https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/contact-us/report-a-concern
(Please reference: Valeri – UCU case contact)

Have your say

We are supporting a Vote of No Confidence in the Vice-Chancellor, reflecting growing concern about the direction of the university and its impact on staff and students.

🗳️ Read more and sign here:
https://speakout.web.ucu.org.uk/vote-of-no-confidence-in-the-vice-chancellor-at-coventry-university/

We need you!

Our strength as a branch depends on our members.

With many current committee members based in the colleges and due to move into PFL, we urgently need colleagues—particularly from research centres—to get involved and help keep the branch active, visible, and effective.

You don’t need prior experience. Just a willingness to stand with colleagues.

👉 Get involved / contact us: ucu@coventry.ac.uk

Stay connected

We regularly share updates, actions, and opportunities to get involved:

In solidarity

We are working collectively to support members, raise concerns, and ensure that changes at the university are properly challenged and scrutinised.

This is a challenging time, but you are not facing it alone.

If you have concerns, questions, or experiences you’d like to share, please get in touch.

Your UCU Coventry Branch Committee:

Chair: Jackie Abell

Vice-Chairs: Michaelina Jakala/Aimee Walsh

Secretary: Sara Prot/Tom Cobb

Membership Secretaries: Vacant

Treasurer: Dianabasi Nkantah

Equalities Co-Ordinator and Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Officer: Michael Oyelere

Disabilities Officer: Aimee Walsh

Women’s Officer: Lara Chaplin

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) Officer: Sara Prot

Health & Safety Officers:  Tom Cobb/Aimee Walsh

Environmental Officer: Freddy Brown

Anti-Casualisation Officer: Vacant

Learning Rep: Vacant

 

 

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