Nuff Said

Posted on by marcw

Consultation of UCU members on USS and Four Fights proposals begins this week. 

Employers will be notified this week of a Marking and Assessment Boycott beginning at start of summer term.

Watch this space for further details …

 

Petition to the University of Leeds Vice Chancellor and Senior Management

Posted on by marcw

Aber UCU members might want to support this petition in response to the extraordinary action of University of Leeds management.

 

“We, the undersigned, condemn the University of Leeds management’s decision to make further pay deductions at a rate of 100% pay for staff who do not deliver teaching missed on strike days i.e. additional deductions far beyond the days for which they were already not paid while on strike

The approach chosen at Leeds is punitive, out of line with that of most other Universities, and has served to undermine staff/management relations at Leeds.

This has also diminished the reputation of the University of Leeds management to those observing from the outside, many of whom do not wish to apply for posts or collaborate with your University whilst such practices prevail.

In the spirit of a harmonious future for all, we urge you to rescind your decision to take the most punitive approach to your staff in these UK-wide disputes.”

 

SIGN PETITION HERE

 

 

Pay matters

Posted on by marcw

University staff negotiate pay with their employers on a national basis. Five unions are involved, covering staff working in every job from the post-graduate teaching assistants to librarians, coffee shop baristas to the bleary eyed Monday morning lecturer, grounds maintenance crew to lab technician.

 

University bosses imposed a pay deal on the staff that make their institutions function that they knew was significantly below inflation last year, and have done the same this year. Yet the cost of living, and particularly food, continues to rise rapidly.

There is a reason members are angry. Join UCU today and exercise your vote.

 

What is a union?

Posted on by marcw

Picket lines and home based action,

all is fine as a reaction

to pension theft and wage decline,

terms of service increasingly defined

by goodwill and performative gestures,

be a good recruit, a safe investment.

 

But if you are situated

on the margins

expect to work twice as hard in

pursuit of pay, promotion,

and the ‘s’ word

– say it –

 

‘security’,

the holy grail of Higher aspiration.

 

Strike on the 20th, 21st and 22nd.

And remember these sage words from our south Walian brethren

 

 

[diolch yn fawr for the reminder Dr. Rhinnon Phillips ]

 

Pickets – 8.30 – 10.30 Mon to Wednes

– sign-up here 

 

UCU Rising: higher education committee decision

Posted on by marcw

UCU Higher Education Committee (HEC) have considered the views of the Branch Delegates Meeting held on Thursday, and the views of those who voted in the national members consultative survey over the last 48 hours.

In considering the industrial action strategy of the union the HEC members have determined that the proposals made are not sufficient to put to members for consultation and that industrial action remains in place for next week.

We’d like to see you on the pickets. And we’d like to see your ballot papers posted. Winning the re-ballot is essential to support the strategy adopted by the HEC.

Details here:

www.ucu.org.uk/article/12840/UCU-Rising-higher-education-committee-decision

 

Posted on by marcw

The Aber UCU member survey resulted in the following response.  118 members responded in less than 24 hours.

 

This position was then reflected at the Branch Delegates meeting yesterday afternoon, along with criticism of the phrasing of the question as a binary choice and recognition that supporting consultation did not necessarily imply supporting pausing industrial action (two questions, not one).

 

The individual survey with the same question, circulated by UCU national by email to all members on Wednesday, is open to response until 3pm on 17th March.