Month: February 2025

Please do not reply to this newsletter, as your email will bounce. Contact your Departmental Rep or uonucubranch@gmail.com if you need any assistance.

Dear members,

Ramadan Mubarak to all members starting their fasts on Friday! Also a big welcome to Peter Woods as our new Social Media Officer.

If you have not posted your ballot for the national officers and NEC elections yet, please dig through your pile of mail to locate your papers ASAP! The last safe posting day is today. Ballots can still be posted until Thursday 27th February, but if you wait until then, make sure you attach a First Class stamp.

Read on for the following topics:

1. 1. No to compulsory redundancies!
   2. Overworked? Come and talk
   3. Branch Committee meeting summary
   4. Local and national campaigning events
   5. Joining link and further information

No to compulsory redundancies!

As communicated by email yesterday, last week Lopa Leach as Branch President formally wrote to the Vice Chancellor inviting her to rule out compulsory redundancies this year and next. The VC has since replied and failed to rule out compulsory redundancies on both counts. Thus there will be an all members meeting on Wednesday 12th March 1-2pm to vote on a motion that would trigger a dispute over compulsory redundancies. Motion and Zoom details will be sent out next week from Nick Clare as Branch Secretary. Please ensure you attend – our strength is in our unity.

On a related note, APM staff are undergoing capability mapping with the consultancy company Strive Higher. This consultancy company offers “professional services redesign” and “efficiencies and cost improvement” so will likely result in restructuring and thus large scale redundancies. It has been reported that assessments are rushed, and roles very roughly categorised, resulting in increased stress for colleagues affected.

Overworked? Come and talk

The Workload Group is organising drop-in sessions to support members to fight against unsustainable workloads. The next 2 sessions will take place on:

• • Thursday 27th February, 2-3 pm on Teams. Meeting link
  • Wednesday 5th March, 2-3 pm on Teams. Meeting Link

The Workload Group was promised they would be sent the university-wide stress risk assessment early last week, but they still have not received it. The deadline for legally mandated stress preventative documentation is this Friday – 28th February, after which we will be reporting the university to HSE for negligence. In the meantime, check the ‘why saying no is an act of solidarity’ materials, with information about our ‘just say no!’ Campaign. 

Branch Committee meeting summary

Your Branch Committee met on Wednesday 19th February and heard reports from the Workload, Anti-casualisation and Palestine Solidarity working groups. We also discussed;

• • Administration and organisation of branch files,
  • Our commitment to pushing ahead with the collective grievance concerning unsafe conditions at Sir Clive Granger,
  • Our response and strategy towards “protected conversations”, and the possibility of upcoming compulsory or voluntary redundancies,
  • Arrangements for the Agnes Flues Memorial Lecture,

The committee also confirmed Peter Woods as our new Social Media Officer.

The Branch Committee meets weekly. If you would like Committee to discuss a particular topic please email the details to: uonucubranch@gmail.com

Local and national campaigning events

Climate lecture
Join us for the second ‘Democracy at the Crossroads’ lecture with Alan Simpson. Tomorrow, Wednesday 26 February Alan will speak on “Climate: the big disrupter or a lifeline for democracy?” in A39 in the Sir Clive Granger Building, University Park from 2 to 4 pm. 

Palestine Poetry night
Nottingham Palestine Solidarity Campaign has organised an open-mic poetry night on Saturday 1st March at 7pm at the Sumac Centre in Basford to honour the resistance of the Palestinian people. All money raised will go to Medical Aid for Palestinians and Al-Harah Theatre in the West Bank. Food and Iftar will be provided. Click here to buy tickets.

HRLC Annual Human Rights Conference: Human Rights under Pressure
The annual Human Rights Law Centre conference is taking place on Wednesday 5th March at 1 pm in B62 Law and Social Sciences, University Park. Online attendance is also available. More information and registration here.

Who do you think should lead universities?
Please provide your views on who are best placed for vice-chancellor roles by completing this short survey. This survey is being administered by researchers at the Centre for Higher Education Transformations (CHET) at the University of Bristol. It has received full ethical approval for distribution.

Joining link and further information

Remember to pass on the online joining link to your colleagues.

Having trouble at work? Please log a case with our large, competent casework team!

Need to talk to your Departmental Rep? Find the full list of UoN UCU reps here. If you are interested in becoming a departmental rep, get in touch! 

Yours sincerely,

L Scott Blankenship and Will Paterson-Bassett, Branch Communications Officers, on behalf of UoN UCU Branch Committee

Branch website: https://uonucu.org/

Please do not reply to this newsletter, as your email will bounce. Contact your Departmental Rep or uonucubranch@gmail.com if you need any assistance.

Dear members,

For those on leave over half term, we hope that you have a restful week. We also recognise that for many, half term means additional child care duties and thus can be a more stressful period.

The Branch Committee, Casework Team, and Departmental Reps continue to work hard to support members being asked to attend “protected” and “without prejudice” conversations. If you are asked to attend these, please log a case. You may also wish to speak to your Departmental Rep. 

Read on for reports on the following topics:

1. 1. University yet to produce stress risk assessments
   2. The struggle continues against casualisation
   3. Branch Committee meeting summary
   4. Departmental Reps meeting summary
   5. Local and national campaigning events
   6. Joining link and further information

University yet to produce stress risk assessments

The workload group is still awaiting documentation from the University to evidence UoN is meeting its legal obligations concerning stress-preventative measures. This is despite several reminders and deadline extensions; consequently further consultation is underway, including the next steps of the workload health and safety inspections. Continued non-compliance may force us to report the University to the Health and Safety Executive. At our meeting on Friday 14th February with the heads of Health & Safety and Human Resources, we were assured that the institution-wide workload risk assessment would be provided to us early this week.

The struggle continues against casualisation

The Anti-casualisation campaign group continues to fight against the misuse of insecure and exploitative casualised contracts within the University. We are currently focused on pushing the University to comply with the following agreements won after protracted local struggles and negotiations:

• • Principles for Casual Engagements
  • Scrapping of so-called ‘permanent’ contracts dependent on ‘underlying fixed-term funding’

These hard-fought agreements will decrease the number of workers on casualised contracts if they are properly implemented. However, significant shortfalls remain.

You can read our full, updated Anti-Cas objectives here. If you are on a casualised contract and any of the above affects you, get in touch via email at anticasuon@gmail.com or on X at @UoNCasuals.

Branch Committee meeting summary

Your Branch Committee met on Wednesday 12th February and heard a report about the current status of “protected” and “without prejudice” conversations from Andrew Renault (Casework Coordinator). We also discussed;

• • Strategy for the workload campaign in the immediate future,
  • Negotiations with management concerning promotion policy, in particular related to Level 7 posts,
  • The JNCC pay and reward subcommittee,
  • Palestine Day of Action on Thursday 13th February,
  • Planning for the Agnes Flues memorial lecture,

The Branch Committee meets weekly. If you would like Committee to discuss a particular topic please email the details to: uonucubranch@gmail.com

Departmental Reps meeting summary

Your Departmental Reps met on Wednesday 12th February and discussed;

• • The effect of the “protected” and “without prejudice” conversations on our members, 
  • The implementation of the workload campaign at a Departmental level,
  • Strategies for driving up member engagement with the union,
  • Methods for communicating and consulting with members about the activities and outcomes of the new Joint Negotiating and Consultation Committee (JNCC) and related sub-committees.

The Departmental Reps meeting occurs approximately monthly to provide space for Reps to feed back comments and concerns from members in their areas. 

The Reps network extends across most academic Schools and professional services, however there are a number of academic and professional services departments still needing Reps. If your department has no Rep, and this role interests you please email uonucubranch@gmail.com. New Reps are well supported by the Branch Committee and the rest of the Reps network.

Local and national campaigning events

Workplace Mental Health Research – Survey invitation

The UCU equalities team has suggested branches circulate an invitation to a survey on workplace mental health conducted by Yusuf Ozdemir (PGR member at the University of Birmingham Branch). Yusuf’s research explores the attitudes of different stakeholders towards “mental health investment in workplaces” and aims to better inform decision-making regarding employees’ mental health. 

Participants will receive a voucher in exchange for a 45 minute interview. If you wish to take part please email REDACTED.

Palestine Workplace Day of Action

As previously communicated UoN UCU and the Nottingham Camp for the Liberation of Palestine held a joint demonstration on Thursday 13th February. Members of UoN UCU, led by the Branch Committee were able to hand the BDS pledge and list of signatures to the Vice Chancellor’s secretary. However this followed initial denial of entry by security posted at the entrance of the Trent Building to members – i.e. prevention of University staff entering their workplace.

The demonstration was followed by a series of talks from British and Palestinian activists, a recording of which is available here.

Joining link and further information

Remember to pass on the online joining link to your colleagues.

Having trouble at work? Please log a case with our large, competent casework team!

Need to talk to your Departmental Rep? Find the full list of UoN UCU reps here. If you are interested in becoming a departmental rep, get in touch! 

Yours sincerely,

L Scott Blankenship and Will Paterson-Bassett, Branch Communications Officers, on behalf of UoN UCU Branch Committee

Branch website: https://uonucu.org/

Please do not reply to this newsletter, as your email will bounce. Contact your Departmental Rep or uonucubranch@gmail.com if you need any assistance.

Dear members,

Due to recent events in the University, colleagues may be more open to joining UCU – you can distribute this joining link to interested colleagues.

1. 1. “Protected” and “without prejudice” conversations
   2. Branch meeting summary
   3. Branch Committee meeting summary
   4. Local and national campaigning events
   5. Joining link and further information

“Protected” and “without prejudice” conversations

The union was made aware last week of academics within a number of faculties being invited to “protected” or “without prejudice” conversations. Conversations labelled as such usually involve the employer offering the employee terms on which they agree to leave their job. In the case of “protected” conversations, the employee need not have been underperforming in any way to be targeted. Although such conversations are not notices of redundancy, they do usually seek to find a mutually agreeable exit strategy. 

Qualifying members (i.e. those who have been members for at least 90 days) have the right to be accompanied by a union representative at such conversations and members wishing to do so should request support via the branch website using the casework support form or the branch email uonucubranch@gmail.com. The caseworker team has already been briefed by the UCU regional office on the legal and practical aspects of such conversations and will be able to support and advise members facing such situations. In addition, the branch executive is pushing the University to explain why such actions are being taken at this time and how this fits into any wider strategy.

As you may imagine, the casework team is now dealing with a steep increase in caseload. If you wish to train as a caseworker and join the team you would be most welcome, please contact uonucubranch@gmail.com.

Related to these issues, Tony Padilla (Branch Treasurer) is heading up the formation of a Redundancy Working Group to facilitate the strongest, broadest possible coalition to combat any upcoming redundancies. We encourage members regardless of previous activity within the union to join this group full or part time. Even if you do not join, we encourage you to feed relevant information to the group. Whatever your desired degree of involvement, please contact Tony at REDACTED.

Branch meeting summary

The all members meeting on Wednesday 5th February was very well attended. The hybrid format worked well, with some feedback given about future improvements. Thank you to all who attended in-person or online. There were two items discussed.

1. Industrial Action Ballot

The meeting featured a report by Andreas Bieler (Branch Vice President) on the delays to the national ballot. 

2. Workload Campaign

Jenny Elliott (Workload Health and Safety Officer) and Melanie Bhend (Workload Rep) presented updates on the local workload campaign. The campaign has been pressuring the University to fulfill their legal obligations to assess and prevent stress hazards due to excessive workloads. 

Jenny and Mel also took the opportunity to reiterate that individual members should resist being given more work, both to protect themselves and as an act of solidarity to counteract the normalisation of dangerous workloads. 

Slides for this presentation can be found on our website. Further resources can also be found on the workload campaign page (link above), and drop-in sessions will be organised to support members.

If you wish to join the Workload Working Group or need any support to ‘just say no’ to excessive workloads, please contact Jenny at REDACTED or Mel at REDACTED.

Branch Committee meeting summary

Prior to the branch meeting, your Branch Committee met briefly on Wednesday 5th February and discussed the final preparations for the branch meeting (see above), and strategies for responding to the news of ‘protected’ and ‘without prejudice’ conversations.

The Branch Committee meets weekly, if you would like Committee to discuss a particular topic please email the details to: uonucubranch@gmail.com

Local and national campaigning events

National UCU annual meetings:

National annual meetings (hybrid – Zoom or UCU HQ) for two member constituencies are scheduled in the coming weeks. These annual meetings are where branches can influence UCU policy and work for the future on issues affecting these types of members. More information at the links below.

Staff on casualised contracts: Saturday 22nd February 2025. Registration deadline tomorrow Wednesday 12th February.

Academic related and professional services (ARPS) staff: Thursday 6th March. Registration deadline Tuesday, 25 February 5pm.

If you are interested in attending as a delegate from our branch, please email uonucubranch@gmail.com.

National day of action for Palestine: 

In solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and against the University’s continuing lack of solidarity with Palestine, UoN UCU and the Nottingham Camp for the Liberation of Palestine will hold a rally in Trent Courtyard on Thursday 13th of February at 1:00 pm. This is followed by an online talk from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. with Palestinian and British activists. Attend using the Zoom link below.

REDACTED

Further information can be found here.

Public lecture series on climate crisis and democracy by Alan Simpson begins this Wednesday:

Alan Simpson, former MP for Nottingham South, will deliver a lecture titled ‘Welcome to servitude: the slide from democracy into (corporate) feudalism’ this Wednesday, 2-4pm in Clive Granger A40, University Park. 

This is the first in a series of three lectures entitled “Democracy at the Crossroads”, discussing the impacts of the climate crisis on democracy.  

Dear members,

Welcome to your regular UoN UCU newsletter. If you have any comments or suggestions on the formatting of this newsletter and/or information you would like to see included then please contact the branch committee at uonucubranch@gmail.com. This email contains the following topics:

GTVO working group
Call for Reps
Reminder of branch meeting
Vote in UCU national elections!
Branch Committee meeting summary
Local and national campaigns
Joining link and further information

GTVO working group

We will soon be balloting for further industrial action towards the four fights campaign. There will be more updates over the coming months about what to expect and what you are voting on. Ahead of the balloting period, a Get The Vote Out (GTVO) working group will meet to ensure a strong turnout and that we run this process in a way that works best for our members. If you would like to be involved in preparations for the ballot, please email uonucubranch@gmail.com.

Call for Reps

In our branch we aim to have a representative for each department or school to represent members needs to the branch Committee and support members with local matters or accessing help from UCU. At the moment we have a number of areas without a representative. If you would like to become a Rep with support and training from UCU and our experienced group of existing reps, or learn more about what the role can involve, please get in touch with our Rep Development Officers Michaela Collard (REDACTED) and Ella Guerin ](REDACTED).

In addition, we are still looking for a Social Media Rep – this position comes with facility time, i.e. time off work to complete your duties (for more information, see the ACAS website).

Reminder of branch meeting 

Don’t forget about our hybrid branch meeting tomorrow Wednesday 5th February, 1-2 pm. We will be discussing the upcoming national industrial action ballot and the ongoing local workload campaign. Democracy only works if everyone participates!

Use the Zoom link below if you intend to attend online. In-person attendance will be in Monica Partridge E07.

REDACTED

Vote in UCU national elections!

If you have not already, you should soon receive your ballot for the UCU National Executive Committee (NEC) elections, which includes election of members to the Higher Education Committee (HEC). It is important that the leadership of our union is endorsed by as much of the membership as possible. Voting closes 3rd March. Replacement ballot form is now open.

Online hustings for UCU Vice President and Treasurer take place at 4:30 pm on Wednesday 5th February (tomorrow). Register here.

Branch Committee meeting summary

Your Branch Committee met on Wednesday 29th January and discussed;

• • Arrangements for the branch meeting,
  • Preparations for the upcoming industrial action ballot,
  • Proactive strategies and arrangements for countering potential future redundancies,
  • The state, nature, and development of the relationship of campus unions with HR.

The Branch Committee meets weekly, if you would like Committee to discuss a particular topic please email the details to: uonucubranch@gmail.com

Local and national campaigns

Workload Campaign: 

The University has still not completed the legally required documentation for stress prevention, showing a blatant disregard for our wellbeing at work. We are now supporting a number of members to ‘just say no’ to workloads over 100%. 

National day of action for Palestine: 

The declaration of a ceasefire in Gaza does not mean that Israel’s brutality and violence has stopped. University and College Workers for Palestine have declared a workplace day of action on Thursday 13th of February. At 1:00 pm UoN UCU, in collaboration with the Nottingham Camp for the Liberation of Palestine will hold a demonstration in Trent Courtyard to demand the University ends its connection with companies and Universities facilitating the ongoing genocide. This will be followed by a series of online talks from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. Zoom link to follow.

Joining link and further information

Remember to pass on the online joining link to your colleagues.

Having trouble at work? Please log a case with our large, competent casework team!

Need to talk to your Departmental Rep? Find the full list of UCU reps here. If you are interested in becoming a departmental rep, get in touch! 

Yours sincerely,

Lopa Leach, Branch President, on behalf of UoN UCU Branch Committee

Branch website: https://uonucu.org/