Branch updates

News in brief from SUCU Committee.

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SUCU Branch News 9 April 2015

Published on 9 April 2015 at 12:38

Appointments available at SUCU advice surgery Tues 14 April

Three appointment slots are available to see Branch Personal Caseworkers at a surgery next Tuesday to give advice to individual members about employment related matters. Surgeries are usually held once a month for individual members who have asked SUCU for help, and are normally fully booked. Its very unusual to have unfilled appointments so we are offering the spaces to the general membership on a first come first served basis. If you're interested please reply to this message, and state which slots you would be available: 3.00- 3.30, 3.30 - 4.00 or 4.00 - 4.30. Obviously, the more flexible you can be, the greater the chance of an appointment.

“Hungry for Justice” International Fast Food Workers Rights Event Saturday 18th April

The rally starts at midday at the bottom of Fargate as part of the ongoing Fast Food Workers Rights Campaign organised by International Union of Foodworkers (IUF) and backed by Bakers Union (BFAWU) and UNITE Community. Join the demand for £10 National Minimum Wage Now and No to Zero Hours Contracts. It’s followed by a public meeting at 2pm in Central United Reform Chapel on Norfolk Street (opposite Crucible).

SUCU Branch News 26 March 2015

Published on 26 March 2015 at 16:18

Research grant application writing courses - free for UCU members

UCU offer a range of personal and professional development resources that will provide practical help throughout the course of your career. Places are still available for a research grant application writing course: Professor Andrew Derrington, author of The Research Funding Toolkit presents a one day workshop aimed at helping academics write better research grant applications:

understanding how research funding decisions dictate the content and structure of a grant application
practical exercises on how to design fundable research projects
develop writing skills to present your project effectively to any research funder.

Further details and course outline Available dates: 20 Apr 2015 in Birmingham, 10:00 - 15:30, St Martin in the Bullring. Register here. 9 Jun 2015 in Leeds, 10:00 - 15:30, St George's Centre. Register here. More information about CPD opportunities with UCU.

SUCU Branch News 19 March 2015

Published on 19 March 2015 at 13:58

USS consultation period 16 March - 22 May

Our employer is now sending out consultation packs to each individual member of the USS pension scheme. Members are encouraged to consider information provided by UCU on the USS consultation and our local webpage when considering your responses. We have until 22 May to send our individual comments so there is time to think it over. For more information about the consultation process and the proposed changes please also see slides shown by the National UCU Pensions Officer at the Branch Meeting last week.

Stand up to Racism national demo this Saturday

Many organisations will be coming together on Saturday 21 March 2015 to reject racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism; to celebrate diversity and make migrants welcome, to demonstrate confidence in a future free of scapegoating, racism and hatred, and to remember Nelson Mandela and cherish the idea for a free and democratic society in which all persons live together in harmony and equal opportunities. More information...

Public Hustings Meeting Against Austerity 25th March 7-9pm

As part of our promotion of the your vote matters campaign we are alerting members to an excellent event organised by the local Peoples Assembly in association with the Festival of Debate. Venue: Central United Reform Church (opposite the Crucible), Norfolk Street. Austerity – a failed experiment? Come along to hear some of the local candidates who are standing in the General Election. Question them about their views and policies on deficit reduction, public spending cuts and dismantling of the public sector, zero hours contracts, wage cuts, benefit sanctions, bedroom tax, child poverty, food banks, NHS privatisation, and all the other consequences of austerity.

Saturday 18th April International Fast food Rights Event - Real Jobs on Real Pay for all

Outdoor rally Fargate 12pm. There will be speeches, entertainment and refreshment, followed by Public Meeting 2pm Central United Reformed Church (opposite crucible). Read more about the Fast Food rights campaign objectives and activities.

USS consultation starts today 16 March

Published on 16 March 2015 at 10:29

USS consultation starts today 16 March

At the Branch Meeting last Wednesday Geraldine Egan UCU National Pension Official spoke to members about the USS consultation and changes. Read her presentation. The statutory consultation with active members of USS is due to start on 16 March. University management are distributing paperwork packs from USS to members of the scheme. The material will include links for members to provide individual responses on a dedicated USS website. It is highly recommended that members read Geraldine's slides and check our local USS webpage which will be regularly updated - collating the information, with links to further reading. The consultation period ends on 22 May. Other updates provided by Branch Officers at the meeting included:

Reward and Recognition (below).
Members are asked to consider becoming a SUCU delegate to Sheffield Trades Council. There are some spare delegate spaces yet to be filled. Please respond to this email if you would like to learn more.

Reward & Recognition: Good Progress

We have told you about our local 'Reward and Recognition' negotiations in previous Branch News emails. We are glad to confirm that the deadlock with management over normal incremental progression has been broken and we hope to have an agreement within a few weeks which we we will be able to recommend to you. You will of course have the final say, in an eballot, on whether to accept the eventual set of proposed changes.

Stand up to Racism national demo 21 March

SUCU Branch News 5 March 2015

Published on 5 March 2015 at 14:54

Branch Meeting next Wednesday 11 March 1pm Council Chamber Octagon Centre

Our guest speaker next week will be Geraldine Egan - a pensions advice specialist from UCU. Please note Geraldine advises and assists UCU members regarding their individual pensions - separate to USS negotiations. Other items on the agenda are: USS update (read more..), anti-bullying and harassment campaign and an update on reward and recognition negotiations. Tea and coffee will be served at 12.45. Please display this poster and encourage members to attend.

Pensions specialist surgery for individual members 11 March - book your appointment

Our pensions specialist will also hold a surgery after the branch meeting to give advise to individual UCU members about anything to do with pensions. 10 minute slots will be available. The surgery will be held in the SUCU office. If you're interested please reply to this message, and provide times you can be available between 2.30 and 4.30. Obviously, the more flexible you can be, the greater the chance of an appointment. We'll gauge demand from this event, and hold further sessions if necessary.

International Womens' Day 8 March

Each year International Women's Day is celebrated across the globe on 8 March. It is a widely celebrated as an opportunity to draw attention to the struggle for women's rights, to link these up with women's struggles worldwide and to demonstrate international sisterly solidarity with working women everywhere. Events in Sheffield UCU postcard

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