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New UCU committee elected for 2019-2020 academic year

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At the UCU University of Leeds branch annual general meeting 16 May 2019 members voted to elect the following members for the branch committee for the academic year 2019-2020. The current committee remains in post until 31 July. The new committee takes over from 1 August. President: Ben Plumpton Vice-president: Chloe Wallace Immediate past president: Vicky Blake Treasurer: Jonathan Saha Honorary secretary: Tim Goodall Membership officer: Alaric Hall Equality officer: Dima Chami Campaigns officer: Lesley McGorrigan Health and safety officer: Neil Maughan Anti-casualisation officer: Arunima Bhattacharya Ordinary committee members: Aisha WalkerAlan RoeAndi RylandsAndrew MallinsonAndy WestBrendon NichollsGabriella AlbertiHugh HubbardKate HardyLata NarayanaswamyLaura Loyola HernandezMark Taylor-BattyMark WalkleyMegan PoveyPaul SteensonRachel WallsSimon Hewitt … continue reading

USS pensions – emergency motion passed at AGM

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Members of UCU University of Leeds branch passed the following emergency motion at our AGM on 16 May 2019: This branch notes that: The 2018 USS dispute was suspended with an agreement that Defined Benefit pensions should not be scrapped and that a Joint Expert Panel (JEP) should be set up to reconsider the USS valuation.This Joint Expert Panel reported in September 2018 (see http://www.ussjep.org.uk/report-of-the-joint-expert-panel/) and largely vindicated the UCU position on the USS valuation.The University of Leeds broadly supported the JEP recommendations, including the levels of contributions proposed. (see https://www.leeds.ac.uk/forstaff/download/downloads/id/1536/uss_leeds_response_to_uuk_consultation_re_jep_october_2018)To Maintain current benefits, USS have already imposed a default increase in our contributions from 8% of salary to 8.8% in April 2019, with a further increase coming in October if an agreement on valuations cannot be reached. If the JEP recommendations were implemented in full, there would be no need for further contribution increases or benefit reductions.The position of UCU nationally is ‘No Detriment’ i.e. that there should be no further increases to our pension contributions and no reductions to our pension benefits.The USS board issued a statement on 9th May (see https://www.uss.co.uk/how-uss-is-run/2018-valuation/2018-valuation-updates/9-may-2019) saying they are now consulting with university employers about three new options that they have identified, … continue reading

Minutes of general meeting 2 May 2019

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Thursday 2 May 2019, 1pm – 2pm Roger Stevens lecture theatre 4 (8.04) Minutes Agreed Amendments to motions on the UCU congress agenda Amendment to EQ17 Gender Identity after the 2018 Gender Recognition Act (GRA) consultation Line 3: At the end of the first sentence add ‘and modern evidence indicates that neither are binary’. At the end of the last sentence add ‘and formal recognition of non-binary status for data gathering purposes.’ Motion carried. Amendment to EQ 18 Respectful dialogue on gender/gender diversity in Congress notes 1, delete from ‘potentially … practices’, add after ‘have’; ‘the potential to significantly improve trans people’s lives’.in 3. insert ‘trans and other’ between ‘feminist’ and ‘scholars’.In Congress believes a. add after ‘equality’: ‘under the Equality Act 2010 and other legislation, and supports proposed changes to the 2004 GRA.’in Congress believes c. delete ‘potential conflicts of’, insert ‘the’ before ‘rights’, and insert ‘of oppressed groups’ after ‘rights’.In ‘Congress calls on UCU to ii; add ‘and trans people’ after ‘academics’.In final sentence, add ‘underpinned by solidarity with all oppressed groups and promote unity in action of women and trans people in the face of attacks on either group.’ Motion carried. Amendment to HE7 UCU must remain … continue reading

Members call on senior management to withdraw controversial new plan for appointing heads of school

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UCU members agreed at our general meeting on Thursday 2 May to ask the university to withdraw the new process, which will see heads of school appointed by the university senior management without appropriate consultation with staff. UCU members argue the head of school role is about the academic direction of the school which is why, in most schools, academic staff are involved in the recruitment process and are able to review and ask questions about the research and plans of applicants. The tradition – enshrined in many school constitutions – of academic staff having a major role in choosing which of their colleagues will lead the school for the next three to five years is one which helps to create a collegial environment, and helps to prevent the head of school role being primarily about delivering the managerial decisions of the University Executive Group (“UEG”). Appointing managers to toe the line UCU has raised our concerns with the university via HR in the first instance, and we will raise it in the next formal meeting with university management (the Joint Committee of the University and UCU, or “JCUU”) on 20 May. HR have claimed that the new policy is … continue reading