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Dear members,
Thank you to everyone who attended last week’s branch meeting, the discussion has directly gone on to inform the development of counter proposals to course closures. As Nick noted in his email yesterday, our next branch meeting will now take place on Friday 12th December at 12 pm. Zoom link will follow.
As pay landed last week, many members will now be in a position to claim for up to 8 days of support from the national UCU Fighting Fund against salary deductions in 2025. To do so, follow the process on MyUCU. To then claim additional support from our local funds, follow the steps in our members email of 31st October. Thank you to every member, well wisher and supporter who donated to these local funds. This is a powerful act of material solidarity. If you wish to donate to the local hardship fund, the details are on the last link.
Read on for the following topics:
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- Students and staff together in struggle
- National ballot
- Course Closure Counter-proposals
- Branch Committee meeting summary
- Equalities Issues
- University of Nottingham coalition for Palestine
- Local and national campaigning
- Joining link and further information
Students and staff together in struggle
While the branch has stood down strike action for the time being, students groups are organising against course closures. Students have directly challenged the Vice Chancellor in person, and one has made a detailed report on the farcical nature of UEB’s “engagement” with students. This follows students speaking passionately at our rallies last week, and is a continuation of the long-term solidarity between staff and students against the degradation of the University through Project Transform and now Future Nottingham.
National ballot
Per Jo Grady’s email yesterday (subject: UCU higher education industrial action ballot results) the national ballot failed, achieving a 39% turnout. As ever the picture in our local branch is more positive. We passed the threshold in less than ideal circumstances at 53%. While there were significant concerns about national industrial action at this stage, the majority of members at UoN participated nonetheless. This will improve our bargaining position for local negotiations. Thank you to members for voting and reporting, and for the Departmental Reps network for relentless work to ensure every vote is counted.
Course Closure Counter-proposals
As discussed at the branch meeting last week, a team of members is working hard on developing an overall counter proposal to challenge the closure of 42 courses across all faculties. Thank you to everyone who has come forward to contribute to and support this vital work!
We are continuing to push management to share the necessary University data to inform these counter proposals. This includes, but is not limited to, requesting widening participation figures for the suspended courses as part of wider concern about inadequate attention paid to Equalities matters by UEB in pursuing these closures.
The VC was clear in her town halls last week that any counter proposal must engage with the data. A failure to now share that data might start to look like cynical stalling if it continues.
If you are interested in supporting the counter-proposals please get in touch at uonucubranch@gmail.com
Branch Committee meeting summary
Your Branch Committee met on Wednesday 26th November and 3rd December and discussed
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- Engagement with media on course closures
- Decision made by Council regarding Future Nottingham Phase 2
- Timetable and terms for dispute, and achieving next industrial action mandate
- University’s proposal to reduce number of staff per student (Staff-Student Ratios)
- Engagement with local MPs
The Branch Committee meets weekly. If you would like Committee to discuss a particular topic please email the details to: uonucubranch@gmail.com
Equalities Issues
Lisa Rüll, as co-Equality Officer, attended both the Women’s and Disabled Members Equality Conferences last month – a summary report of each full-day conference will be made available. Any UCU member can sign up to attend whichever Equality Conferences they self-identify with and next autumn the event is likely to return to a 3-day format. Lisa was also re-elected to serve a further 2-year term on the national UCU Women Members’ Standing Committee.
Last week saw the launch of guidance to support academics from The Exhaustion Economy research project (including a webinar). This has also shared on the Disabled Staff Network. Your Co-Equality Officers Lisa and Jenny Elliott will be looking at how we can work further with members on this and other local equalities issues in the new year.
University of Nottingham coalition for Palestine
As detailed previously, the branch is now part of a broad staff-student coalition for Palestine, which launched on Wednesday 29th October. The coalition is hosting an event to raise funds to reunite Majd with his family in Gaza, tomorrow Thursday 4th December between 3 and 7 pm in B227, Wolfson Building. The idea is to provide time for people to drop in whenever they can rather than a 4 hour long session – see more details at poster below. If you can’t make the event, please consider making a donation online.
The branch is also supporting the Regional March for Palestine this Saturday 6th December at 12pm, assembling at Forest Recreation Ground. We encourage members to attend.
Local and national campaigning
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.
Donate to the branch hardship fund here!
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 0800 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/