OPEN TO ALL STAFF: MEETINGS TO DISCUSS;
This is on behalf of all 3 University of Nottingham Unions and staff of all job levels and families are invited.
Both dates will be online on Teams:
Tuesday 10th June, 4PM – 5PM
Wednesday 11th June, 9AM – 10AM
A very well attended and active members meeting was held yesterday afternoon, Monday 2nd June. Many thanks to everyone who made the time to attend. The meeting discussed Branch Committee updates and members questions, comments and views on:
The release last week of flawed and incomplete ‘pooling’ information for APM colleagues, and Branch Committee participation in consultations to date with updates from Lopa Leach as President, Nick Clare as Secretary, and Andrew Armstrong as APM Officer were discussed.
The Branch Committee was categorical that the large size of some pools was not at the request of trade unions, despite statements suggesting or stating otherwise in university communications.
The widespread and well-founded frustration of members was evident throughout the meeting, with members highlighting the need to translate frustration into solidarity across job families within the Union and across the University as a whole.
Apparent inconsistencies and poor communications from the University were highlighted, including the failure to publish FAQs with ‘pooling’ information last week, the seemingly changing and ambiguous position of School-based APM staff between phases 1 and 2, that concerns about UniCore data used to inform this process have been raised repeatedly, and the inclusion of externally funded roles in the ‘pools’.
Andreas, as Vice President, underlined that as this is a local dispute we are in a position to decide our own strategy and develop tactics tailored to how our workplace functions that are as hard-hitting as possible, thus heightening our chances of success.
The importance of a strong ballot turnout and the key role of ASOS were emphasised by several speakers and in the chat discussion.
Recent wins at Sheffield, Dundee and Cardiff were noted as examples where high ballot turnouts and commitment to taking action protected jobs.
That our goal in balloting for – and potentially taking – strike action is to prevent compulsory redundancies was underlined. The need to challenge the University to adopt a more sustainable financial model in the longer term, as articulated in the Alternate Financial Strategy 2.0, was also underscored.
The key next step for all members is to vote then let your department rep know when you have posted your ballot!
Any member who wishes to join the ‘get out the vote’ work, especially in an area without a UCU representative, is invited to email the branch: uonucubranch@gmail.com.
The meeting also heard a call from Tony Padilla as Treasurer for proposals of fundraising activities to support the branch solidarity and hardship fund. As with prior disputes, the fund will be used to support members in the event of industrial action. If you have a proposal for fundraising activities, please contact the branch.
If you wish to make a one-off or recurring donation to the fund, please use the details here.
The following motions were passed at the recent AGM;
Motion 1: New progressive pay structure for highest earners to protect jobs at UoN
Motion 2: No 120 percent workload at UoN!
Motion 3: Support a Trade Dispute with the Secretary of Education over funding
In addition, the nominees for next years committee were confirmed
Finally the branch approved one amendment to motion SFC7 scheduled for debate at Congress. The amendment is as follows;
“Insert following resolve i.
ii. Working with relevant specialist committees, review all officer role job descriptions and the use of language throughout the model branch rules to ensure they reflects current equality strands and language. For example, insert ‘migrant members’ in the enumeration of equality groups in bullet iv) under 8.6 Equality Officer.
And renumber accordingly.”
OPEN TO ALL STAFF: MEETINGS TO DISCUSS;
The following motions were passed with large majorities by members at the well-attended meeting on Wednesday 12th March.
1. Reporting back of NEC members to constituencies
Congress instructs the NEC to formulate rule change motions to ensure
the following:
2. Change to Rule 16
Add new rule 16.5.1
Where National Congress or Sector Conferences do not meet during the times referred to in rule 16.5, the relevant National Congress or Sector Conferences must be recalled as soon as reasonably practicable to consider the motions submitted to the National Congress or Sector Conferences. Additional late and emergency motions can be considered at the recalled Congress or Sector Conference in line with rules 16.8 and 16.9.
Purpose:
To enshrine in rule that in the event of cancellation, Congress or Sector Conference need to be rescheduled. Rather than, as has happened when the rules were silent on the matter, motions disappear into a void in spite of the hard work submitting bodies undertook to compose them and the efforts of elected delegates to prepare to debate them.
3. Change to regional committee standing orders –
Environmental Representative
To Standing order 7 of the UCU Regional Committee Model Standing Orders, add ‘an Environmental representative’ after ‘a representative of members on casual contracts’
So the amended Model Standing Order 7 would read:
Treasurer, the Secretary and the Chairs and Secretaries of the sector committees, and for each sector, a representative of members on casual contracts, an Environmental representative together with such other Officers as may be deemed necessary.
Purpose:
The importance of environmental issues and the seriousness of climate change means that there should be an Environmental representative on regional committees. The rule change will add one.
