An important note from Committee (reproduced from email 6/4/18)
An important note from Committee
(Text reproduced from email 6/4/18)
At yesterday’s EGM, a number of members raised concerns about the email from UCU General Secretary Sally Hunt (sent on Wednesday 4 April) that accompanies the link to the ballot (text is [here]), because it contains a significant conflation between the “revise and resubmit” position (which is about process) and the “no detriment” position (which is about the possible content of revisions). The two are not synonymous, and many branches who preferred the “revise and re-submit” approach (as ours did) had varying positions on whether they also preferred the “no detriment” position, preferred “no pre-conditions”, or somewhere in between. There were also questions at yesterday’s meeting about why a recommendation has been issued from the General Secretary in the absence of any vote by the Higher Education Committee to include a recommendation (the latter is usual practice). The recommendation in the ballot email has been sent by the General Secretary as an individual.
On receipt of today’s latest email from the General Secretary we (committee) agreed to write to everyone again. As we noted at yesterday’s EGM, our committee is a signatory to a joint letter from UCU branches, which raises concerns and questions over the balloting process. I have pasted the text below this email and you can read it online [here] – please note that more branches continue to sign this letter, as the questions contained therein are crucial. It asks for corrections to be sent out to all members who are being balloted, and for reassurances and clarification regarding oversight of the ballot – for example, we currently do not know if there is independent third party oversight of it. When we receive a response to this letter, we will share it with you as soon as possible.
Once again, we’d really like to stress how incredibly proud we are to be part of Leeds UCU and that our branch prioritises open, cordial, and constructive discussion. We urge everyone to remember that this is a great source of strength and that we continue to build our branch on the principles of democracy, honesty, and facilitating participation as much as possible. Yesterday’s EGM was a brilliant example of this, and we have received quite a few tweets and emails from members expressing joy that we have together demonstrated that it needn’t feel difficult to have a collegial and detailed, reasoned debate. If you couldn’t make the EGM, do make sure you’ve caught up with Alaric’s update sent yesterday afternoon (sent at 17.25) and the website post with the motions that passed [here]. Please note that the EGM confirmed that this branch recommends rejection of the current UUK proposal, albeit with a heavy heart and regret that the “revise and resubmit” option was closed off at the 28 March HEC.
USS Briefs
If you haven’t already delved into the excellent USS Briefs, which are a product of the hard work of several UCU members, please do dig in. They are an excellent resource. There are articles written from perspectives favouring reject and accept, and articles which really get to grips with the issues at stake in this whole dispute. New articles are still forthcoming, but here is a list so far:
******>>>>GREAT + PROPERLY RESEARCHED ARTICLES! <<<<******
#USSbriefs1
The Drive to Convert to DC: A Short History
Felicity Callard, Birkbeck, University of London
#USSbriefs2
The USS Dispute and the Dynamics of Industrial Action
Jo Grady, University of Sheffield
#USSbriefs3
The Pensions Dispute and the Marketisation of Higher Education
John Holmwood, University of Nottingham
Gurminder K Bhambra, University of Sussex
#USSbriefs4
Why USS Pension Cuts Will Not Be Spread Equally
Claire Marris, City, University of London
#USSbriefs5
The Role of Consultancies in the USS Dispute
Gail Davies, University of Exeter
#USSbriefs6
Why Which Way to Vote on the Latest UUK Proposal Should be an Easy Decision
Sam Marsh, University of Sheffield
#USSbriefs7
Is There Really a USS Deficit?
Dennis Leech, University of Warwick
#USSbriefs8
Misleading Communication: Case Studies from Universities UK and the Employers Pension Forum
Felicity Callard, Birkbeck, University of London
#USSbriefs9
Academic Collective Action and the Future of Our Movement
Andy Balmer, University of Manchester
#USSbriefs10
Why I Have Voted Yes to Accept UUK Proposal
Amanda Williams, University of East Anglia
#USSbriefs11
Debunking Sally Hunt’s Email
Jo Grady, University of Sheffield
Claire Marris, City, University of London
Jess Meacham, University of Sheffield
#USSbriefs12
Employers vs. UUK? Evolving Positions in the USS Pensions Dispute
Susanne Hakenbeck, University of Cambridge
#USSbriefs13
Cambridge and Oxford in the USS Pensions Dispute
Sam Dolan, University of Sheffield
******>>>>More great articles on USS appearing at USSBriefs.com<<<<******
This page was last updated on 10 April 2018