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The Institute of Child Health (ICH) has been quiet for most of the strike, but yesterday there was a small but determined picket. Thank you to all colleagues who kept the UCU presence visible.

With the Laws teach-out on academic freedom in full swing, talks between UCU and UCEA were lobbied by pickets from a number of universities including UCL.

Addressing the lobby, UCU negotiators Marian Mayer, Jo McNeill and Vicky Blake were clear that our strike action had shifted the employers. Although talks are without prejudice and confidential, the negotiators could report that progress was indeed being made.

Day 6 activities - today, Wed 4 March

• Picketing from 8 to 12, with a planned gathering at 12 noon. This week strike committee meetings will take place from 12.15 to 1.15 in the 
• Lobby UUK / UCU Talks - 2.30pm for 3pm, assemble  (see below)
• Theme and Teach-out: Challenging UCL’s Exploitation of PGTAs (see below)

Lobby UUK / UCU Talks

Today at 2.30-3pm there will be another protest, also at , in support of the campaign to defend the USS pension. The key issues in these negotiations are the discredited valuation ‘deficit’ and whether employees should be expected to pay for it. A combination of rising costs and our industrial action have pushed the employers back from the assumption that they can simply impose increased costs on employees, as a pathway to bullying staff to accept 100% Defined Contribution.

Talks continue on both disputes, with negotiators on both sides tasked to find a prompt and effective resolution. Our strikes, pickets, lobbies and demonstrations are keeping the pressure up. .

Theme and Teach-out: Challenging UCL’s Exploitation of PGTAs

Post Graduate Teaching Assistants (PGTAs) are on the front-line of our ‘Four Fights’ campaign.

A leaflet detailing issues that specifically affect PGTAs will be available on the Gower Street entrance picket-line for members to collect.

A group of PGTAs will tour picket lines in the morning to discuss issues in your department and how members can support their campaign.

Please tweet stories and pictures of PGTA solidarity with the hashtag #ucustories.

Come to Meeting Room 1 at the Royal National Hotel at 1pm to discuss issues affecting PGTAs and to organise.

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Further details of planned central and departmental Teach-Outs on the UCL UCU website.

UCL UCU Executive Committee