Covid-19: UCU North West Regional Office Contingency Plans

In line with the latest advice from the UK government, UCU has now instituted a working from home policy for the vast majority of our national and regional staff. The UCU North West Regional office is now closed.

We are still operational and will continue to respond to enquires and issues as quickly as we can. Enquires should be sent via email to:
henorthwest@ucu.org.uk or
fenorthwest@ucu.org.uk

We are currently dealing with a significant level of enquires as a result of current circumstances so please bear with us. In the first instance wherever possible members should contact their local branch many of whom are also working from home.

For the latest UCU guidance on Covid-19 click here.

Take care.

2020 HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS IN LANCASHIRE

The theme for HMD 2020 is *Stand Together*. It explores how genocidal
regimes throughout history have deliberately fractured societies by
marginalising certain groups, and how these tactics can be challenged by
individuals standing together. Holocaust Memorial Day remembers the six
million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of
other people killed under Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides
in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. More details:
https://www.hmd.org.uk/

*BLACKBURN: Holocaust Memorial Day*

*TUESDAY 28 JANUARY 2020 – 13.30*

A memorial ceremony where Blackburn with Darwen will remember all the
victims of genocide, oppression and torture

Council Chamber, Blackburn Town Hall

*BURNLEY: Burnley Council commemoration*

*Sunday 26 January – 12:30*

Peace Garden by Burnley Library, Grimshaw St, Burnley

*BLACKPOOL: ANNE FRANK: PARALLEL STORIES- ODEON BLACKPOOL*

*TUESDAY, 28 JANUARY 2020*

Anne Frank Parallel Stories is a powerful retelling of Anne Frank’s life
through the pages of her extraordinary diary guided by the Academy-Award
winning actress Helen Mirren, and through the lives of five women

Odeon, Rigby Road, Blackpool

*BLACKPOOL: ANNE FRANK: PARALLEL STORIES- ODEON BLACKPOOL*

*THURSDAY, 30 JANUARY 2020*

Anne Frank Parallel Stories is a powerful retelling of Anne Frank’s life
through the pages of her extraordinary diary guided by the Academy-Award
winning actress Helen Mirren, and through the lives of five women

Odeon, Rigby Road, Blackpool

*CLITHEROE: ANNE FRANK: PARALLEL STORIES – EVERYMAN CLITHEROE*

*TUESDAY, 28 JANUARY 2020*

Anne Frank Parallel Stories is a powerful retelling of Anne Frank’s life
through the pages of her extraordinary diary guided by the Academy-Award
winning actress Helen Mirren, and through the lives of five women

*CHORLEY: CHORLEY HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL SERVICE*

*SATURDAY, 25 JANUARY 2020, – 10:45*

The annual Holocaust Memorial Service will take place at the war
memorial in Astley Park on Saturday 25 January.

*LANCASTER: ANNE FRANK: PARALLEL STORIES-THE DUKES CINEMA, LANCASTER*

*MONDAY, 27 JANUARY 2020*

Anne Frank Parallel Stories is a powerful retelling of Anne Frank’s life
through the pages of her extraordinary diary guided by the Academy-Award
winning actress Helen Mirren, and through the lives of five women

*LANCASTER: INTERFAITH SERVICE*

*SUNDAY, 26 JANUARY 2020 – 18:30*

Lancaster Priory Church
Priory Close
Lancaster

*LEYLAND: SOUTH RIBBLE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE*

*MONDAY, 27 JANUARY 2020, – 18:00*

We would like to invite you to attend a special gathering in South
Ribble for Holocaust Memorial Day. The gathering is a time of reflection
as we remember the victims of the Holocaust and of the importance of
tolerance.

Civic Centre, West Paddock, Leyland

*ORMSKIRK: ANNE FRANK EXHIBITION AND ASSEMBLY*

*MONDAY, 27 JANUARY 2020 – 10:00*

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School
Ormskirk

*PRESTON: COMMEMORATION SERVICE*

*MONDAY, 27 JANUARY 2020, – 11:00*

A commemorative service at St George the Martyr Church, Preston led by
Fr David Craven

Speakers from
Disability Equality North West
The Olive School
University of Central Lancashire
Caritas Care

Liverpool and Manchester Holocaust Memorial Day Commemorations

Monday 27th January is Holocaust Memorial Day. This is a day for us all to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution, and those who have been killed in genocides around the world such as those in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.

As part of the commemorations over the next week, there are two events below taking place in Liverpool and Manchester, with labour movement speakers and contributions. Please do share these and encourage people to attend.

If you are aware of other such events, do let us know and we will endeavour to promote these.

Liverpool Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration:

organised by Merseyside Unite Against Fascism

Thursday 23rd January, 

7.00pm

at The Hornby Library, upstairs in Liverpool Central Library, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EW.

The Commemoration will involve readings of Holocaust Survivor Testimony, the lighting of a Memorial Candle, and a minute’s silence in memory of the millions of Jewish people and others who were murdered in the Holocaust and under Nazi persecution.

The link to the FB event page is copied below:
https://m.facebook.com/events/472333766957369?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%223%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D&aref=3&ref=bookmarks

For more info please contact uafliverpool@googlenail.com

 

Manchester Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration:

organised by Greater Manchester Unite Against Fascism & Greater Manchester Stand Up to Racism.

Thursday 30th January 

7.00pm, at UNISON North West Regional Centre, Arena Point, 1 Hunts Bank, Manchester M3 1UN.

Speakers & Readers of Survivor Testimony include:

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester;
Jay McKenna, North West TUC; & others.

Link to FB event page below:
https://m.facebook.com/events/2477001922576746

An evening with Ken Loach, Monday 3rd February from 1800

Screening of Sorry We Missed You

Followed by Q&A with director Ken Loach

The Klondyke Centre,
Burnage Close,
Levenshulme
Manchester (2 mins from Levenshulme Station)

Tickets – £10 Waged – £3 unwaged

Click here for tickets

Greater Manchester Law Centre (GMLC) and Thompsons Solicitors are pleased to announce a community screening of Ken Loach’s latest highly acclaimed new film: Sorry We Missed You.

Sorry We Missed You starkly documents the issues facing millions of workers in the gig economy who work on “flexible” zero hours contracts with little job security and poor working conditions.

The Film will be followed by a presentation by Ken, on why he made the film and the political and social issues that the film highlights. There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask Ken questions too.

This event is a fundraiser for GMLC to support its work in providing free legal advice to the Greater Manchester Community and its campaign to promote free access to justice for all. For further information on GMLC’s work please visit:

www.gmlaw.org.uk

UCU Equality Groups Conference 2019 – Report

UCU’s annual equality conference combines a joint equality conference for black, disabled, LGBT+ and women members as well as dedicated sessions for the four constituencies, joint sessions, various workshops and guest speakers.

The 2019 conference was held in Birmingham from 21 November – Saturday 23 November and included half-day conferences for each of the four equality strands, and a plenary session on ‘othering’ which marginalises and devalues people based on their protected characteristic or class.

Questions or contributions were invited to the guest speakers: Sam Heyes, who spoke on the need for trans inclusion and Michael Braithwaite who provided an emotive commentary on his work as a Windrush campaigner.

Michael Braithwaite

The conference also included a session on how to progress equal pay claims in the workplace and identifying pay gaps for different equality groups.

Over the three day conference various strands on the Members Standing Commitees (MSCs) voted on motions presented and members elections to MSCs .

 

Report by Louise Gooddy, UCU NW Regional Committee LGBT+ Rep.

UCU LGBT+ Members’ Annual Conference 2019 Report

The annual meeting for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of UCU, took place during the annual UCU equality conference on Saturday 23 November.

The LGBT+ members’ conference was opened by the chair of the MSC, Ryan Prout.

Elections for the forthcoming committee and motions were voted upon before the guest speakers addressed members on Saturday 23rd November. Key themes and guest speakers were: Marc Svensson on ‘Emerging Non-Binary & Queer Identities’, Dr Matson Lawrence on ‘TransEDU’ and Eden Ladley, NUS Action on ‘Trans in Education.’

Dr Matson Lawrence

Eden Ladley

Members were invited to ask questions or make contributions to the speakers and panel.

 

Report by Louise Gooddy, UCU NW Regional Committee LGBT+ Rep.

University of Liverpool withdraws redundancy proposals following UCU pressure

University of Liverpool has shelved plans to restructure the English Language Centre, safeguarding 23 lecturing jobs.

Following representations made by branch and regional officers, UCU is pleased to confirm that ill-conceived plans that threatened jobs and student provision have been entirely withdrawn.

The English Language Centre provides short-course language tuition and support for adults and international students studying at a UK university and needing a certain level of language. UCU members working in this important function of the University of Liverpool know how the centre can be more effective and provide better support; it’s now time they are listened to.

SUPPORT THE UCU STRIKES IN THE NORTH WEST

UCU members across 60 universities in the UK are striking over changes to the USS pension scheme and universities’ refusal to deal with key issues such as pay, casualisation, inequality and workloads.

Overall, 79% of UCU members who voted backed strike action in the ballot over changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). In the ballot on pay, casualisation, equality and workloads, 74% of members polled backed strike action. More information here.

In the North West UCU members at the University of Manchester (pensions and pay), Lancaster University (pensions and pay) , the University of Liverpool (pensions and pay), Edge Hill University (pay), Liverpool Hope University (pay) and the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (pay) will be starting 8 days of strike action on Monday 25th November followed by Action Short of a Strike (ASOS).

Striking is a last resort for UCU members and the university employers have had every opportunity to avoid it.

We are calling on members and supporters to stand shoulder to shoulder with those on strike and show solidarity with a donation to the UCU fighting fund.

Picket lines will be forming each strike day on university campuses. UCU members will subsequently be taking action short of strike by working to contract, not covering for absent colleagues, not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action and not undertaking any voluntary activities.

There will be a rallies as follows:

Monday 25th 11.30 at the University of Manchester, University Place, Oxford Road, Manchester. Speakers include Angela Rayner MP, Kate Green MP, Labour candidate for Bury South and UCU NEC member Lucy Burke and Vicky Blake, UCU Vice president.

Tuesday 26th Assemble at 11.00 for a march from  University Square at midday on the corner of Brownlow Hill and Mount Pleasant on the University of Liverpool campus through the city centre to the Liver Building, USS headquarters on the Pier Head for a rally at 12.30. Speakers include Jo Grady, UCU General Secretary, Dan Carden MP and Paula Barker, Unison Regional Convenor and Labour PPC for Liverpool Wavertree.

Please do whatever you can to support picket lines, attend a rally or send messages of support and solidarity. Tweet your support to @UCUmmoss and @UCU. Show your solidarity by using social media to post on UCU’s wall of support

Please also send messages of support to henorthwest@ucu.org.uk and we will share with local UCU branches on strike.

Eight Days of Strike Action on Merseyside and in Ormskirk are ON from Monday

  • Members of the University and College Union at 60 UK universities will walk out from Monday (25 November) to Wednesday 4 December
  • Disputes are over pay and working conditions, and rising pension costs

The University of Liverpool, Edge Hill University, Liverpool Hope University and the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts will be hit with eight days of strike action from Monday (25 November) after no agreement could be reached between university representatives and the University and College Union (UCU) over pensions, pay and working conditions.

Striking staff will be on picket lines from 8am at:

On Tuesday 26 November protesters will assemble from 12pm at University Square on the corner of Brownlow Hill and Mount Pleasant, before marching through the city centre to the USS headquarters at the Liver Building on Pier Head.

The march will be followed by a rally at the Liver Building from 12.30pm that will hear from UCU general secretary Jo Grady; Labour candidate for Liverpool Walton Dan Carden, Labour candidate for Liverpool Wavertree Paula Baker and Ian Byrne, Labour candidate for Liverpool West Derby.

Earlier this week, UCU accused universities of playing games after their representatives refused to even discuss pay. The union said things were no better at talks yesterday (Wednesday) over changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), where their representatives failed to make a serious offer.

UCU said it feared that universities had learnt nothing from last year’s dispute, when university campuses were brought to a standstill by unprecedented levels of strike action.

Last month, UCU members backed strike action in ballots over both pensions, and pay and working conditions. The results mean that UCU members at 60 UK universities* are walking out on Monday.

The disputes centre on changes to USS pensions and universities’ failure to make improvements on pay, equality, casualisation and workloads. At the University of Liverpool, members were polled over striking in defence of USS pensions and in the dispute about pay and conditions. Three-quarters of members (74%) polled backed strikes over pay and conditions and 82% backed strikes over pensions.

UCU members at the other three institutions are in a different pension scheme and were only balloted for strikes over pay and conditions. At Liverpool Hope University, 91% of members polled backed strikes over pay and conditions.

At Edge Hill University 75% of members polled backed strikes and at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, 71% of those who voted, voted for strikes.

As well as eight strike days, union members will begin “action short of a strike” from Monday. This involves things like working strictly to contract, not covering for absent colleagues and refusing to reschedule lectures lost to strike action.

UCU North West regional official Martyn Moss said: ‘Strike action is a last resort, but universities’ refusal to deal with these key issues have left us with no alternative. It is staggering and insulting that universities have not done more to work with us to try and find a way to resolve these disputes.

‘We hope students will continue to put pressure on university vice-chancellors to get their representatives back round the negotiating table for serious talks with the union.’

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has called on both sides to get round the table for talks and the National Union of Students says students stand shoulder to shoulder with staff in the disputes.