Request for messages of support for UCU Edge Hill Branch in their dispute with university management.

Following a well organised local campaign, in June 2019 the Edge Hill UCU Branch cleared the 50% threshold in an indicative strike ballot. The ballot was undertaken after the university failed to reverse their imposition of new job descriptions which UCU view as a breach of the 2006 Framework Agreement.

On 18 July 2019 the UCU Branch and Regional officers met with Edge Hill management in an effort to resolve the dispute. In accordance with the Recognition Agreement signed between the UCU and Edge Hill University in 2018, UCU called upon Edge Hill to revert to the 2006 Pay Framework Agreement status quo and convene the Collective Dispute Committee. This was refused by the management.

As a result, UCU has now formally declared a dispute with Edge Hill University. An offer was made to management of ACAS involvement in further talks to conciliate the dispute. The university have now agreed and conciliation talks will commence on 14 August.

Edge Hill branch is now in campaign mode and is organising campus-wide campaign activities at key points of the University calendar, the first of which will be the ‘Welcome Sunday’ during Freshers’ Week.

At this point the UCU branch would welcome messages of support and solidarity from other UCU branches in the North West. These would help bolster the morale of members and provide energy for their campaign. We will keep you updated of developments and the outcome of the ACAS talks on 14 August.

Please send messages of solidarity to Branch Chair Tony Keating at Keatingt@edgehill.ac.uk