University and college staff to join climate change protests on Friday

The University and College Union (UCU) is encouraging all its members to take part in the global day of action in whatever way they can. Last week the trade union movement officially backed UCU’s call to support Friday’s school strikes and urged workers to join in the action for 30 minutes.

UCU has welcomed the support of institutions including the University of Edinburgh, the University of Leicester, and Capital City College Group for Friday’s action, and have called on other institutions to follow their lead. The union has also written to the national representatives of universities and colleges asking them to allow staff to take part in the action for 30 minutes. 

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘The trade union movement is fully behind the global action against the climate crisis; our planet’s future is at risk and now is the time for bold action. The work done by Greta Thunberg and school students around the world has been inspirational and now it’s time for the rest of us to make our voices heard. We urge universities and colleges to do whatever they can to enable their staff to get involved with Friday’s protests and other action.’