Blog

We accomplished a great deal as a branch in this academic year. We have seen membership grow and although this reflects issues in our institution and across the sector, it also shows that there is trust in the union and collective organising. Below is an overview of the activities of the branch in 25/26 as well as important information about the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Current committee

In November 2025/26, the branch elected three members to the GSA UCU committee. Laura Guy (SoFA) joined as branch Secretary, Daisy Abbott (SIT) as Treasurer and Jenny Brownrigg (GSA Exhibitions) returned as Health and Safety officer. As allowed by our branch rules, we also made two interim appointments, welcoming Anne-Marie Copestake (SoFA) as our first branch Equalities officer in January and welcoming back Thomas Greenough as our branch President in Summer 2026. Laura and Thomas currently sit on the Trade Union Forum, GSA’s joint negotiating committee.

If you are interested in joining the GSA UCU committee to support the branch and our membership, you can view all roles here. Nominations for all committee and rep roles will close at 5pm on 15 September 2026. To put yourself forward for a role, complete a nomination form and submit to gsaucu@gmail.com by the deadline.

Casework

Over this academic year, branch caseworkers have supported fourteen individual cases and undertaken collective work with staff across two areas effected by cases for change. In December, three branch members attended UCU Casework training, increasing the branch’s capacity for casework.

Although we were pleased to contribute to positive outcomes for GSA UCU members through this work, casework is one area where the branch often struggles to meet capacity. Casework is a rewarding area of union work and all caseworkers are supported to undertake training. If you are interested in supporting colleagues by becoming a caseworker, please register your interest by emailing gsaucu@gmail.com.

GSA UCU Reps

This year, we supported three members to complete UCU Rep 1 training at Glasgow’s Trade Union Education Centre. At our last AGM, we also elected reps in two areas: Andrew Brash in Com Des and Stephanie Smith in Sculpture and Environmental Art. The rep system enables close contact between the committee and members who have first hand experience and deep understanding of the issues in their areas. Our reps allow the branch to be more informed and responsive. If you feel you could represent your area at GSA on behalf of members, please consider putting yourself forward at the next AGM following the nomination process outlined above.

Barnes Building

In April, staff were made aware of GSA’s plans to exit the Barnes Building. To understand how this proposal would effect members, GSA UCU led a survey across academic and professional services staff. We presented a report on the findings to Senior Leadership and, working with our members, sister unions (Unite, Unison and EIS), and staff across GSA, won concessions in some areas. Special thanks to the two GSA UCU members who prepared the survey. The branch is still monitoring the issue. If the exit from Barnes and the reorganisation of space across GSA is continuing to effect you and your work, get in touch.

Cases for Change

The branch has been supporting staff through two Case for Changes – at the Altyre campus and the Mackintosh School of Architecture. In Winter 25/26, we supported a number of members through consultation at Altyre and with our sister unions at GSA, outlined issues that we identified with the process to senior leadership.

In May, the branch voted unanimously to go into dispute with GSA over the failure to rule out redundancy in the proposed MSA Case for Change. In June, GSA UCU and UCU Scotland’s support officer met with Senior Leadership. The case for change has since been paused. We will provide an update on the on-going dispute soon.

EHRC Guidelines

Also in May, the branch unanimously passed an emergency motion in response to the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling on ‘sex’ under the Equality Act and subsequent EHRC guidance. The branch is now working to enact this motion, which can be read here. Donations totalling £1500 were made to  Glasgow’s Five For Five, the Good Law Project and to Trans Harm Reduction.

GSA UCU in Scotland and beyond

Throughout 25/26, GSA UCU continued to represent the branch at the UCU Scotland Executive Committee. In February, we shared feedback from our members at a meeting with UCU General Secretary and Chair of the Higher Education Committee. In March, we sent delegates to the Scotland Annual Congress where GSA UCU former President Nicholas Oddy served his final year as Chair of the Congress Business Committee. This summer, GSA UCU has attended strategy sessions with UCU Scotland.

This was an unprecedented year for industrial action across the sector. We stood in solidarity with our colleagues and comrades across Scotland and passed motions to donate to the fighting funds of the University of Edinburgh, University of Dundee, the University of Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt University and University of Stirling.

We contributed to campaigning within and beyond our sector. GSA UCU members attended Say No to the Far Right and anti-racist protests in Glasgow. The branch took a banner to the Glasgow May Day March and Rally where we marched alongside Glasgow Culture Conditions. In August, GSA UCU were signatories to a letter to Mairi McAllan, the Scottish Parliament Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, expressing concern about the proposed sell off of the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA). Finally, following our AGM last November, we made donations totalling £2000 to Ele Elna Elak, a volunteer-driven initiative dedicated to supporting Palestinian families in need, and The Sameer Project, a Palestinian-led mutual aid project.

Branch communications

New email addresses for general inquiries and casework are now in use and can be found here. We have updated the branch website and created a shared folder for branch documents including our local rules, case work documents and branch motions.

Get involved

Finally, as the Annual General Meeting on the 17 September approaches, please get in touch if you want to understand more about becoming involved in the branch.

The branch is run by members for members. Committee officers and reps are entitled to time off to undertake union duties and training associated with their roles.

If you are interested in joining the GSA UCU committee to support the branch and our membership, take a look at the available roles here or consider becoming a rep. Nominations for all committee and rep roles will close at 5pm on 15 September 2026. To put yourself forward for a role, complete a nomination form and submit to gsaucu@gmail.com by the deadline.

The AGM for 26/27 will take place on the 17 September, 12.30-1.30pm (in-person and online). More info to follow…

The AGM for 25/26 will take place on the 25th November 2025 at 5.30 pm (in-person and online). More info to follow…

The NI contributions applied to your pay have been reduced – check your payslip.

Check your emails, watch this tweet: https://twitter.com/ucu/status/1626650378782576644

BREAKING: YOU DID IT!  We have agreed a two week period of calm after breakthroughs in talks covering:  – pensions – ending zero hour contracts – ending casualisation – tackling workload – pay  Watch and RT

18 days of strike action in February and March

1 Feb

9, 10 Feb

On Wednesday 23 November Jo Grady will be hosting a pre-strike UCU Live event on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Please invite all of your colleagues, students, friends and family. 

On Thursday 24 and Friday 25 November members will bring every university in the UK to a standstill. Join us at 10:30 on Friday 25 November on Zoom for our virtual picket line. 

There will also be a joint UCU/EIS-ULA strike rally in Glasgow on Friday 25 November. Meet at 12:30 at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall steps at the top of Buchanan Street, Glasgow.

On Wednesday 30 November at 13:00 we are asking every branch in the country to descend on Kings Cross in London for the biggest national rally in UCU history. Contact your reps to find out plans for coaches carrying members, students and supporters to the rally. 

There will also be a UCU Scotland strike rally in Edinburgh on Wednesday 30 November. Assemble at 12:30 for 13:00 start at the Scottish Parliament concourse, Edinburgh. Speakers include: UCU Scotland; STUC general secretary Roz Foyer’ NUS Scotland president Ellie Gomersall; and MSPs.

Dear Activists,

We have a new WhatsApp group for those GSA UCU activists who wish to join the strike coordination.

We will keep the group active from now on as a central communication tool for core GSA UCU activists.

Please email the committee email address to be added – you will then be sent a WhatsApp link which will allow you to join the group.