UCU Branch success at Myerscough College

The AGM for Myerscough College UCU Branch took place this week and reported on a 25% membership increase.

The UCU branch at Myerscough has increased its density by over 25% in the past 6 months. This comes after the work of the branch first UCU officer for many years.  The AGM also saw the election of another 3 members to the committee. The meeting discussed campaign ideas for the present academic year and with news spreading of the good work of the branch, non-members have been in touch to enquire about UCU membership.

This is testimony to hard work of the chair and the active work of existing branch members. With a new and enlarged committee, further organisational successes are expected in 2019/20.

Where UCU branches have reps and organisation we can secure better pay and conditions for members. Paid time off, UCU rep training and support from UCU officials is available. To discuss becoming a UCU rep in your workplace or if you would like to help find reps, please contact fenorthwest@ucu.org.uk or tel: 0161 772 7020

 

13% Pay Increase Success at Trafford College for starting lecturers

Trafford College Group 2018/19 Pay Deal Success

Following negotiations and a hard fought campaign against the backdrop of a merger with Stockport College, UCU have made gains for members in the Trafford College Group.
These include:

  • 1% consolidated pay increase for lecturers & business support
  • Improvements to T&Cs for members at Stockport College including:
    • Harmonisation upwards to Trafford College salary scale
    • Additional 2 days annual leave
    • Working week reduced by 2 hours per week
    • Improvements to sick pay entitlement
  • Access to 2 additional pay points from 2020, an effective increase of 7% or £2,219 over 2 years
  • Minimum lecturer starting salary to increase by 13% or £2,397 per year.

Campaign Success at Nelson and Colne College

Nelson and Colne College – Post-TUPE Contract Negotiation Outcome

UCU have successfully negotiated improvements for Accrington & Rossendale members following the merger with Nelson and Colne College. These include:

  • Harmonised upwards to Nelson and Colne salary scale
  • Working week reduced by 2 hours
  • Maximum annual teaching reduced by 30 hours
  • Maximum weekly teaching hours reduced by 1 hour
  • Annual leave entitlement improved by 1 day
  • Probation period reduced by 4 months.

This is testimony to the organisation and hard work of the Branch.

Where UCU branches have reps and organisation we can secure better pay and conditions for members. Paid time off, UCU rep training and support from UCU officials is available. To discuss becoming a UCU rep in your workplace or if you would like to help find reps, please contact fenorthwest@ucu.org.uk or tel: 0161 772 7020

71% of university staff say insecure contracts have damaged their mental health

A UCU report says staff are working unpaid, holding down multiple jobs and struggling to pay the bills.

Some hourly paid and part-time academics may be effectively earning less than the minimum wage and this is taking a toll on mental and physical health. Over two-thirds of respondents (71%) said they believed their mental health had been damaged by working on insecure contracts and more than two-fifths (43%) said it had impacted on their physical health. The report warns that the widespread use of casual contracts is damaging the quality of research and the education students receive.

Read UCU’s Counting the Cost of Casualisation in HE here.

Defend our future: defend USS 2019

 

Defend our future: defend USS pensions

Earlier this month the union wrote to employers at USS participating institutions, calling on them to rule out pension benefit cuts or contribution increases with a deadline of 19 June 2019.  If the employers do not agree to our demands, the union’s higher education committee (HEC) will finalise plans for an industrial action ballot in September when it meets on 28 June. In the meantime please: