Category Archives: Campaigns

Newsletter – summer 2019

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University of Leeds University & College Union USS Pensions There seems to be no comfortable end in sight for the USS dispute. USS have proposed three options as solutions to the ongoing valuation, all of which mean members and employers paying more, and none of which implement the Joint Expert Panel’s recommendations. Employers prefer option 3 which would increase member contributions to 9.6% with possible imposed additional increases after later valuations. It has recently been revealed, after whistleblowing from a USS trustee, that USS misled employers and members about the 2018 valuation, claiming wrongly that The Pensions Regulator had said the JEP recommendations would be too risky. UCU believes we can’t trust these people any longer, has called for the resignation of USS CEO Bill Galvin, and is exploring the possibility of legal action against the USS Trustee Board. We reject any members’ contribution increases, we call on UUK to pick up any imposed extra costs, and we plan to ballot on industrial action in September if they do not agree. See leedsucu.org.uk/pensions What’s happening on pay? 2019 pay negotiations with the employers began in early May and the Universities & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) offered 1.8% (increased to 3.65% … 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

Workers’ Memorial Day

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Every 11 seconds, a person dies because of the dangerous conditions in which they work. On Workers’ Memorial Day, every 28 April, trade union members across the world remember the dead and remind ourselves why we fight hard for the health and safety of people at work. People who go to work should come home again. The theme of Workers’ Memorial Day this year is cancers caused by work. There will be a memorial wreath laying today (Monday 29 April) 12.55pm, at the workers’ memorial tree in St George’s field. … continue reading

University of Leeds staff supporting the Youth Climate Strike in Leeds – Friday 12th April

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Youth climate strike, Leeds More than 30 climate researchers from the Priestley Centre at the University Leeds attended one of the previous two youth strikes for climate that took place in Leeds in March. At each event they took the opportunity to talk to young people and Leeds residents about the climate crisis, and answered a range of questions. Answers to some of them are online here. We’re certain that our climate researchers are not the only ones who believe the youth are doing brilliant things by striking for the climate. We’ve spoken to some of the organisers in Leeds (our own students) for the next climate strike taking place 11am-2pm Friday 12th April, and we are calling on University staff to come along to show their support. The time is now to take action to avoid climate breakdown. It is crucial that staff at the university have a voice and take a stance in this universal human life threatening issue. The children are leading the way. Let’s go and show them that they are right, and that they have our support. UCU is part of a wider regional network of unions concerned about the climate crisis and searching for … continue reading

Update on anti-casualisation negotiations

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The first anti-casualisation meeting with the university HR team took place yesterday. Our concerns were listened to and we provided information/clarification on questions arising from the official claim we had submitted earlier this year. You can read the claim here: leedsucu.org.uk/ucu-anti-casualisation-claim-submitted-to-university-of-leeds The university has agreed to identify parameters they think they can align with to publish a joint statement on casualisation. We anticipate formal time-limited negotiations to begin shortly but further steps in this regard require active engagement from our casualised members. We are putting together a survey to find out the details and extent of the casualisation problem at Leeds and also planning towards a meeting of all casualised staff that will soon be announced. … continue reading