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

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  • 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.

Eight days of strikes at University of Manchester ON from Monday

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  • 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
  • Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner to speak at Manchester rally on Monday

The University of Manchester 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 at all entrances to the university from 8am, including:

The Archway to the Old Quadrangle and University Place on Oxford Road, the Samuel Alexander Building and the Arthur Lewis Building.

On Monday (25 November) there will be a rally in the students’ union building on Oxford Road at 12pm where speakers will include shadow education secretary Angela Rayner, UCU NEC member and Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Bury South Lucy Burke, UCU Vice-President Vicky Blake UCU regional official Martyn Moss, striking staff and students. On the other strike days there will be teach-ins and other activities from 12pm in the students’ union.

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.

At the University of Manchester, 83% of UCU members polled voted for strikes over changes to USS pensions and 79% backed strikes over pay and conditions. The disputes centre on changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and universities’ failure to make improvements on pay, equality, casualisation and workloads.

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 University of Manchester president David Swanson 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 previously 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.

UCU NW Anti-Casualisation Network – register your interest today!

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Dear Colleagues

Please share this message with members particularly those on casual and precarious contracts.

  • Are you on a casual contract in HE or FE?
  • Does your work far exceed your hourly pay?
  • Are you on a secure contract but know of teachers/lecturers who are employed on casual contracts in your institution?
  • In the North West we are planning set up a network of UCU members on precarious employment contracts to enable members to share experiences and work with the union to tackle insecurity of employment. If you would like to get involved email henorthwest@ucu.org.uk or fenorthwest@ucu.org.uk

Did you know…

  • 46% of universities and 60% of colleges use zero hours contracts to deliver teaching.
  • 68% of research staff in higher education are on fixed term contracts, with many more dependent on short-term funding for continued employment
  • Many teaching and lecturing staff are not actually paid for planning and preparation (it’s often included in the rate of pay) which could mean when weighed up, some staff may well be working for below the living wage.
  • UCU believes that high quality education and fair working conditions depend on contracts that give staff stability and continuity of employment. Casualisation is bad for staff and bad for education, yet it’s endemic in our colleges and universities.
  • UCU is working to bring an end to this by building a network to support our members on precarious contacts.  We need members on secure contracts to get behind this and support members who are not.

This year, let us all pledge to speak up for precarious workers in our organisations by;

  • Talking to staff in your faculty/department on precarious contracts
  • Promoting the network at branch meetings
  • Emailing your branch chair/secretary
  • Getting the word out through recruitment events, leafleting.
  • Pledge your support on Twitter/Facebook

If you are on a precarious contract, want to make a difference and get involved in the UCU North West anti-casualisation network please register your interest by emailing henorthwest@ucu.org.uk or fenorthwest@ucu.org.uk

Best wishes

Maxine Looby

UCU North West Regional Committee Anti-Casualisation Officer

Upcoming Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Courses in the NW

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Please find details below of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Courses delivered by the Trade Union Education Unit at the Manchester College which you may want to share with your members who may find them useful in a professional capacity. Time off and costs should be covered by the employer as CPD.

Either of these courses can also be delivered at the workplace, there is a minimum of 8 people and a maximum of 16 people allowed on the course by MHFA. This includes the Higher Education Mental Health Champion one day course if any HEIs would be interested in this https://mhfaengland.org/individuals/higher-education/

There are also still some places left of the forthcoming UCU Mental health is a trade union issue course on 23rd October. This one day course is designed for reps who want to develop an understanding of why mental health is a trade union issue and to seek to ensure working practices support equality. Any queries to henorthwest@ucu.org.uk

If you need any more information on the MHFA courses then please contact Di Warren, Trade Union Education Coordinator: dwarren@tmc.ac.uk

 

World Mental Health Day meeting 10 October at University of Manchester

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You are invited to a free conference hosted by the UCU University of Manchester branch to celebrate World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10th October from 10am-2pm.

We are delighted to be joined by Sinead McBrearty of Education Support Partnership, and Adam Lincoln UCU National Health & Safety Official.

Please share with your members and book a place on Event Brite.

Join UCU to march the demonstration against the Tory Party Conference

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UCU is fully supporting the forthcoming People’s Assembly Demo at the Tory Party Conference in Manchester on Sunday 29th September 2019.

There will be a march, starting at 12noon, assembling at All Saints Park on Oxford Road and a rally at the end of Deansgate. We are pleased that UCU National President Douglas Chalmers will be joining us.

A map and further details are attached. Please promote to your members and come and join us on the UCU section of the march. Bring your branch banner.

 

NW Black Members Network Meeting 25th September from 18:00 at Thompsons Manchester

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A message from Blaise Nkwenti-Azeh, UCU NW Regional Equality Officer (Black Members):

Dear Colleagues,

I’m writing to invite you to a meeting of UCU NW Black Member reps on Wednesday 25th September 2019.

The venue of the meeting is: Thompsons, 55 King St, Manchester M2 4LQ

Reasonable travel and other expenses will be reimbursed.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the setting up of a UCU NW Black Members’ Network which will serve as a forum for engagement and development of our Black Members in our region.

The Black Members’ Standing Committee lobbied some years ago and secured dedicated funding from UCU for initiatives that will enable Black Members be more involved in the Union. For the past couple of years, the Union has allocated £2,000 to each region.  This has seen the creation of Regional Networks in the Yorkshire and Humber, Midlands and several other regions. The visibility of members from these regions in Union structures has also increased as a result.

Our meeting on 25th September will look into the setting up of a Network in our region and how we can increase the participation of our members at the upcoming Annual Equality Conferences.

I hope you’re able to attend the meeting and look forward to seeing you.

It would be helpful if you could confirm your attendance by emailing henorthwest@ucu.org.uk

Best wishes,

Blaise

Blaise Nkwenti-Azeh

UCU NW Regional Equality Officer (Black Members)

UCU Branch success at Myerscough College

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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