Branch updates

News in brief from SUCU Committee.

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.pdfwww.ucu.org.uk/circ/pdf/UCUHE250_att2.pdfwww.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.    

SUCU Branch News 21 May 2015

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SUCU Annual General Meeting 10 June 1pm, Council Chamber

If you want to hear about the work of SUCU Committee and influence the direction your union takes please come along to our AGM.  Business will include election of next year's Branch Committee, two motions for debate, and an update from National Congress.  Read the full agenda.  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.

UCU National Congress 23-25 May

This weekend two SUCU delegates will be attending UCU's national conference in Glasgow.  Important decisions will be made by delegates on for example pay negotiations, and there will be a report back at the AGM on 10 June. Read more... 

Support local Green co workers

This is a very important struggle for GMB members at Sheffield's recycling centres.  They are fighting an ongoing battle over issues including: bullying, pay, poor welfare facilities, increased use of zero hours contracts, ending payment of the living wage and threatened disciplinary action for the entire work-force for expressing an intention to take legitimate and lawful strike action.  Read more...

National Demonstration Against Casualisation and TeachHigher on June 19th, 12.00, University of Warwick

Warwick University staff and students call on their colleagues across UK Higher Education to support them in resisting TeachHigher. TeachHigher is a scheme whereby hourly paid academic staff will no longer be recruited and employed by academic departments but contracted via this new ‘internal academic recruitment and administration service’. TeachHigher is being piloted at Warwick but intends to franchise out at universities across the UK.  Read more...

End Austerity Now National demo 20 June, London

The Peoples Assembly have organised a major national event.  See more information including travel arrangements.

SUCU Branch News 14 May 2015

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Latest national pay offer

The final meeting of this year’s New JNCHES national negotiating round took place on 12 May. UCEA made a full and final offer which includes a pay rise of 1% for the vast majority of staff. UCU HE conference will consider this offer in two weeks time and decide whether it is acceptable or whether to campaign for an improved offer including via industrial action. SUCU are sending two delegates. If you have views on the offer please let us know.

Successful appeal in major fixed-term contracts case

Members may have seen the outcome of the successful appeal in UCU v University of Stirling.  The court found that the university had been wrong not to include fixed-term staff in a redundancy consultation and backed UCU's view that employers should have had to consult with the union where 20 or more fixed term contracts were coming to an end. This outcome has wide ranging implications including the opportunity of re-opening previous legal cases. If this is an issue that has affected you in the past, whether at Sheffield or elsewhere, please get in touch at ucu@sheffield.ac.uk.

Come to the open SUCU Committee meeting 3 June 1 pm

Ever wondered what its like being a member of SUCU Committee?  Come along to a regular meeting to find out more.  We have moved our usual meeting venue on 3 June to Meeting Room 1, Octagon so there is room for members wishing to attend.

Sheffield Protest Against Austerity this Saturday

Members concerned about attacks on education and our students may wish to join this demonstration in Sheffield starting at 12pm on Devonshire Green.  Over 1200 are down as going on the Facebook event.  

SUCU Branch News 7 May 2015

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Branch Meeting next Tues 12 May 1pm

All members are welcome and encouraged to attend.  Items on the agenda will include a reward and recognition update, and new negotiations for a stress policy under discussion with University management.  Tea and coffee will be served at 12.45.

Have you ever thought about having more influence and helping colleagues?

One way of getting more involved in the life of your union is by becoming a member of SUCU Branch Committee.  By joining us you will learn a lot more about how the university works, have the opportunity to influence decisions and make a difference on behalf of colleagues, and network with activists across the university. If you would like to find out more please get in touch  by emailing ucu@sheffield.ac.uk.  Current Committee Members would also be happy to talk to you.

UCU stamp out casualisation campaign - success in helping individual members

You will be familiar with UCU's campaign to reduce the use of part-time hourly paid contracts, and for all regular part-time staff to be employed on permanent fractional contracts - on pro-rata pay and terms and conditions. Also, behind the scenes UCU is helping individual members on casual contracts make a case for permanence, continuity of employment, fair pay and treatment or tackling the abuses that come with precarious treatment. You may be interested to read about recent successes in the annual report. If you would like to get involved locally please get in touch with SUCU Committee by emailing ucu@sheffield.ac.uk. Please also talk to colleagues about joining UCU.  Building the strength of the union will help win more improvements.  Read more about the local campaign...

New continuing professional development (CPD) courses booking now

As part of the popular continuing professional development (CPD) programme ‘Learning for Life’ UCU have just announced dates of more free courses on classroom management,  assertiveness skills,leadership in educationresearch grant application writing, and time management.