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Dear members,
After a long hiatus (and last week’s technical difficulties), the newsletter has returned, and will continue to be weekly following Branch Committee meetings. G’mar chatima tovah to all celebrating last week, and thank you to everyone who has participated in our first two weeks of strike action this semester.
There are items to highlight before the more detailed newsletter topics:
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- To keep track of UCU UoN events (strike dates, meetings, workshops etc.), we have created a public calendar on the branch homepage, which you can import to your Outlook or iCal. Don’t forget tomorrow’s workshop at 4:30 pm on the Weaponisation of Antisemitism.
- In recent months six Branch Committee members have stepped down or temporarily stepped away for various reasons. In this period of industrial action, it is more important than ever that the committee has a high capacity. Please contact uonucubranch@gmail.com to express interest in being seconded to the committee.
Read on for the following topics:
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- The struggle continues
- Know your rights – strike deductions
- Branch Committee meeting summary
- Excessive Workload Collective Grievance
- Equalities Conferences
- Regional UCU Training Courses
- Academic and Technical staff Promotion Framework – Consultation
- Local and national campaigning
- Joining link and further information
The struggle continues
Lopa as Branch President wrote to members on Friday 3rd October, following the very well attended branch meeting on Thursday 2nd October which overwhelmingly voted to reject the dispute resolution offer from the Vice Chancellor and continue the dispute in opposition to compulsory redundancies.
We have strikes planned for weeks 3 and 4. During this week, as an “off” week, remember we are still on ASOS so don’t undermine our collective action. Last, if you are not in a position to impactfully strike, please donate to our local hardship fund so we can support one another.
You can claim from the national fighting fund for pay missed due to strike action. Detailed information on claiming from the local fighting fund can be found in the email from Nick Clare on 17th September with subject line Industrial Action FAQs.
Know your rights – strike deductions
Through their Department Reps members have reported being deducted too much money for the strike day in July. A single day’s strike deductions should be calculated as 1/365th of annual salary. This matches University policy, and was practiced prior to the implementation of Unicore. Some members have had deductions on the basis of working days, (~1/260th annual salary) ~40% higher than they should have been.
The Branch has raised this with HR, who have acknowledged that these deductions are incorrect and stated that anyone who was over deducted will have the difference added to their October payslip.
With this in mind, please make sure that you check your August and September payslips and make sure any deduction made is correct, then check your October payslip carefully. If you have been over-deducted but see no correction, we encourage you to query this.
In addition, if you have booked leave for part of a strike day you should only be deducted for the remainder of that day. For example, if you have booked half a day’s leave on a strike day and then strike for the remainder of the day, you should only be deducted 1/730 of your yearly salary. The employer may cancel leave, however they must give you a notice period of at least the number of days booked off.
Branch Committee meeting summary
Your Branch Committee met today Wednesday 1st and 8th October and discussed;
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- Information from council meetings and Vice Chancellor’s roadshows
- Organisation of the 2nd Oct member’s meeting
- The re-nomination of Lisa Rull to UCU Women Members Standing Committee
- Mapping member engagement
- Plans for end-of-term industrial action to submit to national UCU
- Preparations for next week’s industrial action
The branch committee also heard updates from a meeting with the Student’s Union.
The Branch Committee meets weekly. If you would like Committee to discuss a particular topic please email the details to: uonucubranch@gmail.com
Excessive Workload Collective Grievance
Are you:
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- On over 100% workload?
- Not on a workload model?
- Regularly working over your contracted hours?
Please get in touch with REDACTED or REDACTED as we are putting together a collective grievance, to say ‘NO’ together to excessive workloads and workloads over 100%.
Please also consider attending our Workload drop-in session on Wednesday 16th October, 2:30-3:30 pm on Teams.
Equalities Conferences
Registration is now open to any UCU member to attend an Equalities Group Conference based on self-identification. Each conference will be hybrid, running 11am-4pm In person attendance is at UCU headquarters in London (travel can be reimbursed).
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- Friday 14th November – Women members
- Saturday 15th November – LGBT+ members
- Thursday 20th November – Disabled members
- Friday 21st November – Black members
- Friday 5th December – Migrant members
More information can be found on the UCU Equalities Conferences website. or get in touch with Lisa Rüll (branch co-Equality Officer) if you would like an informal chat.
Lisa Rüll has been on the Women’s Committee and is standing for re-election.
Regional UCU Training Courses
UCU run a number of excellent free training courses for members who are interested in becoming more involved in their local branch:
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- Introduction to casework (20th November 2025, 23rd April 2026 both online) for reps and members interested in supporting individual members.
- UCU reps 1 (12th-14th May 2026, online) aimed at new reps and those who want to undertake this role in the near future looking at your rights and responsibilities; organising and recruiting.
- UCU reps 2 (24th-26th Feb 2026, Birmingham) aimed at existing reps who want to move into supporting individual members with grievances; disciplinary proceedings and meeting with management.
- Challenging redundancy in the workplace (10th December 2025; 7th May 2026 both online) for members who want to be involved in challenging redundancies and/or supporting members facing redundancy.
Detailed course programmes and registration are via the above links. Please let us know if you are planning to attend by emailing the branch uonucubranch@gmail.com.
Academic and Technical staff Promotion Framework – Consultation
The JNCC subgroup on Performance and Talent involves HR and all three campus unions for consultation on matters such as promotions. The Framework and Criteria for promotions of Academics and Technical staff is currently being revised for implementation in 26/27. A first draft has been shared with unions for member consultation and feedback.
An email will soon follow with the documents, any comment and feedback will then be reported to the next meeting on 21st October.
Local and national campaigning
Education, Immigration and Racism – Unite Against the Far Right
We face the threat of a growing Far Right on the streets and a possible Reform UK breakthrough in upcoming elections. Refugees and the ethnic minorities have become scapegoats. University campuses are not immune from the growing tide of divisive rhetoric and hate.
Join our General Secretary Jo Grady and a panel of campaigners to discuss how we develop a strategy to combat the Far Right across our union and in every university and college, today Wednesday 8th October at 6:30pm. Register here
Call on Nottinghamshire County Council to divest from apartheid
We encourage all members to sign Nottingham Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s petition demanding that Nottinghamshire County Council divests from 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.
Report anti-trans discrimination
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.
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/