Join UCU today
UCU University of Leeds local association is a strong branch with quite a high level of union membership. The more members we have the more effective we are as a union.
Please join UCU and help us to become even stronger so we all have the support we need at work.
You can join online ucu.org.uk/join
Or by phone 0333 207 0719
Job security day of action
All I want for Christmas is…..
JOB SECURITY FOR ALL
Sing alternative carols & help decorate our anti-casualisation Christmas tree!
Write your own experience of not having job security on the back of a job security Christmas bauble an bring it along to decorate the tree.
Thursday 19th November
12:30 – 1:30
By the ‘wavy lines’ sculpture, the Refectory foyer if weather is bad
Followed by a meeting for academic & academic-related staff on fixed-term contracts at 1.30 in Clothworkers North Building LT (G.12)
Please put these posters up in your work area: SECURE WORK Anti-Cas Poster (003)
And please sign our petition: we all deserve security of employment
Petition: we all deserve security of employment
Car Parking and Pay
Those of you with a car parking permit will be handing your forthcoming 1% pay increase (December) back to the University (from January) in the form of increased parking costs, especially those on lower incomes who will pay a higher proportion of salary. Those of us who use the train will see a 1% increase in rail fares.
The UCU and other unions petitioned the University about the hikes in car parking fees, but we have not been invited to any consultation on the matter before minor adjustments were made to the proposals. We have been invited now to discuss ‘reasonable adjustments’ processes.
The day rate is now going up to £7. The argument will no doubt be that this is the market rate. We would respond that we are not the market, we are staff driving in our expertise to the workplace. The Woodhouse Lane car park offers a day rate at £6.
Be in no doubt, you are regarded by your employer as a source of income. The car parking increases will raise in the region of an additional £300,000 in one year alone.
Minutes of the Committee meeting 20 October 2015
University of Leeds Local Association Committee
1pm-2pm, Tuesday 20 October 2015
Venue: Baines Wing G.03
Minutes
Present: Mark Taylor-Batty (President), Ben Plumpton, Mark Walkley, Nick Efford, Steve Lax, Tim Goodall, Paul Steenson, Lesley McCorrigan, Elwyn Isaac, Neil Maughan, Brendon Nicholls, Hugh Hubbard, Alan Smith (administrator)
- Apologies: Malcolm Povey, Steven French, Ann Blair, Jeremy Toner, Andy West, Vicky Blake, Gabriella Alberti, Nigel Bubb
- Minutes agreed with following amendments: Mark Taylor-Batty, Andy West and Alan Smith were present
- Matters arising
Co-option of anti-casualisation rep: no nominations received
Website: exploring options available in UCU hosted site
Motions to the October General Meeting: committee motions on the refugee crisis and Prevent were carried. Lesley to work with the action group to progress actions. - RIS (Research Innovations Service)
Mark Taylor-Batty reported on issues. Possible concerns raised about fixed-term contracts, HEIF funded. To review the position in November. - Annual leave
Update on employer proposal to take 8 days annual leave from small number of former Bretton Hall staff who came to University of Leeds with TUPE protected conditions, to ‘normalise’ their contracts. No apparent problem that this proposal is needed to solve. UCU will oppose. - Facilities money
Approved use of facilities for: mobile phones for union use by Brendon and Alan; approved previous use for funding for unique situation where there was a problem with facilities money not being passed by the management from one University department to another; spare banner poles; current Law At Work books for caseworkers; a tablecloth for recruitment stalls.
Committee resolved to ensure that the list of equipment purchased with facilities money over the last year was up to date.
Discussed whether rules for approval of facilities spending should be changed to prior approval by committee. The committee agreed to return to this at the next meeting to consider a form of words.
- USS
The latest issues were discussed. - Promotions
A paper has been put to the university senate by management which UCU has not been consulted on. Mark has written to management to express our dissatisfaction with this. Management have replied that only the ‘direction of travel’ was agreed by senate.
Agreed we will put University of Leeds forward as a test case to UCU on job roles. - Pay campaign
Discussed pay campaign. Suggestions include continuing to focus on lower pay grades, putting pay briefings out as mini leaflets and short campaign videos, and a question about whether we should push for salaries to be open. - ‘Customers off campus’
Agreed to run a low-level campaign that we are ‘colleagues’ and ‘students’ not ‘customers’. - Newsletter
Agreed to print small pile for reps to leave on coffee tables. - Spare banner poles
Agreed to explore suppliers and purchase. - Recruitment stalls
Agreed Ben and Alan will do stalls preferably with departmental reps. To seek approval of local manager where appropriate. Agreed to buy a tablecloth in a UCU colour for this. - Any other business
Concerns raised over extra-procedural performance management activity in one area. Brendon to raise concerns.
Leeds Migration Research Network open letter
Members of the Leeds Migration Research Network have written an open letter to the university’s vice-chancellor (below).
The letter calls for the University to provide an effective response to the current international migrant crisis and highlights a series of priority areas. In particular it calls on the Vice Chancellor to:
• establish a set of scholarships for asylum seeking students,
• remove overseas charges for students in the asylum system.
• deliver the aims and objectives of the Access Agreement with special reference to refugees and asylum seekers.
• publicly support the Action for ESOL campaign and promote appropriate ESOL provision for adult migrants
• actively encourage and resource the building of links between University Faculties and Schools and refugees charities
The network want to encourage all staff and students to add their signatures to the letter to increase pressure on the university to do more.
To add your name to the letter follow this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Tm0Q-WhOZXUBqN9GRxDPg_fIUEm7aaCY9-edXbyVzZc/viewform?c=0&w=1
OPEN LETTER FROM STAFF TO THE UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
Dear Vice-Chancellor,
With this letter we call for the University to provide an effective response to the current international migrant crisis and highlight a series of priority areas where we expect the VC to follow up on his recent pledge. We are writing to you as a group of staff and students of the University of Leeds concerned and engaged at various levels through our research, educational and civic engagement with the plight suffered by the many migrants and people seeking asylum that are currently fleeing their countries affected by war and serious hardship. As demonstrated by the dramatic images arriving from the Southern and Eastern borders of Europe, the mass movement of migrants and refugees is far from seeing a solution in the short-term.
As you highlighted in your letter on the 17th of September, as an international institution with a population of staff and students coming from all around the world, we have a moral duty to take urgent and substantial action on this matter in a way that involves the different groups of members of this University.
We received extremely favorably your letter sent to all members of staff on the 17th of September 2015 where you detailed the series of activities that the University plans to or is engaging in, including collaboration with the City Council and the Student Union to welcome refugees and asylum seekers and facilitate their settlement in Leeds. We are thankful that the VC has helped to publicize and promote the many grass root volunteering initiatives and opportunities already ongoing to provide immediate support to new arrivals in Leeds.
However, after more than six weeks since the release of your letter we regret that we have not heard from you what activities have been followed up. We call for the senior management to start a discussion with academic staff and students in this University to explore ways in which the university can effectively provide short- and long-term assistance for refugees/asylum seekers. In particular we believe that urgent action should be taken in the following areas:
1. Bursaries.
We were pleased to hear that the University has already in place a fund to support students that have been affected by catastrophic events in their home countries. You also wrote that in additions to the existing fund “we are examining ways in which we might provide a number of funded scholarships”.
We are concerned that until now we have not heard of any scholarship being released by the University of Leeds and consider this with embarrassment considering the proportionally little impact that such initiative would represent for a wealthy university like ours. The University of York offered a scholarship package of £500,000 to those escaping the humanitarian crisis. Other UK universities such as the University of East London have committed to offer at least ten postgraduate scholarships to Syrian refugees. We think that however symbolically one might interpret the provision of a limited amount of scholarships to meet the needs of the many bright students escaping their countries, such financial resources will make a real difference in the life of student refugees as well as that of their families. We thus call for the VC to establish a set of scholarships for asylum seeking students, ideally doubling the numbers of those offered by these other universities.
2 . Outreach and Access
The University can develop a more considered approach to how to reach out to the migrants and asylum seekers who are looking for educational opportunities. Action is necessary to promote the image of this University to reflect the spirit of your recent statement, namely, the desire ‘to recruit high quality students from diverse backgrounds and [to] provid[e] affordable access to higher education for all who can benefit’.
Our work as researchers engaging with civil society highlights that refugees and people seeking asylum find many hurdles in accessing the University of Leeds. There are lower barriers of entry to other institutions in our area such as Leeds Beckett, Bradford and Huddersfield. We are positive that the University of Leeds can take action to reverse this and promote itself as a ‘University of by taking more substantive action to facilitate access to asylum seekers and migrants from disadvantaged backgrounds. We call on the VC to remove overseas charges for students in the asylum system.
3. Widening Participation
The University already has some structures in place and policy priorities that offer an avenue to expand the basis for welcoming refugees and migrants in our institution. For instance the Access Agreement’s core programme of outreach states ‘a key element in our strategy to widen participation is our suite of Extended Degree Programmes which include a foundation year. These are designed for applicants of all ages who do not have the required entry tariff but demonstrate the potential to succeed’ (p. 22).
In the institutional Equality and Inclusion Strategy the Equality Mission for Leeds highlights that ‘one of the four priority areas is to ensure we successfully embed equality into all aspects of University business. Priority 4: ‘Ensure a world class student experience through inclusion and academic excellence’ addresses fair and equal access to recruitment, attainment and progression opportunities and highlights the importance of integrating the diverse needs of a diverse student population into the governance and practice of student education. (p. 22) The Access Agreement seems to contain the basis for expanding opportunities for asylum seekers, who are not only escaping war and persecution but are often also among those in our communities facing harsh economic conditions. The Life Long Learning Centre, Communities Work and Educational Engagement seem to be very well placed to help in this endeavour. We thus call on the VC to deliver the aims and objectives of the Access Agreement with special reference to refugees and asylum seekers.
4. Collaboration with CSOs’ and ESOL provision
We would like to see the VC supporting initiatives to improve access and provision of English for Speakers of Other Languages classes across Leeds, for instance working with the Leeds Migrant English Support Hub to enable outreach work. While a series of high profile volunteering activities have been organized by the students (and especially STAR) are well established.We believe that the University has a moral duty to support those affected by cuts in the existing ESOL provisions. We call on the VC to publicly support the Action for ESOL campaign and promote appropriate ESOL provision for adult migrants including those who aspire to higher education.
5. Placements
In order to increase awareness and engagement for current students on the significance of the current crisis and challenges of providing a ‘welcome’ to refugees beyond the initial days of arrival, we believe the University should promote collaboration with organizations in civil society. We call on the VC to actively encourage and resource the building of links between University Faculties and Schools and refugees charities, for example, by promoting work placements for their students within these organisations (some of which you have included in your letter such as Leeds Asylum Seeker Support Network, Positive Action For Refugees and Asylum Seekers, St Vincent de Paul Society, The Northern Refugee Centre, Leeds Refugee Forum).
6. Finally we think that it would be a significant gesture by this University to make available one of the large lecture theatres on campus to host the 3rd meeting of the Leeds City of Sanctuary
We believe this is a momentous opportunity for the University of Leeds to demonstrate concrete action, generosity and decisive leadership on one of the most dramatic issues of our time.
We look forward to hearing from you
Signed
Members of the Leeds Migration Research Network:
Dr Gabriella Alberti (LUBS)
Dr Mette Wiggen (School of Politics and International Studies)
Professor Chris Forde (LUBS)
Professor Robert MacKenzie (LUBS)
Dr Louise Waite (Geography)
Professor Mike Baynham (School of Education)
Dr James Souter (POLIS)
Meenkashi Sakar (LUBS)
Dr James Simpson (School of Education)
…
Prevent – UCU local association agreed motion
The following motion was agreed by the all-members general meeting on 14 October. (The minutes of that meeting are subject to approval of the all-members general meeting on 25 November.)
University of Leeds UCU local association notes the new “Prevent Duty” being imposed on Higher and Further Education providers. The Local Association commends the response of the national UCU on this matter. The branch observes that this duty erodes staff and students’ academic freedom, freedom of speech and freedom of debate.
The branch notes further that the definition of extremism as “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values” is a direct attack on ethnic minorities. It undermines the free exchange of ideas and undermines democratic social inclusion. The branch believes that the effect of this definition will be to institutionalise both racism and Islamophobia.
University of Leeds UCU local association resolves to work with UCU HQ to develop a policy of non-co-operation with the “Prevent Duty,” up to and including branch boycotts.
Refugee crisis – UCU local association agreed motion
The following motion was agreed by the all-members general meeting on 14 October. (The minutes of that meeting are subject to approval of the all-members general meeting on 25 November.)
This branch notes:
- The worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II with millions fleeing their homes looking for refuge in Europe.
- Since 2000 around 30,000 migrants or refugees have died in their attempts to reach or stay in Europe, with the highest figures recorded in the past two years.
- The continuing plight of refugees in Calais and elsewhere in Europe escaping from war, political oppression, poverty and violence.
- The demonization of migrants and asylum seekers by the media and the government.
- The inadequate response by the Tory government, for example, only allowing in just 20,000 refugees by 2020 on a temporary basis in the first instance, and only from camps in the Lebanon.
- The heartening public response to the crisis e.g. collections, donations etc.
- That the University of Leeds is collaborating with Leeds City Council to promote Leeds as a City of Sanctuary.
- That other universities such as the University of East London have committed to offer at least ten postgraduate scholarships to Syrian refugees.
- We note with regret the absence of any concrete action on the part of the management of the University of Leeds to deliver significant resource in support thus far of the refugee communities.
This branch resolves to
- Contribute to ongoing solidarity action occurring on campus such as the collections by students and to donate to local Leeds charities in support of both asylum seekers and migrants in need, both locally and internationally.
- Campaign and pressure the government to accept substantially more refugees and offer them permanent status in the UK, including Syrian and other refugees escaping violence in the Middle East and beyond.
- Adopt a ‘Refugees welcome here’ position and to promote this in the wider union movement, as an important means of reinforcing the principle of solidarity at a time when cuts in public and welfare services and a hostile media make migrants and refugees easy scapegoats.
- To pressure the University of Leeds executive to host the second public meeting of Leeds City of Sanctuary on the 21st October or the following one.
- Play an active role in developing a discussion with senior management at the University of Leeds to explore internal ways in which the university can effectively provide short- and long-term assistance for refugees/asylum seekers, including the development of scholarships for asylum seekers and refugees and support for educational activities such as ESOL classes for migrants.
- Commit to a longer term campaign that goes beyond expressions of solidarity and collections of usable goods and includes initiatives that involve us as educators in promoting a culture of welcome and inter-cultural dialogue on our campuses, involving students from all backgrounds.
Proposed minutes of the general meeting 14 October 2015
These minutes are proposed subject to approval by the general meeting 25 November.
University of Leeds Local Association
1pm-2pm, Wednesday 14 October 2015
Venue: Roger Stevens LT18 (8.18)
Minutes of the General Meeting
Forty-four members attended. The meeting was chaired by Mark Taylor-Batty.
- Minutes: the minutes of the general meeting 30 March were agreed
- Matters arising: there were no matters arising not covered by the agenda.
- Pay
In the consultative ballot less than 50% of the membership indicated support for strike action. The University of Leeds UCU Committee urged for a continued campaign on 2015 pay. The UCU Higher Education Committee agreed last Friday, in a close vote, to focus on building the union’s campaign for better pay in 2016.
This general meeting discussed possible campaign strategies. Mark Taylor-Batty encouraged members to join the campaign group and help run the union’s campaigns. - Refugee crisis
Motion 1: migration and refugee crisis
Moved by Gabriella Alberti on behalf of the Local Association Committee. Text below is as amended.
This branch notes:
- The worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II with millions fleeing their homes looking for refuge in Europe.
- Since 2000 around 30,000 migrants or refugees have died in their attempts to reach or stay in Europe, with the highest figures recorded in the past two years.
- The continuing plight of refugees in Calais and elsewhere in Europe escaping from war, political oppression, poverty and violence.
- The demonization of migrants and asylum seekers by the media and the government.
- The inadequate response by the Tory government, for example, only allowing in just 20,000 refugees by 2020 on a temporary basis in the first instance, and only from camps in the Lebanon.
- The heartening public response to the crisis e.g. collections, donations etc.
- That the University of Leeds is collaborating with Leeds City Council to promote Leeds as a City of Sanctuary.
- That other universities such as the University of East London have committed to offer at least ten postgraduate scholarships to Syrian refugees.
- We note with regret the absence of any concrete action on the part of the management of the University of Leeds to deliver significant resource in support thus far of the refugee communities.
This branch resolves to
- Contribute to ongoing solidarity action occurring on campus such as the collections by students and to donate to local Leeds charities in support of both asylum seekers and migrants in need, both locally and internationally.
- Campaign and pressure the government to accept substantially more refugees and offer them permanent status in the UK, including Syrian and other refugees escaping violence in the Middle East and beyond.
- Adopt a ‘Refugees welcome here’ position and to promote this in the wider union movement, as an important means of reinforcing the principle of solidarity at a time when cuts in public and welfare services and a hostile media make migrants and refugees easy scapegoats.
- To pressure the University of Leeds executive to host the second public meeting of Leeds City of Sanctuary on the 21st October or the following one.
- Play an active role in developing a discussion with senior management at the University of Leeds to explore internal ways in which the university can effectively provide short- and long-term assistance for refugees/asylum seekers, including the development of scholarships for asylum seekers and refugees and support for educational activities such as ESOL classes for migrants.
- Commit to a longer term campaign that goes beyond expressions of solidarity and collections of usable goods and includes initiatives that involve us as educators in promoting a culture of welcome and inter-cultural dialogue on our campuses, involving students from all backgrounds.
Amendments
The meeting made the following amendments to the motion on the agenda, which are reflected in the wording above:
Amendment 1
Remove: “As part of this the University is proposing to offer scholarships and to host a second public meeting of Leeds City of Sanctuary on the 21st October.” And replace with “To pressure the University of Leeds executive to host the second public meeting of Leeds City of Sanctuary on the 21st October or the following one.”
Amendment 2
Add: “[notes] With regret the absence of any action on the part of the management of the University of Leeds to deliver significant resource thus far to the refugee community.”
Amendment 3
Add: “substantially” to the second bullet point of the resolution section to make “to accept substantially more refugees.”
The motion was carried, with no votes against and one abstention.
- Prevent
Motion 2: Prevent duty
Moved by Jeremy Toner on behalf of the Local Association Committee.
University of Leeds UCU local association notes the new “Prevent Duty” being imposed on Higher and Further Education providers. The Local Association commends the response of the national UCU on this matter. The branch observes that this duty erodes staff and students’ academic freedom, freedom of speech and freedom of debate.
The branch notes further that the definition of extremism as “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values” is a direct attack on ethnic minorities. It undermines the free exchange of ideas and undermines democratic social inclusion. The branch believes that the effect of this definition will be to institutionalise both racism and Islamophobia.
University of Leeds UCU local association resolves to work with UCU HQ to develop a policy of non-co-operation with the “Prevent Duty,” up to and including branch boycotts.
Amendments
The meeting made the following amendments to the motion on the agenda, which are reflected in the wording above:
Amendment 1
Add: “The Local Association commends the response of the national UCU on this matter.”
Amendment 2
Add: “and risks a conflict with our duty of care”
Amendment 3
Add: “instill and”, to read “instill and institutionalise”.
The motion was carried, with no votes against and two abstentions.
- USS
Mark Taylor-Batty gave an update on USS - Promotions
The proposals going to Senate are not those the UCU has been consulted on. UCU reps will raise this. - Fixed-term contracts
To leave over to a subsequent meeting - Congress delegates
The following delegates were agreed on the understanding that if our membership was below the threshold for four delegates there would need to be a subsequent election with the four as nominated candidates:
Briony Thomas
Malcolm Povey
Mark Taylor-Batty
Stephen Lax - Car parking
To leave over to a subsequent meeting - Other business
No other business was taken.