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,
Because our dispute is local, we can, to some extent, choose the forms of action that work best for us. What kind of action do you think would be most effective? Tell us your thoughts and ideas, anonymously here.
Read on for the following topics:
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- You said yes!
- Know your rights – extended leave and redundancy
- Branch Committee meeting summary
- Interim branch Mental Health Campaign meeting
- Transgender solidarity
- Local and national campaigning
- Joining link and further information
You said yes!
As communicated in Lopa’s email yesterday, the branch voted yes in the indicative ballot to both ASOS and strike action. This was taken with a large majority of members voting. This indicates we should be able to move to the actual ballot which will give us a powerful bargaining chip against management’s unnecessary and brutal cuts to the workforce. We hope to use this in order to join Cardiff and Dundee University workers in successfully scaling back redundancies.
Know your rights – extended leave and redundancy
In circumstances where you are on leave during the time your role is at risk, the employer must still consult you. They would also need to demonstrate that your extended leave is not a direct or indirect reason for your risk of redundancy (Equality Act 2010). Within this, time off for dependents or pregnancy is disregarded where absence is part of redundancy selection criteria. (UoN Redundancy Policy)
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- Statutory redundancy pay requires a minimum of 2 years of continuous employment, but this is inclusive of leave.
- If you are made redundant while on leave, you would be entitled to statutory pay for the full leave period you have notified the employer about, regardless of when your employment ends. You should also expect to access any enhanced benefits on top of the statutory minimum during the notice period.
If you are offered redeployment while
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- pregnant,
- on parental or adoption or neonatal leave,
- in the first two weeks of taking leave following a miscarriage before 24 weeks,
- recently returned from parental leave up to the child being 18 months old
You are given priority for redeployment, and the post should be offered without an interview. (UoN redeployment policy)
Branch Committee meeting summary
Your Branch Committee met on Wednesday 7th May and discussed
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- Update on negotiations and consultations with management
- Redundancy Working Group blog
- Joint-union trans-solidarity statement (see below)
- Palestine solidarity actions
The Branch Committee meets weekly. If you would like Committee to discuss a particular topic please email the details to: uonucubranch@gmail.com
Congress 2025: Share your views
UCU Congress, the supreme policy-making body of our union, will take place Saturday 24 May – Monday 26 May. Our branch will be represented by Alan Barker, Lisa Rull and Gertjan Lucas. Congress decides the policy of our union for the forthcoming year and often beyond. It is a fundamental element of our democracy. For more details, see our guide to Congress. We encourage all members to convey their views on the most impactful proposals under discussion at Congress.
Interim branch Mental Health Campaign meeting
Lisa Rull (Equality Officer) is exploring restarting the UCU UoN Mental Health Campaign Group. As such, she will be hosting a meeting on Teams, Monday 19th May 12:30-1:30 pm. Join using this link.
All staff welcome to raise issues of concern around mental health support and challenges for staff and students within UoN. We have historically been able to collate and challenge on a number of issues relating to mental health.
Transgender solidarity
In response to the supreme court ruling, the branch together with UNISON University of Nottingham have published a solidarity statement. Union members also held a joyful solidarity picnic on Wednesday 7th May on campus. See below for further local and national initiatives for transgender solidarity.
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- Have you been questioned, stopped or challenged using a single-sex space? Fill in this form to help Transactual advocate on this issue at a national level.
- Print Club for Trans Rights, tomorrow Wednesday 14th May 7pm-9pm at Carousel Community Building. Bring t-shirts to print on. Suggested donation £5.
Local and national campaigning
Sign UNISON UoN’s petition to oppose job cuts
In Phase 1 of Future Nottingham, staff represented by UNISON will be most effected. Please sign their petition to oppose cuts and show solidarity with your fellow workers.
PSC National Demonstration – Nakba Anniversary
To mark the 77th anniversary of the Nakba and protest our governments collaboration in ongoing genocide in Palestine, Palestine Solidarity Campaign are holding a march in London this Saturday 17th May. Coaches will be departing from Forest Recreation Ground at 8:00 am sharp, you can book coach tickets here.
Call on Nottinghamshire County Council to divest from apartheid
Nottingham Palestine Solidarity Campaign is leading a movement to demand Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) divests its Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) from companies and organisations complicit in the genocide in Palestine. Currently the LGPS holds £170 million in shares in genocide-complicit companies. In line with the branch’s BDS motion and solidarity with Palestine motion the branch has given official support to the campaign.
We encourage all members resident in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County to sign the petition here.
Oppose a renewal of Starbucks’ licence on campus!
The encampment students have organised a petition asking UoN not to renew Starbucks’ contract on campus due to the company’s support for Israel. The UCU committee has agreed on supporting the collection of signatures. Click here for more detailed information and to sign the petition.
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!
Struggling with your mental health or wellbeing? UCU members get free access to confidential support service educationsupport.org.uk who can be called 24/7 on 08000 562 561.
Yours sincerely,
L Scott Blankenship and Will Paterson-Bassett, Branch Communications Officers, on behalf of UoN UCU Branch Committee
Branch website: https://uonucu.org/