Francis Clarke
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francisclarke.bsky.social
Francis Clarke
@francisclarke.bsky.social
15 followers 8 following 7 posts
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francisclarke.bsky.social
So proud of my fellow members @uniteucu.bsky.social ❤️. Time for @ucu.org.uk to get back round the table with Unite UCU and settle this dispute #HandsOffMarie
uniteucu.bsky.social Unite UCU @uniteucu.bsky.social · Feb 26
🚨 FIFTH consecutive vote for industrial action 🚨

🔥 Two week ballot window
🔥 75% turnout
🔥 73% YES to strike action
🔥 81% YES to ASOS

Our members will not tolerate victimisation and won’t be intimidated.

UCU staff are not the enemy. It’s beyond time for the GS to talk to us.

#HandsOffMarie
February 27, 2026 at 10:15 AM
francisclarke.bsky.social
Great to see national @unitetheunion.bsky.social supporting @uniteucu.bsky.social #HandsOffMarie #HeartUnions
February 12, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Reposted by Francis Clarke
uniteucu.bsky.social
Unite against TU Victimisation

@Unitetheunion.bsky.social doesn't tolerate the victimisation of its reps by employers. Today our members in the North West are showing what solidarity looks like.

It's time UCU ended the victimisation of Marie, our Health & Safety Officer.

#Strike #HandsOffMarie
Unite members in the north west on a picket line while taking strike action to defend Marie, their H&S rep, who is being subject to trade union victimisation by our employer.
February 9, 2026 at 10:50 AM
francisclarke.bsky.social
Chuffed to get a chance to talk to kids from my local primary school on trade unions and my work as a caseworker for @ucu.org.uk. Best part was them forming a picket line and shouting their demands! 💪🪧 #HeartUnions
Set of four campaign placards with TUC Heart Unions branding and trade union demands
January 30, 2026 at 4:11 PM
francisclarke.bsky.social
As a proud former @ucu.org.uk @birminghamucu.bsky.social safety rep I know how scary it can be to stand up for workplace safety. I urge @drjogrady.bsky.social to work with @uniteucu.bsky.social @unitetheunion.bsky.social to resolve this case
uniteucu.bsky.social Unite UCU @uniteucu.bsky.social · Jan 30
📣 Hands off Marie!

Tell @drjogrady.bsky.social and @ucu.org.uk to stop victimising Unite UCU's safety rep.

✍️ [email protected]

#HandsOffMarie

#UniteTheUnion @unitetheunion.bsky.social
Photo of Marie, Unite UCU's health and safety rep, who is being victimised by her trade union employer
January 30, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Francis Clarke
uniteucu.bsky.social
Another 12 more UCU branches have signed (so far) today!

uniteucu.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/u...

We'd like to send special solidarity back to @ucukent.bsky.social and @ucugreenwich.bsky.social for their support following their own worrying news from this week.
We call on Jo Grady and UCU SMT to: • Enter negotiations with Unite UCU without preconditions. • Stop the threat of punitive deductions for ASOS - this breaches UCU and TUC policy and only serves to undermine all of us, not least those UCU members currently involved in legal test cases against punitive deductions after taking lawful industrial action. Signed, 25, no, 37 UCU branch committees (and counting)
September 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
francisclarke.bsky.social
Punitive deductions for lawful ASOS are wrong, whether it's a uni or a union threatening to impose them. Proud of my union @uniteucu.bsky.social for sticking together and focusing on positive resolution of dispute ♥️
uniteucu.bsky.social Unite UCU @uniteucu.bsky.social · Sep 12
Sometimes solutions are easy @drjogrady.bsky.social & @ucu.org.uk

Let’s sit down and talk without conditions or threats that damage everyone. It’s time to resolve this dispute.

Our statement, with support from the following branch committees:
We call on Jo Grady and UCU SMT to: • Enter negotiations with Unite UCU without preconditions. • Stop the threat of punitive deductions for ASOS - this breaches UCU and TUC policy and only serves to undermine all of us, not least those UCU members currently involved in legal test cases against punitive deductions after taking lawful industrial action. Signed, 25 UCU branch committees (and counting)
September 12, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Reposted by Francis Clarke
uniteucu.bsky.social
We are, and have always been, ready to negotiate - even when under attack.

Are you finally ready to talk meaningfully @ucu.org.uk ?

#StopTUVictimisation
Question... CAN YOU NAME AN EMPLOYER WHO: • threatens union officers with a disciplinary minutes before ACAS talks? • offers nothing concrete in said ACAS talks then walks away because the union won't agree to call off all strikes? • writes deeply inaccurate and inflammatory emails to all staff? • then issues public disinformation while threatening every union rep? ....Asking for a friend
May 2, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by Francis Clarke
uniteucu.bsky.social
🪧 STRIKE RALLY TODAY 🪧

Bring yourselves, bring your banners, bring your flags, bring your solidarity and, with the sun due to shine bright, bring your sunscreen ☀️☀️☀️ - health & safety: important to us if not to our employer!

So come and join us at noon outside UCU head office in London.
12-1pm, Thursday 1 May UCU head office (outside) Carlow Street London, NW1 7LH Join our strike rally as part of our Campaign for a Safe and Professional Workplace Culture
May 1, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Reposted by Francis Clarke
uniteucu.bsky.social
Inspiring. Our members in UCU’s Northern Region have created a video for #MayDay to show the support for our industrial action.

Huge solidarity back at @ducu.bsky.social for the message from their own picket line & also to every UCU branch currently facing massive fights.

youtu.be/vAZVL1ZFM5A?...
MayDay Solidarity video from Unite members in the Northern Region of UCU: on strike today (01/05/25)
YouTube video by jonmbryan
youtu.be
May 1, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Reposted by Francis Clarke
illdoitanyway.bsky.social
Happy #InternationalWorkersDay!

I am on strike with my union @bcu-ucu.bsky.social for jobs and professional respect! 🪧

#BCUstrike #May1
Me with placard reading on strike today ucu
May 1, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Reposted by Francis Clarke
uniteucu.bsky.social
Thanks for expressing solidarity with all striking workers.

Any chance of a shout out for our strike rally tomorrow? 🙏
12-1pm Thurs 1 May UCU head office (outside) Carlow Street London, NW1 7LH Join our strike rally as part of our Campaign for a Safe and Professional Workplace Culture
April 30, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Reposted by Francis Clarke
uniteucu.bsky.social
Why do we strike? We’ll let our members give you some reasons why.
“I was off sick with work-related stress. I started crying every time I sat at my desk and I developed insomnia. I was having suicidal thoughts- my family were so scared. The stress at UCU is systemic and a direct result of a chaotic organisation that isn't functioning- there is no plan, no vision, no functioning management structure." “ ...watching so many wonderful colleagues get sick and in some cases not come back has been the most painful part of this though. Hearing black colleagues accused of unprofessionalism, insubordination & aggression, for doing the same things their white colleagues do... and then repeated denial that this is racism." “This is an organisation that does not care about staff development, never mind wellbeing... I could disappear tomorrow and I don't think anyone would know."
April 9, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Reposted by Francis Clarke
uniteucu.bsky.social
… and in Birmingham …
Picketers holding Unite flags in front of UCU’s Birmingham office
April 8, 2025 at 1:51 PM
francisclarke.bsky.social
Thank you for your support. It means a lot to UCU staff.
illdoitanyway.bsky.social Rhiannon Lockley (she/her) @illdoitanyway.bsky.social · Apr 7
Solidarity. Trade unions exist to uphold and mobilise around principles of solidarity.
pjcrowther.bsky.social Peter Crowther @pjcrowther.bsky.social · Apr 7
#UCU members from across the West Midlands region stand in solidarity with @uniteucu.bsky.social. Union staff are a vital part of our movement and deserve respect and trust.
April 8, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Reposted by Francis Clarke
uniteucu.bsky.social
Out-of-office

We are not currently at work due to taking part in escalating strike action called by Unite, the trade union for UCU staff, over our Campaign for a Safe & Professional Workplace Culture. Our strikes this week run for 4 days from 7 to 10 April.

uniteucu.wordpress.com/2025/04/07/u...
UCU staff: on strike and needing your support
Dear UCU members, Out-of-officeWe are not currently at work due to taking part in escalating strike action called by Unite, the trade union for UCU staff, over our Campaign for a Safe and Professio…
uniteucu.wordpress.com
April 7, 2025 at 10:57 AM
francisclarke.bsky.social
Not an #AprilFoolsDay, sadly 😞
uniteucu.bsky.social Unite UCU @uniteucu.bsky.social · Mar 31
Our employer is editing our members’ out-of-office replies to remove reference to our strike action. They are choosing to censor us rather than talk to us.
Unite UCU’s suggested out-of-office wording for strike days overlaid with a ‘CENSORED by our trade union employer ’ stamp. “What out-of-office message should we use on strike days? We suggest all members use the following wording on strike days: I am not currently at work due to taking part in escalating strike action called by Unite, the trade union for UCU staff, over our Campaign for a Safe and Professional Workplace Culture.” ON STRIKE Thursday 28 - Friday 29 March Monday 31 March - Wednesday 2 April Monday 7 - Thursday 10 April Monday 14 - Wednesday 16 April Wednesday 23 - Friday 25 April Monday 28 - Friday 2 May
April 1, 2025 at 8:29 AM