March Branch News: Back at work? Here is what you need to know!
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Branch updates
News in brief from SUCU Committee.
February Branch News: soaring membership, international staff and more!
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Please encourage your colleagues to come to our USS Roadshows! We are joined tomorrow by Paul Bridge, UCU's Head of Higher Education, who has been coordinating UCU's negotiations and privy to all national developments. No prior knowledge necessary!
- USS Roadshow, Thu 15 Feb, 1-2, Geography Building, C03 (with Paul Bridge, Head of HE for UCU)
- USS Roadshow, Mon 19 Feb, 1-2, Firth Court, Council Room
February Branch News
Our work in support of international staff reaches the University's executive board, our casualised colleagues are in the forefront of our thoughts, and our membership soars as strike action draws ever closer.
Before we get stuck into USS, some good news: after a year of solid campaigning on the difficulties facing our international staff, a paper backed by the vice-chancellor went to the University's executive board earlier this week proposing a whole host of extra support, including significantly enhanced financial, legal and practical assistance. We do not yet know what was agreed, but hope to be able to provide details soon. You can read more about the history of our campaign on our dedicated website.
Unfortunately, our campaign over the employment conditions of the University's over-casualised workforce has had much less support from Sir Keith. There will be few members who cannot name colleagues on temporary, insecure or even zero-hours contracts, yet the University does not appear to recognise the levels of exploitation in practice across the insitution. Following on from our investigations a little over a year ago, meetings have been taking place to try to force some movement, but it is clear that the University does not see this as a high priority. With the upcoming strike action a particular challenge - emotionally and financially - for low-paid, precarious, or otherwise casualised colleagues, we are putting the finishing touches to an open letter of support, and will be asking professors in particular to sign.
On to USS, we are now a week away from the heaviest industrial action this university has seen in a generation. With our membership up 12% since the start of December, and students firmly on our side, our vice-president for learning and teaching's message to students that "while there is likely to be some disruption to lectures, we don't expect expect this to be significant" may not be helping anyone. We are doing all we can to pressure Universities UK into reopening meaningful talks, but are well on the way with preparations to do these strikes properly.
We sent our local guidance to members earlier this week on what strike action will involve. Please read this! One key point is that you are not required to pre-notify that you intend to take action. If your manager asks you in advance, reply that your union has advised you that you shouldn’t answer this, as is your right. You should work normally until the day of action: do not make preparations in anticipation of being on strike. When the action starts, come in and join your colleagues on the picket lines: visibility is crucially important, and the camaraderie is uplifting. We have planned a full programme of events for the first five days of action, and will circulate details soon.
On the dynamics of the dispute itself, details are emerging of how Oxford and Cambridge have had a big hand in the hard-line position of Universities UK, with both universities favouring a breaking up of the scheme, and ending defined benefits being the first step. If you needed clearer evidence that this is about more than simple affordability, you've now got it.
The roles of @UniofOxford and @Cambridge_Uni in what's happening with #USS have become clearer due to leaked @UniversitiesUK documents from last year showing plans were afoot to push towards a DC scheme well before the valuation of #USS was announced. https://t.co/pR441KfKPo
— Sheffield UCU (@sheffielducu) February 12, 2018We will continue to keep you updated with USS developments. By far the best way to keep on track is by following our very active Twitter account. Before Christmas we asked whether we were beginning to see the tide turning on the power dynamics within Higher Education. Looking at how students and staff are uniting in the defence of education itself, the optimists among us may hold some hope for the future.
Sheffield UCU Committee
PS Happy #heartunions week!
Dates for the diary
- Strikes! 22 Feb, ongoing (details here)
- Thu 1 Mar, 13:00-14:00, General Meeting, Hicks LT5 (NOTE CHANGE OF DATE!)
USS Resources!
Looking for our stuff to do with USS? Head straight to our USS: 2017 Valuation Resources page!
Christmas Branch News: a turning tide?
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If you haven't posted your USS ballot yet, what are you waiting for? We will be chasing up people individually in the New Year. If you're not sure which way to vote, perhaps see our 'Ten reasons why USS is a scandal waiting to bite back'.
Christmas Branch News
We look back over the year and find plenty to be cheerful about, with signs that staff are beginning to take the initiative in Higher Education.
It's been quite a year. We've often focused on the bad in our mailouts, but, so as not to dampen Christmas cheer, we thought it was the time to look at the good, and remind ourselves of where collective resolve has had a positive impact.
Our International Staff were at the forefront of our minds this year. With all at this university proud that #WeAreInternational, we have campaigned hard to remind our executive board that a hashtag is only a start. We now have the ear of the Vice-Chancellor, who we are meeting in the new year to discuss what practical measures can be taken to make sure our international colleagues feel properly valued by the university and remain eager to stay here.
In a reminder of the power of the collective, a strong response from members to the University's Saturday Open Days enabled us to present a robust defence of the importance of rest days, and forced a substantial rethink in the guidance to managers. We are happy that staff on lower grades are now being treated well, and that those at higher grades who do not normally work on Saturdays are agreeing to come in voluntarily. Additionally, the University has committed to reviewing the impact of the change with us later in the year.
Vice-Chancellor pay hit the headlines this autumn and, in a clear sign that the staff voice across the sector is growing, Dame Glynis Breakwell of Bath was forced to resign by the staff of her university. Other unpopular highly paid VCs are also under increasing pressure. We are hopeful that this represents a something of a turning point, with recent unsustainable pay trends starting to have repercussions. The new year will bring our university's financial statement, and we look forward to giving the figures proper scrutiny.
The biggest story in the recent months has been the USS pension scheme. We were very pleased to see that the national negotiations have been extended into January, beyond what had been presented as a firm deadline. A strong ballot response is now even more crucial, so make sure you return yours. We were also pleased to see our Vice-Chancellor respond to the petition of almost 300 of our staff calling on him to make his views known. We think he can say more on this issue, so please continue to sign!
Finally, please do remember to have a proper break over Christmas. See you in the New Year!
Sheffield UCU Committee
USS: keep up with the news on Twitter!
We have been making sure that all the breaking news on USS is featured prominently on our Twitter account. As well as all the latest developments and in-depth analysis, we have also found time for a more light-hearted take on things. Please do re-tweet and share our posts to make sure the counter-arguments to those being presented by Universities UK get heard.
Sign the petition against the 'Sacker's Charter' at Leeds University
If you haven't already done so, please sign the petition in support of staff at Leeds University, whose management are trying to push through a new clause allowing dismissal 'for some other substantial reason'. UCU members in Leeds have been on strike in protest at the proposed changes, and need our support!
Interesting reading
- Gender pay gap widening for women in their 20s, data shows, Alexandra Topping, The Guardian, 10 November
- If babies can share, why can’t highly paid university vice-chancellors?, Michele Hanson, The Guardian, 4 December
Dates for the diary
- Tue 16 Jan, 13:00-14:00, Action Group on Sexual Misconduct, Hicks F20
- Thu 18 Jan, 13:00-14:00, Departmental Contacts Meeting, Chancellors Room, Firth Court
- Thu 25 Jan, 13:00-14:00, General Meeting, Council Room, Firth Court
- Wed 31 Jan, 13:00-14:00, Action Group on USS, Room tbc
Events
- We are the Lions, Mr Manager, The Lantern Theatre, 28 February. ("The story of Jayaben Desai... makes you laugh, feel and think... a powerful story, powerfully told", Clare Brennan. The Observer)
October Branch News: Saturday open days, pensions and more!
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Come to our Branch Meeting and help us discuss the big issues! Branch Meeting, Thursday 19 October, 1-2pm, Council Room, Firth Court
October Branch News
Widespread anger bubbles up over Saturday open days, the lecture capture roll-out falls short of our full support, and pensions are becoming a major headache for the sector.
The decision to shift University open days to Saturdays was announced before the summer, but most have only recently found out what it will mean for them. We are aware of widespread anger over the imposition of a decision made without any meaningful consultation or clear justification and against the wishes of a number of departmental admissions teams. Lab-based subjects in particular have big concerns over how they can show the university at its best when there is no activity to present. Members are showing significant opposition to the University's attempts to break our 'contract by conduct' of not coming into work on Saturdays. For the university to demand that we do against the backdrop of relentless pay erosion and increasing demands elsewhere is unforgivable, and has potential to be the straw that broke the camel's back. We will be debating a motion on this issue at our October branch meeting and would welcome thoughts from members by email or through departmental contacts.
The widespread roll out of the University's lecture capture technology continues to fall short of having our full support. While the policy is now very close to what we asked for, one major sticking point remains: that the final decision on whether a lecturer can opt-out resides not with the lecturer but with the head of department. Please do contact us urgently if you have been over-ruled on a request to opt-out, as we need evidence on how this policy is working in practice. A little on the late side, we have now issued guidance to members on your rights and how to use the technology sensibly. We also urge all to look out for red-lights every time you enter a lecture theatre or finish any teaching: one firm press of the light will stop the recording of private conversations.
The USS pension scheme is becoming a prominent issue for all in pre-92 universities. The current valuation, which even the regulator describes as 'very complex', shows a best estimate large (£8bn) surplus. Factoring in a required safety-buffer for prudence puts the fund in a break-even position. It is only when investment plans are changed, due to the innocuously named Test 1, that problems arise. The wranglings over the valuation are making national headlines and we are doing everything we can to force all behind-the-scenes activity into public. As a last resort, the union has the option of strike action, and we strongly urge members to make it clear that they are prepared to take this action if it is necessary and appropriate.
A recent post on a security services webpage, which appeared to shift responsibility for sexual assault onto the victim, was swiftly removed following outrage from students and staff. We have received an apology from security services for this 'administrative error', but we have not received a response to our question over the training that is in place to make sure these views have no place at the University. We hope to make progress on this, and will keep members informed.
Finally, you may have received a request to participate in the University's 'Top 100' survey. While we remain deeply sceptical about the meaningfulness of a survey that excludes the University's casually employed staff, we do encourage members to fill it in, and to do so as honestly as possible, warts and all. View it as catharsis.
Sheffield UCU Committee
Leeds and Manchester on strike!
Leeds University UCU are involved in a stand-off, with an attempt by the university to add ‘Some Other Substantial Reason’ to their list of reasons for dismissal.
Staff at Leeds have been working to contract and today are on their third of three consecutive days of strike action. Solidarity and external exposure will help them to win this dispute. With this being a UCU dispute of national significance, please take a few minutes to:
- Email their Vice Chancellor, Sir Alan Langlands, to protest. You could let him know that SOSR to dismiss staff has no place in a University and that Leeds Uni has managed well without it to date. If you are a Leeds alumnus please mention this.
- Sign their petition and circulate to everyone you know.
In Manchester, staff will strike later this month after they overwhelmingly backed industrial action to protect a planned 140 job losses. A massive majority of members who voted (87%) backed industrial action. Strike action has been planned for Monday 23 October and Tuesday 24 October, and staff will then begin working to rule from Wednesday 25 October.
Professorial pay increases: fair and transparent?
We have expressed concern that heads of department now have the final say over whether professorial staff may be considered for an incremental pay increase. Professors no longer have the right to put themselves forward for consideration, or to challenge the head's decision. The head has no obligation to provide any written justification for their decision, making it impossible even to use the grievance procedure to challenge cases of perceived victimisation or discrimination. The University insists all heads should have had ongoing discussions with professorial staff about their decision throughout the year, but we are already aware this often does not take place and that relationships between heads and professors vary significantly across the institution.
If you are concerned that procedures are being flouted or about unfair treatment in this area please let us know and help us bring some fairness and accountability to this rather arbitrary process.
Interesting reading
- By creating a market for universities, the government has snookered itself, Keith Burnett, The Guardian, 7 September
- Facing poverty, academics turn to sex work and sleeping in cars, Alastair Gee, The Guardian, 28 September
- The price of pensions can fall as well as rise, Henry Tapper, 12 October
Dates for the diary
- Thu 19 October, 13:00-14:00, General Meeting, Council Room, Firth Court
- Thu 23 Nov, 13:00-14:00, Departmental Contacts Meeting, Chancellors Room, Firth Court
- Wed 29 Nov, 13:00-14:00, General Meeting, Council Room, Firth Court
Events
- Scrap the cap: public sector pay rally and demo, 17 October, London
- From Balfour to the Nakba: Empire, Settler-Colonialism and the Question of Palestine, Wed 15 November, Sheffield
Summer Branch News: restructures, Saturday working and more
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Put our USS-themed Action Group meeting in your diary: Wednesday 13 September, 1-2pm, Room tbc.
Summer Branch News
The traditionally quiet time of year has been anything but, with member-led branch meetings, restructures and new policies imminent, and the USS pension fund making the headlines.
The university's Strategy Delivery Group (SDG), a temporary management team set up by the Vice Chancellor to look for money-saving opportunities across the university, isn't set to disband any time soon. The SDG were responsible for last year's Staff Release Scheme, and their reviews of substantial areas of the university's activities may well lead to significant change and uncertainty. With large parts of Professional Services currently in the spotlight and many staff potentially affected, we are keeping a close eye on what's going on alongside UNISON and Unite. Most importantly, we are keen to make sure the university follows its agreed change management procedures and treats affected staff sensitively and fairly. Please do contact us with any concerns or issues you think we need to know about.
In July, following a call from 50 Sheffield UCU members, we held an Extraordinary General Meeting where a motion was passed strongly criticizing Sheffield City Council's response to protests regarding Sheffield's street trees. We are pleased to see such member-led initiatives, and would welcome calls for single-issue meetings from other members. You can read the latest developments on the trees at the Sheffield Trees Action Group website.
The USS pension fund has made the headlines this summer, with sensationalist reporting focusing in on an accounting figure which has little relevance to the scheme's health. The figure that matters much more is one which will appear in the triennial valuation, due in September. Early signs are that there has been some softening of the 'reckless prudence' which was a hallmark of 2014's valuation, although there is likely to remain significant damage from a self-inflicted risk-management measure known as Test 1. We are working well with the university on this issue, as so far our priorities seem to be closely aligned. That said, members could start preparing themselves for the worst case, where a sturdy defense may be needed of a pension scheme well worth holding on to.
This summer also saw significant coverage on pay inequality, with the BBC's list of high earners revealing a startling gender disparity, and politicians starting to focus on eye-watering pay for Vice Chancellors in the context of soaring student fees and stagnating staff wages. Recent legislation mandates that employers publish their gender pay gaps; this University has been acutely aware of its own gender pay discrepancies for a number of years, and we have been working with them to understand the data and highlight the problems. We hope, ultimately, that the university will commit to some actions to alleviate the problem locally.
Two fairly significant changes for the coming academic year are the mass roll-out of lecture capture and a shift towards Saturdays for open days. Following a useful Action Group in June, we have written a letter to Wyn Morgan in which we acknowledge the benefits that lecture capture can bring while remaining concerned about the opt-out process. We have requested that the policy removes the requirement for Head of Department approval for opt-out so that lecturers will retain autonomy over pedagogical decisions, and await a response. Saturday open days are likely to affect a large number of our members and we are continuing to discuss how these will be handled by the university, having pointed out that time-off-in-lieu, a suggested mechanism for reimbursing time worked on a Saturday, is all but meaningless to most academic staff.
Finally, members voted in an indicative ballot earlier in the summer to accept the 1.7% pay settlement resulting from the national negotiations. With this being another big effective pay cut, and salaries below where they were in the late 1990s in real terms, it begs the question: can you see this turning around? And if not, any thoughts on where it will lead us? Answers on a postcard to the usual address.
Sheffield UCU Committee
Are you up to speed on 'Prevent'?
The Prevent duty, part of the government's counter-terrorism strategy, came into effect for higher education institutions in September 2015. It requires all HEIs to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. UCU nationally has been campaigning against Prevent since it came in, with concerns that range from the possibility of infringement on academic freedom to certain groups being targeted due to prevailing narratives around extremism. You can read more about UCU's response to Prevent, and download posters expressing that 'I dissent from Prevent'.
Over the last two years a range of policies and procedures have been put in place here at Sheffield that include Prevent duty actions. As a branch we're interested in hearing from members who have experienced problems relating to the Prevent duty. Have you been prevented from putting on an event at short notice, for example? The external speakers policy requires 10 days to risk assess all external speakers, and we're aware of at least one case of someone being refused permission to speak. Please get in touch if you have any concerns or questions about how Prevent is being implemented.
Are you in a health and safety hot-spot?
We have managed to increase our number of trained Health and Safety representatives, and are hoping to make health and safety inspections of departments more routine in the future. If you are aware of health and safety issues where you work - this could be an environment detrimental to mental health equally as well as physical well-being - then please let us know, as some ideas of where needs attention helps us to plan.
#JobstownNotGuilty defendants found not guilty
If you were at our general meeting earlier in the year, you will recall that the branch passed a motion in support of a group of protestors who were accused of false imprisonment after a sit-down protest in Ireland. The most recent trial has resulted in not guilty verdicts for the six facing the charge, but the campaign continues to ensure that all remaining charges are dropped.
Interesting reading/h3>
- Universities are broke. So let’s cut the pointless admin and get back to teaching, Andre Spicer, The Guardian, 21 August
- Is the University Superranuation Scheme suffering fantasy deficits?, Henry Tapper, 31 July 2017
Dates for the diary
- Wed 13 September, 13:00-14:00, Action Group on USS, Room tbc
- Thu 12 October, 13:00-14:00, Departmental Contacts Meeting, Chancellors Room, Firth Court
- Thu 19 October, 13:00-14:00, General Meeting, Council Room, Firth Court