UCL UCU: Stop fire-and-rehire of security at UCL!

Dear colleagues, 

Security staff at UCL have been fighting unfair, discriminatory working conditions ever since their employment contracts were handed over to predatory outsourcing companies. In the past weeks, UCL and its security subcontractor, Bidvest Noonan, have decided to fire and rehire all outsourced security staff. In the process they will make 40 redundancies, and the rehired staff will be on worse working conditions with cuts to their hours, as reported here by The Guardian. 

This move is on the back of a longstanding campaign from UCL security staff, with the support of Unison and the IWGB, to be brought in-house. Currently, security staff have among the worst pay and conditions on campus. While the university publicly claims to champion equality, diversity and inclusion, its most racialised workforce is being pushed further into precarity during a cost of living crisis. 

As staff at UCL, we must oppose this mistreatment of our colleagues. There is no space for structural racism at our university!

Please support the campaign by:

1. EMAILING YOUR HEAD OF DEPARTMENT AND THE PROVOST

We encourage staff to email their Head of Department, Building Manager and their Inclusion Lead to raise departmental concerns about the planned fire-and-rehire. Please see a template email here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XSjY82li2orQFlTBpA0ktkj9uCqGkvLQNUFxJORZoy4/edit?usp=sharing

It would also be helpful if staff could email the Provost explaining why they oppose this restructure. Please see a template email to the Provost here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SEffFD7aXVTvXfY6JbkW6hP9slVd9urQWlUencJ1aM0/edit?usp=sharing

2. COMING TO THE INFORMATION SESSION FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS (21 June)

There will be an open meeting for staff and students to learn more about the campaign from IWGB organisers and security staff on 21 June. 

• Location: Garwood Lecture Theatre, South Wing (and online)
• Time: 01:00 - 2:00 pm, Wednesday 21 June 
• Zoom link: https://ucl.zoom.us/s/95980474130

3. SIGNING AND SHARING THE PETITION

Please sign this petition against the redundancies and share it with other colleagues and your students.

 

4. COMING TO A BANNER MAKING SESSION (28 June)

Join us in the sunshine as we prepare banners and placards for the protests! This will be an opportunity to learn more about the campaign, meet students, colleagues, organisers and security staff involved and get crafty. Bring snacks, friends, cardboard, paints, brushes, etc. if you can. 

 

• Location: Gordon Square
• Time: 5:30 - 7:30 pm, 28th June
• FLYER

5. PROTESTING THE UCL OPEN DAYS (30 June + 1 July)

The IWGB Universities of London branch that represents UCL security staff is putting on a protest to disrupt UCL open days. The aim is to let the university and its incoming students know that there is no place for outsourcing, exploitation and structural racism on our campus. 

• Location: Main Quad
• Time: 30 June, 9 am - 5 pm; 1 July, 9 am - 2 pm

6. DONATING TO THE STRIKE FUND

IWGB security staff are balloting for strike action to protest this restructure, meaning they will miss out on pay. Please donate to the strike fund to support them!
Unison may also be balloting for strike action - more information to follow.

Thanks for your support!

UCL UCU Executive Committee
www.ucl.ac.uk/ucu
@ucl_ucu