1pm-2pm, Tuesday 14 June 2016

Venue: Baines Wing G.03

minutes

Present: Mark Taylor-Batty (president), Andy West, Mark Walkley, Neil Maughan, Steven French, Jonathan Saha, Tim Goodall, Ben Plumpton, Steve Lax, Briony Thomas, Lesley McGorrigan, Hugh Hubbard, Elwyn Isaac, Gavin Reid, Brendon Nicholls, Alan Smith (administrator). Also present Heather Blakey and Nicolas Van Labeke elected to the 2016-2017 committee.

1. Apologies: Vicky Blake, Jeremy Toner, Ann Blair, Gabriella Alberti, Malcolm Povey, Nick Efford, Nigel Bubb, Paul Steenson
2. Minutes and matters arising
   Minutes agreed. We have informed the university that we are not content with the privatisation of the first year of degree courses and have demanded further discussions
3. Vacancy for president for 2016-17
   With committee’s agreement, the incoming committee was briefly convened to make a decision on this issue. In accordance with rule 8.9 the incoming committee agreed to appoint Tim Goodall as president subject to approval by a subsequent general meeting. Agreed that the general meeting on 20 June would not be asked to approve this as the item had not been notified to the membership in the convening notice for that meeting.
4. IT recording of failure to agree
   We have recorded a failure to agree. Concerns we raised around restructure are being pushed through without consultation – never mind negotiation – or objective justification. Our concerns seem to be being ignored by management. Management have conceded there is no longer a financial justification for the restructure because they have already saved the money they needed to through voluntary severance. Management have now agreed to put it to senate. Management say no-one will lose their job in phase 1 and are refusing to talk about phase 2 at all, saying they have no idea what phase 2 will look like. This is widely seen as disingenuous and a signal that some in management side have contempt for unions and concerns of staff. … to email heads of schools and deans. Management have until tomorrow to respond to regional office letter.
5. National pay dispute
   23 June strike notice to be served this afternoon. … Important to stress to potential students and parents that this is national action. …
6. Report from congress
   Item not taken
7. Disability support tutors
   Item not taken
8. Postgraduate organising and regional postgraduate conference
   Item not taken
9. Casualisation mapping
   Item not taken
10. Education replanning
    PGCE provision is going to stop. University is going to support in-school training. Management say they will aim to avoid compulsory redundancies, and that this could involve some staff moving to Leeds Trinity university under TUPE arrangements. Will be discussed at Employment Security Review Group. We raised concerns, particularly over fair treatment of hourly paid and fixed-term contract staff. Dean meeting staff on Tuesday at 3.30; Tim to attend. The government is reducing teacher training places and the university management is not minded to fight it politically; we need to put the political case alongside what we put out on the local issues.
11. Any other business
    Transgender policy. The university does not have policy or guidance on treatment of transgender staff/students. To raise with the employer next week.
    Promotions procedure for academic-related staff. Management have made this public without it having been agreed by UCU.