We’re writing to urge you to sign the petition below against the completely unacceptable 50% rise in UH parking charges from 1 August (and 5% rise every year till 2030). All three unions – UCU, Unison and Herts SU – are fundamentally opposed to this rise. All three are supporting this petition. And all three are demanding that the rise be reversed. Our Unison colleagues are particularly affected as they are the lowest paid staff and they have to be on campus daily. Even if you’re not affected, please consider signing out of solidarity with our professional colleagues. To sign the petition, scan the QR code below by opening your mobile phone's camera app, point it at the QR code until it comes into scope and the app should automatically recognise it. A notification will appear, which you can tap to open the link which takes you to the Unison webpage where you can sign the petition. Please do forward the petition to as many non-members as possible. It’s also an opportunity to encourage them to join UCU! A pdf of the petition is also attached if you’d like to forward it separately. In solidarity Dragan Plavsic Secretary On behalf of the branch committee
Local News

Parking Charge hike – petition reaches over 1000 signatures

Katrina Navickas

Petition surpasses 1000 signatures in response to University of Hertfordshire’s unprecedented 50% campus parking charge rise

 

A rising wave of frustration has swept through the University of Hertfordshire community as more than 1000 staff, students and supporters have signed a petition calling on it to reverse its recent 50% increase in campus parking charges.

 

On 1 August, the annual cost of a parking permit rose from £300 to £450 and the daily cost from £2 to £3. The University has also confirmed that charges will continue to rise by an extra 5% every year until 2030.

 

This sudden and unprecedented increase has sparked widespread resentment, particularly among lower-paid employees, including cleaners and professional and security staff, who are required to be on campus daily and have limited alternatives for travel, especially if they also have caring responsibilities. The lowest paid staff get just £24,685.

 

Students balancing work, commuting and academic workloads have also voiced strong opposition to the increased financial burden. Many argue the decision contradicts the University’s public commitments to supporting inclusion, wellbeing and access to education.

 

Campaign organisers also note these rises come at a time when the University holds cash of £104.5 million. They argue the University should protect staff and students from unnecessary hardship rather than imposing steep increases. Staff received a pay increase of only 1.4% this year, another real terms pay cut. Increasingly, staff and students are turning to food banks to make ends meet. Meanwhile, the University’s latest accounts show the departing Vice Chancellor was paid £384,000 last year and there was a 42% increase in the number of senior staff earning over £100,000.

 

A spokesperson for the petition said: “Surpassing 1,000 signatures demonstrates the strength of feeling across our community against what a member of staff described as a ‘monstrous decision’. One student asked: ‘The University claims to listen to students, but why isn’t it listening to us now?’ Staff and students are committed to their work and their studies, so we are calling on the University to listen and to implement fair, proportionate parking charges that reflect the pressures people are facing.”

 

The petition urges the University’s senior leadership team to reverse the 50% increase. Campaigners say they will continue gathering signatures and plan formally to present the petition to University management in the coming weeks.

 

The petition remains open here and continues to gather support.