Category Archives: Support

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 continue reading

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

UCU Strike: Fighting Fund + Local Hardship Fund

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UCU Hardship + Fighting Fund Scenarios: These scenarios illustrate the ways in which our Local Hardship Fund and National Fighting Fund work together, and should help members resolve most queries they have about these schemes. Please also read the wording of the motion we passed at the 15 February General Meeting which explains how the National Fighting Fund and the Local Hardship Fund work. That’s here: http://www.leedsucu.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Emergency-motion-hardship-fund-1.docx Additional guidance (to be taken in conjunction with advice on this page) is [here] and [here]. Content: Member McStrike: Hourly paid (e.g. but not limited to a Teaching Assistant) Member O’Union: Fixed term contract, concerns over impact of financial deductions especially given the contract end date is soon / no definite extension or further solid job offer Member Solidarity: Part time, permanent contract; financial concerns given reliance on part time income Member Great-Placards: Permanent contract, financial concerns over strike deductions But how do I apply? But when do I apply?   Hourly paid (e.g. but not limited to a Teaching Assistant)   The first 3/5th of a week’s pay (so three days for anyone full time / salaried) would usually need to have been lost for someone to claim from the national Fighting … continue reading