Category Archives: Support

Casework drop-in sessions

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We’re trying something new. We’ll have UCU volunteer caseworkers available for drop-in sessions on the first Wednesday of the month. These sessions should be ideal for non-urgent issues where you’re not sure whether to make something more formal and you want to talk it through with a UCU caseworker. 6 March 10.30am – 12.30pm3 April 10.30am – 12.30pm1 May 10.30am – 12.30pm5 June 12.30pm – 2.30pm3 July 12.30pm – 2.30pm In the trade unions meeting room 7.52 EC Stoner Building For urgent issues, don’t wait until the next drop-in session, email ucu@leeds.ac.uk or contact the UCU office Casework support is only available for UCU members. Join the union as soon as you start work or you may be unable to access the full support available.

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Day of action against workplace racism

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Today UCU reps have been talking to members about their experiences of racism in the workplace. To defeat racism everyone needs to understand what it can be like to face racism at work, and that it is still a reality for many of us, so that together we can end it. In the short videos below UCU members discuss different aspects of racism in the workplace and what we can do to oppose it, defeat it, and create equality. If you experience racism at work, a UCU caseworker can support you in tackling the problem. Contact ucu@leeds.ac.uk or phone 35904. Barriers to progression Racist activity on campus Harassment at work Precarious contracts What needs to change

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Anti-casualisation update

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PGR open meeting Monday 9 April, 9–11am, 28 University Rd, LT G.23 This meeting is for all postgraduates (members and non-members) and is an important step in building the campaign for fair pay, terms and conditions for all postgraduates who teach or who work in paid research and related roles at the university. It will cover three main areas: Focus on postgrad elements of the Uni of Leeds UCU branch anticasualisation claim: what do postgrads want and need? Building on the energy of the recent strikes (and what the strikes tell us about casualisation!) Recruitment and the free postgrad membership (reminder: www.ucu.org.uk/free) There will be vegan cake too! Members are asked to let all postgrads know about this meeting and the free postgraduate membership offer. Please email with suggestions for agenda items/questions about the meeting (k.l.zezulka@leeds.ac.uk) and please share with PGRs in your school. Anticasualisation campaign and roadshow planning As part of the open meeting on 9 April, we will be discussing organising a UCU anticasualisation roadshow. We will be organising a local event to discuss, debate and explore issues related to casualisation and precarity in HE and FE. There is lots of information on the UCU Stamp Out webpages … continue reading

International Messages of Solidarity

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I was a part of the British university system between 2008 and 2014. During this period I saw how working conditions – the conditions for good teaching and research – rapidly deteriorated. Not only due to government defunding, but also due to university managements attempting to transform institutions of learning and critique into corporations, rewarding themselves handsomely in the process. So I consider it both just and important to resist the attack on pensions. Your students and non-academic colleagues at the university must know that your fight is a part of a broader fight. The pension cuts are a part of the construction of the defunded university, in which a precarious workforce is asked to serve heavily indebted “customers”, in order that the state can save money for noble causes such as bank bail outs and tax cuts for the wealthy. In many ways, the British university system serves as a model for university development in Denmark. For this reason, your struggle is our struggle. Never forget that. When you are fighting to stop the downward spiral of British universities, you are helping your colleagues internationally too. And know that you can win: concerted resistance based on solidarity between lecturers … continue reading

Reporting your strike action over USS

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It is vital that your strike action is recorded, but please don’t record it in advance (recalling HQ instructions and the [USS Action FAQ]). HR have required that we report strike action from Thursday 22nd to Wednesday 28th February by March 1st (and so on, each time the first day back after striking). They will no doubt be watching closely to see whether members are observing the strike. So, despite onerous mechanisms, let’s send a clear signal that we are united as a Union in support of our pensions. The clearer and louder this message is, the more likely it is that employers will return to negotiations. We raised members’ serious concerns over the stipulations made by management that each “batch” of strike action be recorded on the days between those batches (incredibly tight timescales) in a formal letter to HR [click here]. It was addressed today in a meeting with the Vice Chancellor and both the Director and Deputy Director of HR. The Director of HR made it clear that they have put these stipulations in place to make it easier for them to “plan” and that this is nothing to do with the technicalities of making payroll deductions (which are planned for the March payroll). This is very disappointing. However, we note that HR … continue reading