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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh
@marcwelsh.bsky.social
170 followers 210 following 370 posts
Eclectic, inert, nerdish, a collection of spare parts. Niche Doctor Who references a forte. Masquerades as an academic with a political bent, tho mostly moans about how and why the current system doesn't work. Once wrote something something resilience.
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · 4h
Hmmn. UK media discovers story about the precariousness of UK Higher Education whilst the government sticks its fingers in its ears and goes nyah nyah nothing to see here shocker.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thousands more university jobs cut as financial crisis deepens
University workers will vote on national strike action this month over a 1.4% pay offer made in the summer.
www.bbc.co.uk
Reposted by Marc Welsh
antizionistjew.bsky.social
Resist 🕎🍉 @antizionistjew.bsky.social · 9d
"I have no regrets at all"

Irish comedian Tadhg Hickey sends a message from the Global Sumud Flotilla.
18 240 580
Reposted by Marc Welsh
monkemma.bsky.social
Emma Monk @monkemma.bsky.social · 12d
So to recap:

🟣Farage made Gill Welsh UKIP leader

🟣Gill left UKIP 2 days after Farage and has admitted to his first count of Russian bribery THE SAME DAY

💎Gill joined Brexit party and re-elected to Brexit Party during the bribes period

💎Gill made Welsh Reform UK leader

11/14
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Reposted by Marc Welsh
mikegalsworthy.bsky.social
Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 14d
Thanks to everyone who is chipping into this tonight.

MSM is letting us all down. We’re growing the authentic news alternative… from the bottom up.

See: chuffed.org/project/byli...
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Reposted by Marc Welsh
seanjones.org
Sean Jones KC @seanjones.org · 24d
TLDR: Make racism shameful again. While you’re at it add fascism too.
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · 24d
Soooo. What's the best KPop: Demon Hunters song?

And why is it Free.

Asking for a friend.
a cartoon character with purple hair and a braid
ALT: a cartoon character with purple hair and a braid
media.tenor.com
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Reposted by Marc Welsh
will-davies.bsky.social
Will Davies @will-davies.bsky.social · 26d
Feels like now would be a perfect time for a successor to Rock Against Racism, not as a reaction or a ‘counter protest’ but an affirmation of something good
jdportes.bsky.social
Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 26d
.but it should not be beyond capacity of civil society to organise against what is happening now - through demonstrations, public campaigns, etc. Not just on Bluesky.

[Rock Against Racism emerged at the time of economic crisis and an unpopular Labour govt, after all.]

[3/3]
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Reposted by Marc Welsh
chrischirp.bsky.social
Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 26d
Some more direct incitement from Musk

This man burned his sheep's clothing a long time ago and is now fully leaning into his right wing white supremacist nationalism
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Reposted by Marc Welsh
wokestudies.bsky.social
Dr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · 26d
Any Conference Questions?
#edchat #HigherEd #academia
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · 27d
This is a readable & logical analysis of the straits we face from @matthewbarnard.phd . There are no quick fixes, there is a fundamental reframing & rethinking of what higher education 'is' required to move the political dial. Question is who is leading that?

blog.matthewbarnard.phd/this-governm...
This Government, This Crisis.
Higher Education funding is in crisis and the present Labour government is not making comforting noises. Until recently, the Government has been mostly silent on Higher Education, even their manifesto...
blog.matthewbarnard.phd
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · Sep 10
I can only say O word so many times, but HE is already distorted and dominated by the interests of a small number of institutions. The very system and crisis situation it has created is a major driver for oligopoly in HE.
rotster.bsky.social
Rob 🏳️‍🌈 @rotster.bsky.social · Sep 10
And so it begins.

My prediction:

1) ‘back-office efficiencies’ (aka cull of professional services and academic-related staff inc programme admin, student support, teaching/learning support / digital learning support /libraries / professional development etc)

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Greenwich and Kent announce merger to form 'super-university'
Universities are facing ongoing financial worries, with the regulator saying other mergers could follow.
www.bbc.co.uk
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · Sep 10
The more watertight our dispute and construction of the ballot the less opportunity for either vexatious or even legitimate opposition to it in the courts. Partic important in context of ensuring statutory immunity.
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · Sep 10
That's not the question or suggestion Jo. Employers have and will use legal remedy if they believe they have grounds to do so, irrespective of whether we believe something to be lawful. If we have legal advice an employer can't challenge on grounds stated above then that's good news!
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · Sep 10
Hmmn. GMB have said they are NOT balloting - though our comms say they are (maybe we know something the GMB members don't?). I believe Unison have a policy of disaggregated ballots. And Unite haven't said they will aggregate yet. Might be some hyperbole at play here!
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · Sep 10
Thanks Bijan.
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · Sep 9
I appreciate you don't and don't claim to speak for HEC, I'm throwing these out there as further questions that, if we are to follow this course, might merit consideration in the discourse to follow.
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · Sep 9
On the question of timing. From what I can tell the earliest IA can occur is 15th Dec. And the mandate would run out 1st June.

So the mandate runs out before marking, exam boards, and graduation for most unis. Simpler surely to plan backwards - when do we need a mandate to achieve most impact?
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · Sep 9
I'm assuming HEC have sought legal advice prior to making a decision, or will do so, but so will UUK.

Equally for any campaign to mobilise support HEC members need to envision and tell us what such an agreement looks like. I struggle to imagine one, but it must have been discussed at HEC.
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · Sep 9
...I do worry about example you cite (no job losses, pay). Or branches that have been 'done to' PRIOR to IA.

IA is always against OUR employer, not UCEA.

Is there not a risk an employer NOT proposing cuts seeks a temporary injunction on a national ballot applied to its employees on this basis?
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · Sep 9
I think this is, again, a useful set of observations and questions.

A further one is has legal advice been sought re: national agreement "to avoid redundancies, course closures, and cuts to academic disciplines across the sector"?

Beyond the obvious (it's not part of New JNCHES or UCEA)...
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · Sep 9
This is basically the plot of Grace and Frankie distilled into three images.
sturdyalex.bsky.social
Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · Sep 9
I don't think, even in 1946, that the creators of this ad could have been completely unaware.
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Reposted by Marc Welsh
dkernohan.bsky.social
David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · Sep 8
UCU will be balloting for strike action over pay - because clearly HEC have identified a large pot of money that providers who are currently laying off vast numbers of staff and closing courses could be using to sweeten the pay offer.
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · Sep 8
"paves the way" - almost as though it's the goal.

HEC can vote for whatever it wants but the celebratory "yay!! It's a strike" statement is all a bit ... Uhm. Well. ... 6th form.

UCU - UK wide ballot paves way for national strike action across university campuses www.ucu.org.uk/article/1416...
UK wide ballot paves way for national strike action across university campuses
Over 65,000 University and College Union (UCU) members working in universities across the UK will be balloted for strike action after employers refused to budge from their 'offer' of 1.4%, which repre...
www.ucu.org.uk
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Reposted by Marc Welsh
ucuaber.bsky.social
UCU Aberystwyth @ucuaber.bsky.social · Sep 8
Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting of Aberystwyth UCU Branch

When? – Tuesday 16th, 1pm

Where? – D5 Hugh Owen

Why? – Update members on developments, a new phase in the Professional Services Review consultation process and to consider actions
Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting of Aberystwyth UCU Branch When? – Tuesday 16th, 1pm Where? – D5 Hugh Owen
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marcwelsh.bsky.social
Marc Welsh @marcwelsh.bsky.social · Sep 7
Farage November 2024 - I've "just exchanged contracts on the house. I've bought a house in Clacton"

Farage August 2025 - "My partner bought it. So what."
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