The pay, casualisation, equality and workloads dispute is a joint one with the other Higher Education trade unions. At the University of Leeds, we have two sister unions, Unison and Unite, who represent support staff, and all three unions are balloting for industrial action in this dispute.

We’ve organised a joint meeting to discuss the issues on Tuesday 15th October, 12 – 1, in Chemistry lecture theatre D (G35).

Hope to see you there!

UCU refers to this dispute as the ‘Four Fights’ (pay, casualisation, equality and workloads) – these four issues are interlinked. The detailed claim includes:

• A pay increase of RPI plus 3% or a minimum increase of £3,349 (whichever is greater).
• A 35 hour working week for all.
• Action to close the gender pay gap, and to work on closing the ethnic pay gap, taking account of the ways in which intersectionality affects pay and grading.
• A framework to eliminate precarious employment practices by universities, including ending zero hours contracts and moving hourly paid staff onto fractional contracts.
• Nationally-agreed payment to recognise excessive workloads.

You can read the unions’ claim to the employers in full here: https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/10185/UCUBAN54-HE-pay-claim-2019-20/pdf/UCUBAN54.pdf

UCU has urged the employers to stop spinning and start talking. All three unions are urging their members to vote YESYES in this dispute, to show the employers that these are issues that staff care deeply about and which need to be properly addressed. If you haven’t returned your ballot papers yet, please do so as soon as possible (the ballot closes on 30 October). For any queries about the ballot please check our ballots FAQ.