Category Archives: UCU democracy

Latest news from Leeds UCU

Posted on by

Text of email sent to branch members by branch president Ben Plumpton on 20 August 2020 Dear members, I hope you are coping OK in these difficult times and that you and your families and friends are well.  There’s a lot to update you on  – so read on!  Also look out for a separate email with news about annual leave.   Contents:1. Redundancies and ending of fixed term contracts2. Health and safety update3. New university organisational change and redundancy policies4. Return to campus questionnaire5. Working from home costs6. Could you offer to become a caseworker?7. UCU levy8. Elections to Senate9. Fund the Future10. Next Vice President of UCU11. What next on our Four Fights dispute?12. UCU webinars, and how to get involved 1. Redundancies and ending of fixed term contracts Management told us they were intending to make 28 redundancies of staff employed for more than 4 years by the end of October, and a further 10 by the end of February.  Some of these have now been averted after extensions and redeployments, but we are urgently asking for discussions with management about the individuals remaining under threat in order to avoid redundancies.  In addition large numbers of staff on … continue reading

New UCU branch committee

Posted on by

The new UCU University of Leeds branch committee starts its one-year term of office today. Committee officers President: Ben PlumptonVice-president: Chloe WallaceImmediate past president: Vicky BlakeTreasurer: Aisha WalkerHonorary secretary: Tim GoodallMembership officer: Alaric HallEquality officer: Dima Barakat ChamiCampaigns officer: Lesley McGorriganHealth and safety officer: Neil MaughanAnti-casualisation officer: vacancy Committee members Alan RoeAlexa Athelstan-PriceAndy WestBrendon NichollsGabriella AlbertiHugh HubbardJane HolgateJonathan HumeLata NarayanaswamyLaura Loyola HernandezMark Taylor-BattyMark WalkleyMegan PoveyPaul SteensonRachel WallsRuth HollidaySue Taplin Your department reps are listed at leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/departmental-representatives

continue reading

Standing for election to the UCU committee

Posted on by

Nominations are open for the branch committee for the next academic year, including all branch officer positions.  UCU members elect a branch committee every year around the Annual General Meeting to shape, lead and facilitate the branch member-led campaigns and activities. It really matters that the committee is representative, in the diversity of people and in role and contract types. When you’re thinking about which colleague to nominate or whether to stand yourself please take a moment consider the tendency to over-representation of white men on committees in general. If you’re interested and would like to know more, please get in touch with the branch administrator or one of the current committee members (optional!). You don’t have to have experience of being a union rep to be on the committee. Nominations are open now for all the elected committee roles for the 2020-2021 academic year*: Ordinary committee members (14 spaces) President Vice‑president Treasurer Honorary secretary Membership officer Equality officer Campaigns officer Health and safety officer Anti-casualisation officer Some ordinary committee members are likely to be asked to take a lead on particular issues by the new committee. These roles are not elected separately, so if you want to take the … continue reading

Thank you strikers, + coronavirus and more

Posted on by

Strikes and next steps in the disputes First of all, huge thanks for your strike action over the past four weeks. We have shown university managements across the UK that staff are not prepared to put up with precarious contracts, gender and race inequality, excessive workloads, and effective pay cuts through below inflation pay rises and increases to pension contributions. Special thanks to everyone who has joined the pickets, rallies and teachouts, and made them a joyful, determined and supportive experience. We can go back to work on Monday with our heads held high and the knowledge that our actions have moved the negotiations forward.  See the latest negotiators’ update on the Four Fights dispute at https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/10783/Negotiators-update-on-Four-Fights-11-March-2020/pdf/Four_Fights_negotiators_update_11_March.pdf).  On USS there is encouraging progress on underlying issues, and signs of frustration with USS from employers, but we still need an improved offer on contributions.  We really need our VC to put pressure on USS to make a better offer on contributions rather than refusing to tell us what our university’s response has been on this. Negotiations will continue on both disputes, but sadly it looks as if further industrial action will be needed to get a decent resolution to both disputes. A … continue reading

UCU national elections

Posted on by

You may have already received or will shortly receive a big envelope of papers about voting for UCU National Executive Committee members, trustees, and the next Vice President (who will be from Further Education). Please do use your votes – these are hugely important roles and the successful candidates will make important decisions on behalf of the union. Please read the candidates’ statements carefully to make your decisions. Many of the candidates are sending further information to branches, and we will put such information on the Leeds UCU website for you to read. We are also looking into the possibility of a Leeds hustings. So don’t feel you need to decide immediately, but do make sure you get your votes in by noon on Wednesday 4th March. Perhaps put a reminder in your calendar to post your votes by Friday 28th Feb.  From a Leeds perspective, note that: Dima Chami (our branch Equality Officer) is elected unopposed to one of the two new migrant member posts on the NEC. Ruth Holliday (Sociology) is standing for one of the NE Region seats. For more information see https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/10339/UCU-trustee-national-officer-and-national-executive-committee-elections-in-2019-20-ballots If your ballot papers haven’t arrived, or if you have lost them, you can get … continue reading