Mark Pendleton
@markpendleton.bsky.social
Historian (mostly of Japan) and trade unionist (mostly in UCU). Also into queer stuff. Uk-wide elected HE rep - UCU NEC. He/him
Reposted by Mark Pendleton
Council is hiding behind locked doors with security guards blocking corridors but they can't escape from the anger of over 200 staff and students condemning management's incompetence and protesting course closures and redundancies.
Who is the university? We are!!
@uonucu.bsky.social
Who is the university? We are!!
@uonucu.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Council is hiding behind locked doors with security guards blocking corridors but they can't escape from the anger of over 200 staff and students condemning management's incompetence and protesting course closures and redundancies.
Who is the university? We are!!
@uonucu.bsky.social
Who is the university? We are!!
@uonucu.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Pendleton
"A system built on specialisation, efficiency", that right there is the death knell for the current university system in the UK, if (big if) government pushes it through. They actively don't want HE to grow, they will intervene, apparently, to help it shrink.
per this morning's education committee.
per this morning's education committee.
November 25, 2025 at 10:06 AM
"A system built on specialisation, efficiency", that right there is the death knell for the current university system in the UK, if (big if) government pushes it through. They actively don't want HE to grow, they will intervene, apparently, to help it shrink.
per this morning's education committee.
per this morning's education committee.
Day six going strong at the Jessop West picke, joined by today’s running picket! Sun’s out too so at least we’re not tooooo cold @sheffielducu.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Day six going strong at the Jessop West picke, joined by today’s running picket! Sun’s out too so at least we’re not tooooo cold @sheffielducu.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Pendleton
Staff are united against course closures.
Students are united against course closures.
Community members are united against course closures.
When will this university listen?
Students are united against course closures.
Community members are united against course closures.
When will this university listen?
Nottinghamshire MPs have written to @uniofnottingham.bsky.social, urging the university to reconsider proposed course suspensions and potential closures, which would significantly impact staff, students, and our wider city and county.
November 25, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Staff are united against course closures.
Students are united against course closures.
Community members are united against course closures.
When will this university listen?
Students are united against course closures.
Community members are united against course closures.
When will this university listen?
The framing here is limited; language literacy provides many useful functions, including to help reduce conflict. But the diagnosis is not wrong. We are becoming a sad, little isolated island, with ever less meaningful ways of engaging with the world. To reverse this we need investment, not cuts.
Opinion: “More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries. We need universities like Nottingham to be pumping out Russian and Mandarin graduates each year, to work across Whitehall.”
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
November 25, 2025 at 8:18 AM
The framing here is limited; language literacy provides many useful functions, including to help reduce conflict. But the diagnosis is not wrong. We are becoming a sad, little isolated island, with ever less meaningful ways of engaging with the world. To reverse this we need investment, not cuts.
Plus the value of arts, humanities and social sciences is found in more than just their graduates’ contribution to companies
November 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Plus the value of arts, humanities and social sciences is found in more than just their graduates’ contribution to companies
I would have more faith in Lord Vallance’s words if his government wasn’t presiding over the sustained destruction of the humanities and social sciences across the UK through a mixture of overtly damaging policy and cluelessness.
‘We need to think about the value of arts, humanities & social sciences. Look at any of the successful companies & they are full of people with a mix of disciplines.’ Great to hear Lord Vallance the Science Minister talking about the importance of the full range of research for future UK prosperity
November 24, 2025 at 2:58 PM
I would have more faith in Lord Vallance’s words if his government wasn’t presiding over the sustained destruction of the humanities and social sciences across the UK through a mixture of overtly damaging policy and cluelessness.
Reposted by Mark Pendleton
Feels like a good time to remind people: pensions are deferred wages. Moving someone forcibly to a worse pension is wage theft. Always unjustifiable, but particularly appalling in the context of years and years of real-terms pay cuts. Why do they NEVER have any solution other than paying us less?
Please sign and share: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...
November 24, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Feels like a good time to remind people: pensions are deferred wages. Moving someone forcibly to a worse pension is wage theft. Always unjustifiable, but particularly appalling in the context of years and years of real-terms pay cuts. Why do they NEVER have any solution other than paying us less?
Reposted by Mark Pendleton
At an event in Nottingham. Nottingham Trent @jennywustenberg.bsky.social reminds us that as well as our sector as a whole, languages in particular are under attack. So important to remember this while attempting to conduct business as usual in academia.
November 24, 2025 at 9:24 AM
At an event in Nottingham. Nottingham Trent @jennywustenberg.bsky.social reminds us that as well as our sector as a whole, languages in particular are under attack. So important to remember this while attempting to conduct business as usual in academia.
Into week 2 of our strike action @sheffielducu.bsky.social as we fight for no compulsory redundancies and a pause to the programme of unjustified reviews and restructure. Donations from branches/orgs/individuals very welcome as we financially support members to stay out: tinyurl.com/yxrz3p5d
Donate to the Sheffield UCU Industrial Action Solidarity Fund
What is the Sheffield UCU Industrial Action Solidarity Fund, and how to contribute.
tinyurl.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Into week 2 of our strike action @sheffielducu.bsky.social as we fight for no compulsory redundancies and a pause to the programme of unjustified reviews and restructure. Donations from branches/orgs/individuals very welcome as we financially support members to stay out: tinyurl.com/yxrz3p5d
Reposted by Mark Pendleton
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...
Northumbria Pay and Pension Petition: Stop the Steal!
If Northumbria does this, other universities will too.
These cuts will harm thousands of people, their students, families, and their local communities now and into the future.
www.megaphone.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 12:11 PM
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...
Reposted by Mark Pendleton
Kathleen Stock has written an article against "abortion permissiveness". She claims abortion requires "justification" saying the state should limit "unacceptable decision-making" by women about their own bodies.
This is who anti-trans activists proclaim as the feminist thought leaders of our time.
This is who anti-trans activists proclaim as the feminist thought leaders of our time.
November 21, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Kathleen Stock has written an article against "abortion permissiveness". She claims abortion requires "justification" saying the state should limit "unacceptable decision-making" by women about their own bodies.
This is who anti-trans activists proclaim as the feminist thought leaders of our time.
This is who anti-trans activists proclaim as the feminist thought leaders of our time.
It can’t be an accident that this dropped on the eve of Trans Day of Remembrance. But today, like everyday, is for standing with our trans and non-binary siblings.
I’ll be at my home town vigil tonight in Manchester: 6:30pm, Sackville Gardens. Rug up and get down to your local one if you can. 🏳️⚧️
I’ll be at my home town vigil tonight in Manchester: 6:30pm, Sackville Gardens. Rug up and get down to your local one if you can. 🏳️⚧️
The core aim of the Terf movement - a tiny number of newspaper columnists who melted the brains of middle aged reactionaries - was always to encourage maximum public hostility against transgender people, and give them the impunity to act upon it.
November 20, 2025 at 8:47 AM
It can’t be an accident that this dropped on the eve of Trans Day of Remembrance. But today, like everyday, is for standing with our trans and non-binary siblings.
I’ll be at my home town vigil tonight in Manchester: 6:30pm, Sackville Gardens. Rug up and get down to your local one if you can. 🏳️⚧️
I’ll be at my home town vigil tonight in Manchester: 6:30pm, Sackville Gardens. Rug up and get down to your local one if you can. 🏳️⚧️
After 3 successful days of strike action, @sheffielducu.bsky.social members are back at work for a day before we go out again. We may be working today but are not mitigating our own actions! We have already brought management back to the negotiating table. Stay strong and we win! 💪
November 20, 2025 at 8:05 AM
After 3 successful days of strike action, @sheffielducu.bsky.social members are back at work for a day before we go out again. We may be working today but are not mitigating our own actions! We have already brought management back to the negotiating table. Stay strong and we win! 💪
Reposted by Mark Pendleton
We’re on our 3rd day of (v cold) strike today @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
HE is being dismantled by mgmt on eye watering salaries, whilst staff delivering teaching, research & admin are casualised, burnt out & forced out
Pls donate to our fighting fund if you can shorturl.at/EpeTe
HE is being dismantled by mgmt on eye watering salaries, whilst staff delivering teaching, research & admin are casualised, burnt out & forced out
Pls donate to our fighting fund if you can shorturl.at/EpeTe
Donate to the Sheffield UCU Industrial Action Solidarity Fund
What is the Sheffield UCU Industrial Action Solidarity Fund, and how to contribute.
shorturl.at
November 19, 2025 at 10:24 AM
We’re on our 3rd day of (v cold) strike today @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
HE is being dismantled by mgmt on eye watering salaries, whilst staff delivering teaching, research & admin are casualised, burnt out & forced out
Pls donate to our fighting fund if you can shorturl.at/EpeTe
HE is being dismantled by mgmt on eye watering salaries, whilst staff delivering teaching, research & admin are casualised, burnt out & forced out
Pls donate to our fighting fund if you can shorturl.at/EpeTe
She’s doing some more events this week as part of the We are Komachi project, including butoh dancer Yuko Kaseki and artists Sae Esashi and Tomoko Mori later this week. The programme is quite difficult to find/navigate but here’s a link to the Komachi project events: atm.mmu.ac.uk/event/komach...
Komachi Project performances - Asia Triennial Manchester (ATM)
18 Nov – 1pm | 19 Nov – 4pm | 20 Nov 4pm and 5pm – We Are Komachi is an interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together five female artists working across […]
atm.mmu.ac.uk
November 18, 2025 at 9:08 PM
She’s doing some more events this week as part of the We are Komachi project, including butoh dancer Yuko Kaseki and artists Sae Esashi and Tomoko Mori later this week. The programme is quite difficult to find/navigate but here’s a link to the Komachi project events: atm.mmu.ac.uk/event/komach...
What a privilege tonight to hear the iconic feminist poet Hiromi Itō, translator Jeffrey Angles and daughter, composer/sound artist Kanoko Nishi, as part of Asia Triennial Manchester. Their reading/performance of Killing Kanoko, with Kanoko herself accompanying, was mindblowingly powerful!
November 18, 2025 at 8:53 PM
What a privilege tonight to hear the iconic feminist poet Hiromi Itō, translator Jeffrey Angles and daughter, composer/sound artist Kanoko Nishi, as part of Asia Triennial Manchester. Their reading/performance of Killing Kanoko, with Kanoko herself accompanying, was mindblowingly powerful!
Reposted by Mark Pendleton
Over two decades ago, a Labour government repealed “Section 28” which aimed to prevent positive discussions about homosexuality and gay lives in schools. Now a Labour government pursues transphobia and erases trans and non-binary lives. Today’s political transphobia is basically recycled homophobia.
Twenty-two years ago today Section 28 was repealed.
But we're seeing history repeat itself as some in the media and in politics spread bigotry and misinformation about trans people.
1/8🧵
But we're seeing history repeat itself as some in the media and in politics spread bigotry and misinformation about trans people.
1/8🧵
November 18, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Over two decades ago, a Labour government repealed “Section 28” which aimed to prevent positive discussions about homosexuality and gay lives in schools. Now a Labour government pursues transphobia and erases trans and non-binary lives. Today’s political transphobia is basically recycled homophobia.
Reposted by Mark Pendleton
90% voted YES.
32 colleges over the line.
17 colleges already won pay awards.
This is a huge organising win for our FE members.
College bosses must work with us, staff deserve a fair deal, especially when many are paid £7k–£9k less than in sixth forms.
Next steps announced next week.
32 colleges over the line.
17 colleges already won pay awards.
This is a huge organising win for our FE members.
College bosses must work with us, staff deserve a fair deal, especially when many are paid £7k–£9k less than in sixth forms.
Next steps announced next week.
November 18, 2025 at 6:16 PM
90% voted YES.
32 colleges over the line.
17 colleges already won pay awards.
This is a huge organising win for our FE members.
College bosses must work with us, staff deserve a fair deal, especially when many are paid £7k–£9k less than in sixth forms.
Next steps announced next week.
32 colleges over the line.
17 colleges already won pay awards.
This is a huge organising win for our FE members.
College bosses must work with us, staff deserve a fair deal, especially when many are paid £7k–£9k less than in sixth forms.
Next steps announced next week.
Massive props to @ucu.org.uk FE branches in England, 32 of which have got over the line in nationally-coordinated industrial action ballots ! Another 17 had already struck local deals. A #newdealforFE staff is well past due! www.ucu.org.uk/article/1426...
Staff at 32 colleges vote to strike over low pay
UCU called on college bosses to begin negotiating after its members voted to strike over low pay and poor working conditions.
www.ucu.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Massive props to @ucu.org.uk FE branches in England, 32 of which have got over the line in nationally-coordinated industrial action ballots ! Another 17 had already struck local deals. A #newdealforFE staff is well past due! www.ucu.org.uk/article/1426...
Reposted by Mark Pendleton
@sheffielducu.bsky.social & @ucuhallam.bsky.social joint rally today. Please, keep supporting the pickets! Protect the dignity of #highereducation! @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social @nowthenmag.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 4:49 PM
@sheffielducu.bsky.social & @ucuhallam.bsky.social joint rally today. Please, keep supporting the pickets! Protect the dignity of #highereducation! @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social @nowthenmag.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Pendleton
Getting ready for the #picket line! And I won't miss our rally with @sheffielducu.bsky.social & @ucuhallam.bsky.social (12.30 Barkers Pool). All that we ask is to get on with our work without being subjected to continuous harassment. @ucu.org.uk #ucustrike #Sheffield www.ucu.org.uk/article/1423...
Mass strikes to hit University of Sheffield & Sheffield Hallam in November and December over job cuts
A combined 28 days of strike action will hit the city of Sheffield over the next two months in rows over job cuts at Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam universities, UCU announced today.
www.ucu.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Getting ready for the #picket line! And I won't miss our rally with @sheffielducu.bsky.social & @ucuhallam.bsky.social (12.30 Barkers Pool). All that we ask is to get on with our work without being subjected to continuous harassment. @ucu.org.uk #ucustrike #Sheffield www.ucu.org.uk/article/1423...
Been a while since the pink beanie came out. Sheffield pickets here we come.
Our message to management is simple: No redundancies. Stop the incessant restructures. Listen to your staff. There is no University of Sheffield without us.
Our message to management is simple: No redundancies. Stop the incessant restructures. Listen to your staff. There is no University of Sheffield without us.
November 17, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Been a while since the pink beanie came out. Sheffield pickets here we come.
Our message to management is simple: No redundancies. Stop the incessant restructures. Listen to your staff. There is no University of Sheffield without us.
Our message to management is simple: No redundancies. Stop the incessant restructures. Listen to your staff. There is no University of Sheffield without us.
Reposted by Mark Pendleton
JOINT RALLY ANNOUNCEMENT:
Join us on Monday 17th November, 12:30PM @ Bakers Pool, Sheffield. For a joint rally with Uni of Sheffield. There will be speakers from both branches and we will hear from Dave Pike, TUC Regional Secretary, NE Yorkshire and Humber.
Join us on Monday 17th November, 12:30PM @ Bakers Pool, Sheffield. For a joint rally with Uni of Sheffield. There will be speakers from both branches and we will hear from Dave Pike, TUC Regional Secretary, NE Yorkshire and Humber.
November 14, 2025 at 2:48 PM
JOINT RALLY ANNOUNCEMENT:
Join us on Monday 17th November, 12:30PM @ Bakers Pool, Sheffield. For a joint rally with Uni of Sheffield. There will be speakers from both branches and we will hear from Dave Pike, TUC Regional Secretary, NE Yorkshire and Humber.
Join us on Monday 17th November, 12:30PM @ Bakers Pool, Sheffield. For a joint rally with Uni of Sheffield. There will be speakers from both branches and we will hear from Dave Pike, TUC Regional Secretary, NE Yorkshire and Humber.
Picket lines across campus are from 8:30 and we’ll be joining @ucuhallam.bsky.social, who are also on strike, at a joint rally at Barker’s Pool at 12:30pm. Hope to see some of you there!
November 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Picket lines across campus are from 8:30 and we’ll be joining @ucuhallam.bsky.social, who are also on strike, at a joint rally at Barker’s Pool at 12:30pm. Hope to see some of you there!