Author Archives: Alan Smith

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

Branch agrees donation to UCU national fighting fund

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At today’s emergency general meeting (23 July 2020) the branch passed the following motions: Donation to the UCU Fighting Fund This branch agrees to: donate £15,000 from the branch to the national UCU Fighting Fund call on the UCU National Executive Committee to meet urgently to reconsider the interpretation of rules regarding the use of UCU reserves, in order to transfer an appropriate amount to the Fighting Fund call on the UCU NEC to agree a donation of 20% of national reserves to the Fighting Fund. Supporting lower paid members in the UCU levy If UCU does not raise enough money through branch and other donations and transfers to replenish the national Fighting Fund, a levy on members will go ahead, with the lowest paid members probably exempt.This branch agrees: that if a levy is imposed on any members earning under £30,000 per annum, or who are in particular difficulty, we will draw on our local Hardship Fund to pay the levy on behalf of those members who request it, through an appropriate mechanism determined by the local branch committee following discussion with HQ. to amend the rules of our local Hardship Fund (http://www.leedsucu.org.uk/local-hardship-fund/) to enable the Hardship Fund to … continue reading

Emergency meeting: branch donation to fighting fund

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When members of the branch met on 9 July we agreed to hold a further emergency general meeting to decide on making a donation to the national UCU fighting fund. The meeting will be: Thursday 23 July, 1pm – 2pm (video meeting – link in email from Ben Plumpton sent 14 July) Two motions from the branch committee have been circulated to members, along with the meeting link, in an email from branch president Ben Plumpton sent 14 July (4pm). One motion proposes a donation to the national fighting fund and the calling of a national executive committee to enable consideration of further donations from the union’s national reserves. The second proposes additional support for members of the branch. Context: You’ll be aware that the general secretary announced a levy of £15 per member to replenish the UCU fighting fund. There was a motion from committee to the branch general meeting on 9 July to propose that the branch should pay the levy for members earning under £30,000 per annum, and make representations to national UCU that the levy should be graduated according to income. Since that motion was written, the general secretary has sent out an appeal to members … continue reading