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Branch updates

News in brief from SUCU Committee.

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 education, research grant application writing, and time management.

SUCU Branch News 30 April 2015

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Reward and Recognition update - ballot result

Many of you will have seen our previous email announcing the local ballot outcome in favour of the proposals to change the Framework Agreement.  We will give more details when the other sister unions have completed balloting their members. Our success in these negotiations is of national significance.  In the current national pay negotiations the university employers' organisation UCEA is trying to link increments to performance. We are very pleased that they cannot use Sheffield as an example of an institution where this is going ahead. Read more about the pay offer...

SUCU Branch Officer and Committee nominations deadline 13 May

The next SUCU AGM will be held on Wed 10th June 1pm.  One of the items of business at the meeting will be election of Branch Officers and Committee members. If you would like to stand for election for Committee membership or for a Branch Officer position please return this nomination form by Monday 13 May.  The SUCU Branch Officer positions are President, Vice President, Branch Secretary, Equalities Officer, Health & Safety Officer, Pensions Officer, Education Officer, and two new roles of Anti-casualization Officer, and Communications Officer. If you would like to find out more please see general UCU guidance  and get in touch.  Current Committee Members would also be happy to talk to you.

Monday 4th May Chesterfield May Day Peoples Gala demonstration

Assemble outside Chesterfield Town Hall at 10.30 for march to the rally at New Square. Organised by Chesterfield Trade Union Council.

UCU policy comparison webpage - General Election 2015

A dedicated UCU webpage has been set up to compare what each party is promising for further and higher education at this election.

UCU survey: disabled members' experience

UCU is gathering the experiences of disabled members in relation to their experiences of disability harassment. The findings will be used to draw together evidence with a view to producing strategies for branches and institutions to tackle disability harassment with practical advice and support for members.  If you have visual impairment and are having problems completing the survey please contact Swati Patel (spatel@ucu.org.uk) in the first instance. If you have any general queries about the survey please contact Swati Patel (spatel@ucu.org.uk). We very much welcome your views and hope that you will take part in this survey. You can access the survey here.   The closing date for the survey is Friday 29 May 2015.

Remembering the Armenian Genocide

This Friday marks the 100 year anniversary of the start of an extensive year-long campaign by Ottoman Turks to root out ethnic Armenians from modern day Turkey. You can read the testimonial from UCU member James Derounian about the Armenian genocide and the impact on his family in our booklet containing testimonials from UCU members here.

SUCU Branch News 23 April 2015

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SUCU Annual General Meeting 10 June 1pm

Please note the date of our next AGM.  All members are very welcome and an agenda will follow shortly.  Part of the business of the AGM is to elect members of SUCU Committee.  If you are interested in standing for a Committee position please get in touch before 12 May by emailing ucu@sheffield.ac.uk. Current members would be happy to talk to you about what it would mean.

National pay negotiations

As usual, this time of year sees talks between the joint unions and HE employers on pay and related matters. At the time of writing no pay offer has yet been made by the employers' side. We will bring you further news as we get it.

UCU women members survey

UCU is gathering feedback from women members in relation to their experiences of sexual harassment. The findings will be used to draw together evidence to produce strategies for branches and institutions to tackle sexual harassment with practical advice and support for members.  If you have any queries please email spatel@ucu.org.uk in the first instance.  We very much welcome your views and hope that you will take part in this survey.  The closing date for the survey is Friday 15 May 2015.

Saturday 25th April - March for the NHS. Assemble 1100hrs Endcliffe Park, Sheffield

Organised by Peoples NHS this short march over just over a mile will proceed along Oakbrook Road through Nick Clegg's constituency to Nether Green.