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Motions passed at general meeting 15 September

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At a general meeting on 15 September 2020 members voted to support the following motions: Emergency motion 1 – On-line teaching: health & safety and jobs This meeting notes: the call by our GS and iSAGE for all teaching to be held online UCU’s five tests pressures on all staff for face-to-face teaching that iSAGE/WHO believe social distancing, test, track and isolate and PPE are central in controlling pandemics a potential second wave of Covid-19 with high R-rates in Yorkshire/Humberside lives, health, safety and jobs should take priority over the financial ‘bottom line’ The University sits on over £70 million of reserves which must be utilised if necessary to meet demands during this period. This meeting requests: Leeds UCU to campaign for and negotiate agreements on: no face-to-face teaching and student support in at least the first semester of 2020/21 and continued into the second semester (to be reviewed in December 2020) other than where there are no other options, e.g. some practical work all on-line teaching to be accessible provision of IT and safe quiet study spaces for all students and staff as required continuing with high levels of support and training for staff in online teaching, and ensuring … continue reading

General meeting will decide branch response to covid-19 increase

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Emergency motions have been submitted to today’s general meeting in light of the increased covid-19 levels nationally and locally. The motions suggest how we should respond as a branch locally, and how the union should respond nationally. The meeting, which is for all members of the UCU University of Leeds branch, is 1pm – 2pm Tuesday 15 September. Meeting link and updated agenda including the emergency motions is in an email sent to all members by branch administrator Alan Smith today. [Edited 11.44 15 September as more than one motion now received]

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Scheduled general meetings for 2020-2021

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These are the meetings for all members of the UCU University of Leeds branch. These are our meetings where we make collective decisions as a branch. All members are entitled to submit motions to these meetings. Meeting link / location will be notified by email nearer the time. There may be additional extraordinary or emergency general meetings during the year at the request of members / committee / officers. For more about how to make branch policy and how to make general meetings work for everyone see ‘making UCU general meetings work better’ Motions should be sent to ucu@leeds.ac.uk. Tuesday 15 September 2020, 1pm – 2pm The deadline to submit motions to this meeting is 12pm on Tuesday 8 September. This meeting would be the last scheduled opportunity for the branch to agree: Any motions from the branch to the UCU special higher education sector conference on 30 September Any emergency motions or amendments to the motions from the branch to the postponed UCU Congress 2020 provisionally being held 28-30 October. Thursday 22 October, 12pm – 1pm The deadline to submit motions to this meeting is 12pm on Tuesday 6 October. This meeting would be the last scheduled opportunity for … continue reading

New UCU branch committee

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The new UCU University of Leeds branch committee starts its one-year term of office today. Committee officers President: Ben PlumptonVice-president: Chloe WallaceImmediate past president: Vicky BlakeTreasurer: Aisha WalkerHonorary secretary: Tim GoodallMembership officer: Alaric HallEquality officer: Dima Barakat ChamiCampaigns officer: Lesley McGorriganHealth and safety officer: Neil MaughanAnti-casualisation officer: vacancy Committee members Alan RoeAlexa Athelstan-PriceAndy WestBrendon NichollsGabriella AlbertiHugh HubbardJane HolgateJonathan HumeLata NarayanaswamyLaura Loyola HernandezMark Taylor-BattyMark WalkleyMegan PoveyPaul SteensonRachel WallsRuth HollidaySue Taplin Your department reps are listed at leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/departmental-representatives

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University lecture capture policy update

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Text of email sent to branch members by branch vice president Chloe Wallace on 23 July 2020 Dear members I’m writing in relation to the new Audio-Visual policy which was pushed through Senate on 1st July. The policy was presented to Senate and pushed through without a vote, despite a number of senators expressing reservations about it. This is an undemocratic process used by the University’s most important deliberative body about which we have grave concerns. As you know, UCU were consulted on this policy but we remain unable to agree it fully. Nevertheless, as a result of that consultation the University made some important changes to the policy which are welcome insofar as they improve the position and rights of staff in relation to recordings. As such, we wanted to draw your attention to elements of the policy which you can use to protect your work, as well as ones which we are keen to monitor. As far as control of your recordings are concerned, the policy is clear that the person being recorded is to be the content owner of the recording. This means that if your lecture is recorded, you should have control of it on the system and others … continue reading