Referendum Case

A referendum is a cross campus vote of all UUSU members including students and postgraduate researchers. This gives all UUSU members an equal say in this important decision.

Should UUSU remain affiliated with the National Union of Students – Union of Students in Ireland (NUS-USI)?

Should UUSU remain affiliated with the National Union of Students – Union of Students in Ireland (NUS-USI)? - The 'Yes' case

Referenda Home

Vote YES to NUS-USI

 

NUS-USI is your national union representing all university and

college students in Northern Ireland.

 

Together we achieve national change for students.

 

3 for the price of 1! Being a member of NUS-USI you get to be a part of 3 national unions in Northern Ireland, UK (NUS) and Ireland (USI).

 

Over the last 2 years alone, with students’ unions and students working together we had some BIG WINS for students.

 

In Northern Ireland:

  • Over £40 million in support for students - #StudentsDeserveBetter campaign
  • £500 Covid Disruption Grants
  • NI Assembly debate on Supporting Students
  • £2000 payments to Health & Social Care students - Student Healthcare Heros campaign
  • Students included in the NI Mental Health Strategy
  • Period Poverty pilots at uni’s and colleges
  • Access to Erasmus for NI students
  • Protest at Stormont on student housing crisis - ‘No Keys No Degrees campaign’

 

We make noise on student issues

  • #StudentDeservesBetter trending
  • 1 million impressions of #studenthousehorrorstories
  • Over 12,000 campaign actions engaging 8000 supporters
  • Regular feature on Belfast Live
  • Doubled our media coverage and reach

 

In the UK, NUS have:

  • Put £800m back into students’ pockets via rent wins and student support funds.
  • U-turn on A-Level and BTEC grades
  • Mass covid testing to get students home for Christmas.  
  • Made the government and authorities concede that students not receiving adequate education are eligible for refunds or re-dos.
  • Widespread no detriment policies

 

In Ireland, USI have:

  • Highlighted the horrific living conditions students were in by sleeping outside the Dáil with No Keys No Degrees campaign, securing national media coverage and trending #1 that day.
  • Set the terms of references of the SUSI review.
  • USI Accommodation Bill to support student renters. Allowing students to pay rent on a monthly basis, rather than needing the full amount up front. It also allows the student to end the contract early due to COVID-19 circumstances.
  • Secured funding from the Department to provide free antigen tests on campuses.
  • We got the Student Contribution Charge back on the agenda with a 33% decrease in Budget 2023.

 

The Referendum            

 

On 24th & 25th March you decide if Ulster University’s Students’ Union remain part of NUS-USI. Please use your vote to say YES to NUS-USI and let us keep campaigning and winning for students.

 

You can only be members of the National Union of Students (NUS) in the UK and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) if you are a member of NUS-USI.

 

Right side of history

 

This year NUS-USI turns 50! That’s 50 years of students making change. And we have a lot to celebrate…  

 

  • NUS-USI was set up to promote student unity across the sectarian divide. Established under a unique arrangement where the national unions in the UK (NUS) and Ireland (USI) jointly organised in Northern Ireland. A blueprint for the Good Friday Agreement, 26 years later.
     
  • In 2012 the Westminster government raised tuition fees to £9000, and scrapped Educational Maintenance Allowance in England. But the student movement in Northern Ireland came together and fought these proposals. We managed to keep tuition fees low and we kept Educational Maintenance Allowance for 16 to 19 year olds.  
     
  • NUS-USI played a key role in the movements to bring in marriage equality and decriminalise abortion. NUS-USI has sat on the Love Equality coalition since 2016 which campaigned for same-sex marriage. Successive liberation officers have campaigned for improved abortion access, and in 2018 launched the #TrustUs campaign calling for the decriminalisation of abortion.  
     
  • Until 2016 postgraduate students in Northern Ireland had no access to any form of student finance to help with the cost of tuition fees or living costs. NUS-USI campaigned for these students to be supported through their education which led to the introduction of a £5500 loan for postgraduate courses. NUS-USI continues to campaign for further support for postgraduate students and in 2021 supported the Fund our Postgrads campaign which called for improved financial support.  

 

Working together today!

 

History shows us how powerful we can be when we work together.

 

Let’s keep winning for students.

 

Vote Yes to NUS-USI

 

Find out more about our campaigns at nus-usi.org

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