We’re looking for members across the city and the surrounding localities to help lobby their MPs over the state of higher education funding. This is part of a coordinated advocacy campaign UNISON are undertaking across the country to help stand up for our jobs and save higher education funding.
The campaign involves:
1. Writing to your MP on behalf of the branch about the state of higher education.
2. Trying to set up a meeting with your MP to discuss issues with yourself and the branch committee.
3. The possibility of attending as part of delegation of members visiting their MPs in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 3rd June to get them to take action.
We’re hoping to have members participate to cover at least these eight constituencies, but participation from any constituency is very welcome!
- Bristol Central
- Bristol North West
- Bristol East
- Bristol South
- Bristol North East
- Filton and Bradley Stoke
- North Somerset
- North East Somerset and Hanham
Please email unison-office@bristol.ac.uk if you would like to participate in this campaign to help coordinate contact and tailor approaches for each MP.
In Bristol and nearby we have a high number of Labour MPs who ran on a manifesto which stated:
“We recognise that UK higher education creates opportunity, is a world-leading sector in our economy, and supports local communities… The current higher education funding settlement does not work for the taxpayer, universities, staff, or students. Labour will act to create a secure future for higher education and the opportunities it creates across the UK. We will work with universities to deliver for students and our economy.”
So we have an opportunity to help hold them to account and try to commit themto action.
The more pressure we can put on the better!
Here is a PDF from Unison’s Higher Education Service Group with more detailed information. You can also sign up to a Teams webinar they are holding on Wednesday 21 May 12.30-1.30 entitled ‘Fund our Future: Fighting the Cuts in Higher Education’. The aim of this webinar is to help guide branches with our campaigns to fight cuts and defend jobs in universities.