LSE UCU Homepage ↗
About the UCU
The University and College Union (UCU) represents more than 120,000 academics, lecturers, trainers, instructors, researchers, managers, administrators, computer staff, librarians and postgraduates in universities, colleges, prisons, adult education and training organisations across the UK. UCU is the largest post-school union in the world: a force working for educators and education that employers and the government cannot ignore.
We negotiate salaries and conditions of employment for our members, as well as seek to represent their views on professional matters affecting all aspects of higher education.
What we do at LSE UCU
The LSE UCU branch negotiates directly with LSE management on all matters which affect the terms and conditions of employment of LSE staff and on the associated policies and procedures. Together with our colleagues in UNISON and Unite, we represent academic, research and professional services staff across the LSE, including staff on fixed-term and hourly-paid contracts and PhD students.
We also provide individual and collective support for colleagues experiencing problems in the workplace, and requiring help, advice and representation. We treat all matters in the strictest confidence and in accordance with GDPR and the Data Protection Act, 2018.
LSE UCU Committee for the 2025-2026 academic year
- Chair: Ian Higham
- Vice Chair: Bryan W Roberts
- Secretary: Raphael Susewind (ucu.secretary@lse.ac.uk)
- Treasurer: Tania Burchardt
- Membership Secretary: Peter Skrandies (ucu.membership@lse.ac.uk)
- Anti-Casualisation Officers: William Byrd
- PSS Officer: Jo Taplin-Green
- Equalities Officer: Julia Corwin
- Ordinary branch committee members: Fenella Cannell, Rohit Dasgupta, Alex Frankovitch, Remco Heesen, Kate Meagher, Nico Rosetti, Isabel Shutes, Fran Tonkiss
The branch committee consists of elected officers, elected ordinary committee members, and co-opted ordinary committee members. Our branch committee members, reps and case workers are all volunteers who give their own time for the benefit of members, and there is often more work than we can handle. LSE UCU Reps can also claim paid time off for union duties. If you want to get involved, contribute to a campaign or become a branch rep, get in touch with us at ucu.secretary@lse.ac.uk or come along to one of our branch meetings.
How to join
You can join UCU online. Choosing London School of Economics and Political Science as your workplace will automatically affiliate you with our branch. Existing UCU members of UCU who have joined LSE can affiliate themselves with our branch by updating their details on MyUCU.