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News in brief from SUCU Committee.

SUCU Branch News 9 July 2015

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Consultative Pay Ballot result

All members should already have received a message from Sally Hunt (UCU General Secretary) about the results of the consultative pay ballot.  You will see that a final decision will not be made until October following four national/regional consultation meetings towards the end of September. We will of course be contacting you ahead of this consultation and you can send your comments at any time to ucu@sheffield.ac.uk.

Implementation of new reward and recognition scheme

We are hearing from members that sessions are now being held across Departments about the new reward and recognition scheme.  These changes are the result of many months of challenging negotiations with University Management by the campus unions .  The negotiations centered around changes to the Local Framework Agreement (the local implementation of the National Framework Agreement reached in 2004) which affects the terms and conditions of employment for Staff on Grades 1-9. Most notably and of national significance the unions have protected the principle that staff can expect annual increments within the normal range, in recognition of their increased experience and skill in the role. Please note - the unions to did not sign up to "the Deal" element or support the new individual rewards scheme that replaced non-consolidated ECAs.

UCU Guidance on the Prevent Strategy

The Prevent duty is the University's obligation to participate in a governmental policy to  ‘Deal with all forms of terrorism and with non-violent extremism, which can create an atmosphere conducive to terrorism and can popularise views which terrorists then exploit'.  There are many aspects of the Prevent duty which remain unclear. UCU have produced this briefing to help branches.

Five cities, seven years: my life post-PhD

Members may be interested to read this THE blog post from a local member about early careers and job insecurity.  Its also on her personal blog.

SUCU Branch News 25 June 2015

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New University procedures  - your feedback please

This week a new redeployment procedure, and a new SRDS process will be introduced and closely monitored.  Both procedures should be better than their predecessors - in response to campus trade union negotiations. We would like to hear from our members about how they are unfolding in practice.  Please email in confidence: ucu@sheffield.ac.uk.

Sheffield Pride  27 June to 4 July

This is the largest annual LGBT event in Sheffield and has been sponsored by the University for 5 years.  The week long activities include:

Four myths about why women aren't getting the top jobs in universities

Members may be interested in this Guardian article about women in top HE jobs.

Events of Interest

"Fighting Against Cuts and Privatisation in NHS" Thursday 2nd July 7pm,Quaker Meeting House.   Read more..

SUCU Branch News 18 June 2015

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Pay offer: consultative ballot now open

Members should by now have received an email with a link to the consultative ballot on the final pay offer for 2015-16 of 1% from university employers. If you’ve not yet received a ballot email contact campaigns@ucu.org.uk. HE sector conference debated the final offer and resolved that UCU should call for members to REJECT the offer, and to vote YES for strike action and YES to action short of a strike in furtherance of the dispute.  Further information on the HE pay negotiations can be found here. 

Member surgery 24 June

There are some appointment slots available at our surgery on the 24 June, 10.30 to 12.30 for individual members seeking advice about an employment issue   Volunteer UCU colleagues from within the Branch who have received casework training will be offering confidential help and advice.  If you would like to book an individual appointment please email ucu@sheffield.ac.uk.  Please note that members are not normally eligible for help in the first three months of membership.  Read more about SUCU assistance here.

End austerity now!  People’s Assembly demo in London, 20 June

Its anticipated that thousands of people will be joining the protests against austerity at People’s  Assembly demonstration in London on 20 June.  UCU members are encouraged to make plans to attend.  Transport arrangements including coaches from Sheffield.

Maternity rights and shared parental leave

Members may be interested in 2 new briefings produced by UCU.

Sheffield Palestine Education Network 22nd June, 5pm

Guest speaker Steve Kinneavy will be talking, with photographs, about his recent house-rebuilding trip to Palestine.  Venue: Room 221 of the Owen Building, Sheffield Hallam City Campus, 5-7pm.

SUCU Branch News 11 June 2015

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Key points from SUCU AGM

Our AGM yesterday heard a review of the year and updates from Branch Officers including local negotiations and the recent UCU Congress.  Two motions were discussed and carried - about the arms trade, and concerns about the use of capability processes. Minutes of the meeting and the SUCU annual report will be circulated soon.

Pay offer - UCU consultative ballot now open - closes  25 June

HE sector conference agreed to consult members on the employer’s 1% pay offer and to recommend rejection.  We will bring you more information next week but in the mean time see details of the offer and the trade union claim in the following links: www.ucu.org.uk/circ/pdf/UCUHE250_att1.pdf, www.ucu.org.uk/circ/pdf/UCUHE250_att2.pdf, www.ucu.org.uk/circ/pdf/UCUHE250_att3.pdf How to vote:  Members will receive a separate email with instructions on how to vote.

UCU pamphlet in support of immigration

UCU has produced an excellent booklet in collaboration with the Centre for Labour Studies, 'Why Immigration is good for all of us'. This was showcased at Congress.  

Membership audit - please help by checking your details

An audit of all UCU members at the University of Sheffield is now completed.  It's been carried out to enable the union to ballot members within the existing law.  Please check your details online and if necessary make amendments by registering first using your membership number (contact ucu@sheffield.ac.uk if you don't know this).

SUCU Branch News 4 June 2015

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SUCU AGM next Wednesday 10 June 1pm

Business will include election of next year's Branch Committee, two motions for debate, and an update from National Congress. The two motions concern - the arms trade (read background information ahead of the discussion here), and concerns about how the University's capability procedures are being used.  All members are encouraged to attend our AGM which will be held in the Council Chamber of the Octagon Centre. A sandwich lunch will be served at 12.45 and the SUCU Annual Report will be available on the day.  Please print out and display this poster and ask UCU colleagues to come along.

Rotherham Advertiser Victimisation 

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) chapel (branch) at the Rotherham Advertiser have agreed to take strike action on Thursday 11 June. The 24-hour walkout is in response to the decision by the new chief executive, Nick Alexander, to target the NUJ's Father of Chapel (FoC, shop steward) for compulsory redundancy. FoC Phil Turner is the only person who has been dismissed among editorial staff and was told on Wednesday 27 May. The union is appealing this decision and demanding the company withdraw the threat of redundancy immediately.   Read more... The NUJ is asking supporters to send respectful messages of protest to Rotherham Advertiser chief executive Nick Alexander nick.alexander@garnett-dickinson.co.uk.  Please copy in and send messages of support and solidarity to syorksnuj@hotmail.co.uk and campaigns@nuj.org.uk.   You may wish to use messages sent from SUCU Committee as a template.  There will also be a solidarity demo and rally in support of our trade union colleague. This will take place at 12 noon in All Saints Square, in the centre of Rotherham on Saturday 6th June at 12 noon.

UCU National Congress 2015 update 

UCU’s annual decision making conference took place in Glasgow over the bank holiday weekend and you can find all the motions debated and voted on here. Conference voted to recommend rejection of the 1% pay offer and members will be balloted in time.  SUCU delegates to Congress will give a full report back to members at the AGM next Wednesday 10 June.

Successful local action at Warwick against casualisation

Congratulations to colleagues and students at Warwick whose campaign has resulted in University management disbanding TeachHigher - a recruitment service that would have been contracted to supply hourly paid academic staff, so that staff would not be employed by academic departments. An Assembly will now be held on June 19th, 12.00, University of Warwick instead of the planned demo to discuss how best to move forward with the national campaign against casualization in HE.  Read more..

End austerity now!: People’s Assembly demonstrations in London, 20 June

Its anticipated that thousands of people will be joining the protests against austerity at People’s Assembly demonstration in London on 20 June.  UCU members are encouraged to make plans to attend and help build this important event. Transport arrangements including coaches from Sheffield.