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Category Archives: Equality

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Pay + Equality: what next locally + nationally

Posted on 22 October 2018 by Alan Smith29 October 2018

Text of email from Branch President Vicky Blake Dear Members, Thank you to everyone who voted in the Pay and Equality Ballot, and all who helped us to get the vote out. As you will see from Matt Waddup’s email that has just gone out to members nationally, our historically high turnout in this postal ballot on pay and equality was not quite enough to break the 50% threshold set by the (anti-)Trade Union Act 2016. In this email: • Our result • What next in the pay and equality dispute • Local campaigning and action on gender pay and casualisation Our result Prior to 2016, we would be celebrating this turnout, and this result. At Leeds, members voted strongly for strike action (69.8%) and action short of a strike (77.7%). This government’s anti-trade union legislation has denied us our right to withdraw our labour despite our turnout of 49.2%. We only needed 15 more votes to break the threshold. (You may wish to note that, while advocating the 50% threshold’s introduction, Boris Johnson was in post as London Mayor having achieved… 31.8% turnout in his election.) What next? We remain in dispute over the joint unions’ pay and equality claim. … continue reading

Posted in Anticasualisation, Campaigns, Dispute, Equality, Gender equality, Gender pay gap, Pay, Postgraduate, Workload

Why you really do need to vote – from a reluctant striker

Posted on 9 October 2018 by Alan Smith9 October 2018

Chloe and colleagues outside the School of Law during the USS pension strike A personal post from new UCU committee member Chloe Wallace When I look back over our strike action in February and March, I have a lot of good memories: standing with friends old and new; the support of my colleagues and students; the feeling of empowerment and hope for the future. But all in all, it wasn’t much fun. Quite apart from the snow, the rain, and the pay deduction, there was disruption to the job I love and the students I’m committed to, anxiety in such an uncertain situation, and an ever-present feeling of guilt. When it was over, I breathed a sigh of relief; back to normal at least for a while.  So my heart sank when it became clear that we would have to ballot on striking yet again for a fairer deal on equality, casualization and pay. We, individually and collectively, have too much to do, and university staff and students don’t deserve more disruption after what we dealt with this year. We talked about fairness, equality and casualisation on the pickets and on #striketwitter throughout and beyond the action. We know they matter and that … continue reading

Posted in Anticasualisation, Dispute, Gender pay gap, Pay, Workload

Black history month event – seminar and social

Posted on 1 October 2018 by Alan Smith1 October 2018

The UCU Yorkshire and Humber black and minority ethnic (BME) network’s Black History Month event is on Wednesday 3 October, 3pm – 5pm. All UCU members welcome. Seminar programme Surviving the workplace – empowering yourself Wednesday 3 October, 3pm – 5pm Room A – 103, Broadcasting PlaceLeeds Beckett University, Woodhouse Lane WelcomeSteve Mardy and Steve Lui, the network team3pm – 3.10pm Opening addressSaleed Rashid, Y&H regional equality officer3.10pm – 3.20pm Workshop: surviving the workplace; “how to raise BAME issues in the workplace”3.20pm – 4.15pm Saleem Rashid (Sheffield College) and Nitin Rajyaguru (Cardiff and Vale College, Coleg Caedydd a’r Fro)Questions and answers4.15pm – 4.50pm Discussion relating to network activities4.50pm – 5pm Seminar closeSteve Lui and the network team 5pm onwardYorkshire and Humber black and minority ethnic (BME) network social in The Fenton pub … continue reading

Posted in Black members / BME, Equality

UCU’s gender pay claim for University of Leeds

Posted on 17 September 2018 by Alan Smith17 September 2018

UCU has submitted a claim to end the gender pay gap at the university of Leeds. You can see the full claim at http://www.leedsucu.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Gender_Pay_Claim.pdf … continue reading

Posted in Dispute, Equality, Gender pay gap, Pay

Victory on migrant workers’ right to strike!

Posted on 24 July 2018 by Alan Smith24 July 2018

Gabriella Alberti and Dima Barakat Chami report on this significant change to Home Office rules brought about by pressure from UCU, especially from members of UCU University of Leeds branch On Thursday the 12th of July our General Secretary informed all union members that our UCU campaign for the right to strike of international staff under visa has been won. According to the guidance and immigration rules for migrant workers (under the tier 2 and 5 immigration routes) any staff dependent on a working visa who would incur more than 10 non-consecutive days of unpaid leave (thus including legal strike action) per calendar year would risk the possibility to be reported by their employer to the Home Office. This would effectively put her/his and their family’s right to reside in the UK at risk. It is thus not impossible to imagine how such a punitive and unequal law would discourage migrant workers from joining strike action beyond the symbolic day or two. In this sense we are very proud that our longest ever strike in higher education has acted not only as a terrain to test such unequal treatment on a fundamental democratic right, but ultimately also as springboard for … continue reading

Posted in Dispute, Dispute advice, International members

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Call for motions for general meeting and UCU Congress

Posted on 14 February 2019 by Alan Smith14 February 2019

Do you want to propose a union policy or strategy? UCU is a democratic union, we make our policies together through branch-level general meetings and then nationally at the annual Congress. Our next general meeting on 13 March will be where we decide which motions our branch will propose to the 2019 UCU Congress. Please submit all motions by 12pm Tuesday 5 March Please send motions to ucu@leeds.ac.uk Any member can write a motion. If you want help in phrasing it, it can be good to talk to a union rep, or to have a look at motions from a previous Congress (PDF). The general meeting is Wednesday 13 March, 12pm – 1pm, Roger Stevens lecture theatre 11 (10.11). Directions and room information … continue reading

Posted in Administration, General Meetings, Local Association

Leeds UCU newsletter February 2019

Posted on 11 February 2019 by editor113 February 2019

(Printed newsletters should be appearing round campus, or you can download it in PDF form here.) Use your vote! We’re balloting again in the dispute over Dispute over casualisation, equal pay, workload and fair pay. It’s vital for our union democracy that you use your vote. Last October Leeds members voted clearly to strike – 70% in favour – on a turnout of 49%. It was the highest national turnout on a pay ballot in UCU’s history. The new anti-trade union law (requiring a 50% turnout) stopped us from striking. We think members should decide, not the government, so we’re re-balloting so that your decision counts. This ballot is an opportunity to show the employers that we are still strong, which will have ramifications for pensions and current and future local issues, disputes and negotiations. We urge all members to vote Yes to strike and Yes to action short of a strike including a marking boycott. We need to know what the whole membership thinks about taking action, so please vote whatever your view. We’re asking the employers to work with us nationally to: Tackle the scandal of casualisation (e.g. 65% of Leeds research staff and 36% of teaching only … continue reading

Posted in Newsletter, Uncategorized

Solidarity with Queen Margaret UCU strikers

Posted on 7 February 2019 by admin47 February 2019

We are all with you in solidarity as you strike today to defend jobs and to defend each other. Stand firm!  You have much to be proud of! Not only have members at Queen Margaret University refused to take any threat of staff cuts lying down, you have also smashed the anti-trade union act 2016’s threshold barrier with 72% turnout! May your pickets be massive, fun, and enlightening for all around you!  In contrast, Queen Margaret’s senior management should hang their heads in shame. That management prefer to terrorise staff with the threat of the axe rather than to properly explore alternatives with UCU negotiators is a disgrace. The proposed cuts would steal livelihoods and intensify workload pressure on staff who remain in post. Your local strike is all our fight. Nobody strikes lightly, so as you stand together for jobs, for education, and for decency and hope: know that we are with you.  In Solidarity, Vicky Blake (President) on behalf of us all at Leeds UCU … continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Queen Margaret UCU, Solidarity, strike

Email to members – 1 February 2019

Posted on 1 February 2019 by editor111 February 2019

TThe university’s lists system doesn’t seem to be sending this email out to our members – so here is our latest email for all to read! UCU local news: remember to vote; international members survey; improving the adverse weather policy; lots more! Dear UCU members – A few brief updates for you: Strike ballot – remember to vote, don’t be silenced Need a replacement ballot paper? Want to know how this ballot applies to you? Want to tell us you’ve voted? See our frequently asked questions Election for UCU national vice president – our Vicky Blake on the ballot paper The election for UCU national vice president opens on Friday 1 February. Our fantastic president Vicky Blake is one of the candidates. We’re holding a hustings on 12 February at 12pm. International staff survey Our international staff survey is live now. It’s open to non-members too, so pass it on to your friends and colleagues! leedsucu.org.uk/international-staff-survey New adverse weather policy We’ve made improvements to this policy before the university published it, to emphasise staff health and safety over keeping the university running. You shouldn’t feel pressured to come into work if it’s not safe to. leedsucu.org.uk/unions-improve-new-adverse-weather-policy Help us beat casualisation … continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized

Counting the costs of casualisation survey open now

Posted on 1 February 2019 by Rachel Walls1 February 2019

Currently, UCU is running a UK-wide survey ‘Counting the costs of casualisation’. If you’re on an insecure contract, please fill it in and encourage colleagues to do so too. … continue reading

Posted in Anticasualisation, Uncategorized
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