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Dear members,
Welcome to your weekly UoN UCU newsletter. We would like to extend our support and solidarity to all members at this stressful and uncertain time, especially in APM roles as Phase 1 of the Future Nottingham programme continues to unfold. For information and advice on Future Nottingham published by the local branch so far, please see the redundancy working group blogs.
Read on for the following topics:
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- In support of migrants
- Congress 2025: Final details
- Know your rights – Reasonable Adjustments
- Reasonable adjustments and timetabling
- Branch Committee meeting summary
- Workload Campaign
- Local and national campaigning
- Joining link and further information
In support of migrants
On Monday 12th May 2025, the government published an immigration white paper outlining intended changes to the immigration system. In short, these proposals amount to a further acceleration of the hostile environment, pandering to the far right and xenophobic sentiments. The Branch Committee is keenly aware many members will be distraught and concerned about what this means for themselves as migrants or for their migrant colleagues, loved ones, and international students. See our website for more information on support and campaigns for migrant members.
Congress 2025: Final details
UCU Congress, the supreme policy-making body of our union, will take place this weekend, 24th – 26th 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 and thus is a fundamental element of our democracy. For more details, see our guide to Congress.
The agenda, including late motions and amendments submitted, and documents including financial statements, have been published. You can make your views heard on the motions here.
Members may also wish to read the reports from the pay and conditions negotiators and the USS negotiators for an overview of progress in the past year and the proposed strategy for these important areas.
Know your rights – Reasonable Adjustments
Under the Equality Act 2010, our employer has a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments if you have a disability – including long-term mental health conditions. This could mean workload changes, flexible hours, or even bringing a support animal to work. Adjustments must be based on your needs, not what’s easiest for management.
Reasonable adjustments and timetabling
The branch has been pushing the University to rework its policy concerning timetabling-related exemptions to account for those needing reasonable adjustments. We are happy to report that the EDI team in HR have responded positively to this.
Currently the wording of this policy leads to confusion. In addition, the requirement for Occupational Health reports creates a barrier to staff accessing these reasonable adjustments. A proposal incorporating branch suggestions will be submitted for the planned January 2026 review of the timetabling exemptions policy.
In the meantime, if you find that timetabling related reasonable adjustments are not meeting your needs, we advise you to work proactively with your line manager and HR partner to explore options. Where further support is needed to determine reasonability of any proposed adjustments, a referral can be made to the Review Panel. In that situation, we recommend you ask for casework support from the branch.
Branch Committee meeting summary
Your Branch Committee met on Wednesday 14th May and discussed;
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- Wording to be put into the authorisation form for an industrial action ballot
- Industrial action strategy
- Facility time allocation for committee members and caseworkers
- Strategy for supporting at-risk staff in the Language Center
The Branch Committee meets weekly. If you would like Committee to discuss a particular topic please email the details to: uonucubranch@gmail.com
Workload Campaign
The workload campaign has now managed to successfully present the case for a Workload and Work-related stress Task and Finish Group, affiliated to the Performance and Talent Joint Negotiation and Consultation Committee (JNCC). This is a result of reporting the university to HSE for failure to meet basic stress prevention legal requirements.
We note that there are still no Business Unit Stress Risk Assessments (BUSRA) in place, even though we have been asking for these for nearly 12 months now. Instead our employer has hastily produced an ‘Organisational Stress Risk Assessment’, without realising that it is invalid without the BUSRAs. The Organisational Stress Risk Assessment has Future Nottingham as a stress mitigating factor, which clearly we will be challenging.
We will keep you posted on the Task and Finish group, as well as wider workload campaign issues. In the meantime, if you are on over 100% workload, please ask your Line Manager for an Individual Stress Risk Assessment.
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 affected. Please sign their petition to oppose cuts and show solidarity with your fellow workers.
Stop the redundancies at the University of Derby
Up to 35 Professors and Associate Professors are facing a compulsory redundancy process at the University of Derby. UCU Derby have written an open letter you are invited to sign, opposing these cuts at Derbyshire’s only University and critiquing the poor engagement with the Union as it has unfolded.
60 Years of the Tricontinental Conference: Context, Impact, Legacy, and Future
Parvathi Kumaraswami, an academic at the University is crowdfunding for travel grants for scholars, artists and activists from the Global South to attend the above January 2026 conference at the University of Havana. This will celebrate the original event and prioritize contributions from the Global South and stimulate important debates about the original event and its relevance to anti-colonialism, anti-imperialism, and decolonisation.
Please consider making a donation if you’re able. More information and donation link 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.
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/