Category Archives: Campaigns

Report from UCU higher education sector conferences 7 November

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Last Wednesday our elected Leeds delegates had a double dose of special Higher Education Sector Conferences (HESCs) which had been called to decide the next steps for UCU in two higher education disputes: Quick summary 1. The Pay and Equality dispute (Wednesday morning) It was decided to have a UK-wide re-ballot in the new year, highlighting the casualisation, equality, and workload aspects of the dispute alongside pay.  See more detailed Pay & Equality report below. 2. The Pensions dispute (specifically what next after the JEP report on USS) (Wednesday afternoon) After the Joint Expert Panel Report and recent revelations about USS valuation methods, the conference advised UCU to negotiate for no increase in our USS contributions and and end to so-called “de-risking”. See more detailed Pensions dispute report below. The Higher Education Committee of UCU and our union negotiators will take forward these decisions and advice. 1. Pay and Equality dispute The first HESC, on the Pay and Equality dispute, was quorate, which means that its decisions complement, confirm, or supersede those taken by the Higher Education Committee (HEC) the previous week.  Decisions taken at the meeting (including amendments) can be downloaded via this link: https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/9939/HESC-1118-pay-decisions/doc/UCU9057Nov18_-_Decisions.doc All the original motion texts can be seen … continue reading

EU Settlement Scheme pilot

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Please see advice below from UCU head office in relation to the extension of the pilot scheme: We have received queries this morning about the government plans to extend the EU Settlement Scheme pilot to EU citizens working in universities across the UK. The first stage of the pilot had previously been run in Liverpool institutions and health services. It is now being extended to all licensed UK higher education institutions. UCU has received mixed feedback from many members who have used the service so far. The purpose of the scheme is to enable EU citizens resident in the UK and their family members to obtain the necessary UK immigration status they require in order to live and work in the UK after the end of the planned EU exit implementation period. During this pilot phase, only those employed by HE institutions are eligible to apply, but the scheme will open to all eligible applicants including family members by 29 March 2019. Applicants to the pilot phase must be a resident EU passport holder or, if they are the non-EU family members of EU citizens, a biometric residence card. The fee to apply for settled status is: £65 if you’re … continue reading

National unity demonstration against fascism and racism: 17 November 2018

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UCU is supporting a national demonstration of unity in London on Saturday in response to concerns of increasing racism and xenophobia and the rise of the far right. The demonstration is called by Stand Up To Racism, Unite Against Fascism and Love Music Hate Racism and supported by the TUC. Locally there are coaches going from Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Sheffield and York. Members will be able to claim the coach fare back from UCU regional office (heyorkshire@ucu.org.uk) For details, including all the local coaches, see https://www.facebook.com/events/1887445111550804/ … continue reading

New branch anti-casualisation officer

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Arumina Bhattacharya has been elected (unopposed) as the branch anti-casualisation officer. The full list of members elected to the committee this year is at leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/committee-members-2018-2019 The list of department reps, including department anti casualisation, workload, postgraduate and health and safety reps is at leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/departmental-representatives If your department doesn’t yet have a UCU anti-casualisation rep, and you’d like to volunteer or nominate a colleague, contact ucu@leeds.ac.uk … continue reading

National Stress Awareness Day

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At the UCU stall at the National Stress Awareness Day event, 7 November in Parkinson Court, we asked people what they thought were the causes of stress for them. Many staff said job security was the main cause of stress, and many staff and students said money was the main cause of stress. The overwhelming majority of staff and students said workload is the main cause of stress. Most people who participated said workload causes them stress UCU is campaigning to reduce workloads, but we’re facing opposition from senior management, some of whom are very dismissive, claiming they don’t think there is a widespread problem. We’re setting up a new network of UCU workload reps to investigate and provide more evidence to show university senior management that they need to reduce workloads for the sake of staff health and safety and so we can all have a rewarding life outside of work.  Find out who your UCU workload rep is, and, if there isn’t one, discuss with colleagues who would be a good UCU workload rep for your area: leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/departmental-representatives If your workload is too high and you would like support from UCU to try to reduce it, contact ucu@leeds.ac.uk to … continue reading