The national ballot result has now been published. 87% voted for action short of a strike and 78% for strike action over threats to pensions. The turn-out of 45% was the highest for a national ballot since UCU was formed in 2006, showing the strength of feeling. The employers have already begun to make concessions. The national Higher Education Committee will discuss next steps on Friday 24 October and we will bring you more news as soon as we have it.
Bullying & Harassment Awareness Day
The campus unions will be holding a stall on the concourse on Friday 31 October between 12 and 2pm to raise awareness around bullying and harassment in the workplace and how to tackle these serious issues. We are working with the HR team to develop new policies for the University on this theme and welcome your input. Please get in touch by email or drop by the stall. We welcome volunteers to help staff the stall on the day!
'Reward & Recognition' negotiations
You may be aware that SUCU together with the other campus unions are in ongoing discussions with management about SRDS and 'reward and recognition'. Management are putting brief updates on the HR website.
The TU's hope and expect that we will be able in due course to put proposals to our members which overall are an improvement for staff.
We have had some queries and, to avoid any misunderstanding, discussions affecting pay continue to be on the basis of the 'Framework Agreement' underpinning our current pay structure. In particular regarding incremental pay progression this says, 'Staff will have a normal expectation that progression from point to point up to the exceptional threshold will take place on an annual basis, subject exceptionally to existing procedures for dealing with performance problems, when increments may be withheld. Accelerated incremental progression, including progression into the exceptional range, will reflect sustained exceptional contribution by the job holder.'
SUCU Branch News 15th October 2014
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USS ballot closes next Monday - please use your vote
In response to a number of queries members may be interested to see the Health and Safety Executive's regulations on office temperature. Do you have a thermometer in your office? Do you have hot water? Have you been told when this heating problem will be resolved and what is being done to protect your health and well being?
Campus master plan consultation period extended
Members are encouraged to engage with this consultation particularly with regard to matters affecting your health and safety. We understand the deadline is now 24th Oct.
SUCU Branch News 9th Oct 2014
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USS ballot - use your vote
What can I do to help?
Use your vote
Talk to colleagues and circulate this flyer. Its also vital that non-members understand the threat to their pension. They can join online and support the action.
Come to the General Meeting 14 Oct 1pm in the Council Chamber, Octagon Centre.
Regional coach to TUC Britain needs a pay rise demo, London, 18 Oct 2014
Workers in Britain are facing the biggest squeeze on their incomes since Victorian times; wages have fallen in real terms every year since 2010. Britain's richest people have managed to DOUBLE their wealth in the five years since the financial crash with a combined fortune of £519billion. This TUC demonstration will take place at the end of a week of strikes by various unions, including FE members of UCU. Let’s make this the biggest TUC demo ever – Britain Needs a Pay Rise.
Sheffield: depart 7.45am - Paternoster Row (near Showcase Cinema) S1 2BX. Book seats on the coach via Helen Sidlow, UCU Regional Office: hsidlow@ucu.org.uk
UCU occupational stress survey 2014
UCU nationally is running the latest in our series of biennial stress surveys to monitor members' perceptions of their working conditions. We need as many members as possible to respond to the survey to give us a good picture of the levels of work-related stress and other key issues that our members experience such as life-work conflict. The information will be used to develop our campaign for better working conditions, and to help employers tackle the causes of stress in the workplace at source. This questionnaire about your experience of work-related stress is anonymous, and all information will be treated confidentially. The survey was designed, and will be administered and analysed by a team of independent researchers.
Please click here to respond to the questionnaire. The survey should only take about 20 minutes to complete, and will remain live until Monday 20 October. If you have any queries please contact UCU health & safety advisor John Bamford (jbamford@ucu.org.uk).
Intellectual property rights advice service launched by UCU
Its called UCU IP Protect and will provide members with up to 1.5 hours of expert legal advice on intellectual property rights, what they are and how to exploit and protect them. The new service will be accessible via the UCU Support Centre. The service is being offered in a collaboration with international law firm Maclay Murray Spens LLP.
SUCU Branch News 2 Oct 2014
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USS ballot - use your vote to defend your pension
Use your vote, speak to your colleagues and email this flyer that provides more information.
You will have seen recent briefings about the USS ballot that starts today and closes on 20th October. Your paper ballot form will arrive during the next few days. The proposals will mean lower benefits, less guaranteed income in retirement, and a worse pension than colleagues in the Teachers Pension Scheme. Remember this is just the start and if they win this then future erosion is very likely.
Its important that we get a good turn out and a strong vote in favour of action on both ASOS and taking strike action.
We have a good case:
The huge 'deficit' is artificial - USS is healthy and growing. The USS projections involved are contested by UCU and we believe the employers’ proposals are a deliberate overreaction. Since 2011, the fund’s investments have grown by £8bn. Returns on investment have outperformed both average earnings and inflation.
The employers can afford it - Pre-92 institutions are doing well. There is simply no case for the pensions they offer to be inferior to those offered by new universities.
This youtube video produced by Leeds UCU explains the threats and what we can do to stop them.
This is a detailed analysis of the effects of the proposals completed for UCU by First Actuarial.
Press coverage: Telegraph, Times Higher, FT.
If you want more information about the employers’ proposals please go to our USS blogsite.
Not sure which way to vote? Hang on to your ballot paper and come to the General Meeting 14th Oct 1pm in the Council Chamber, Octagon Centre.
General Meeting 14th Oct 1pm in the Council Chamber, Octagon Centre
The focus of this meeting for all members is the current threats to USS and the ballot. Beverages will be provided from 12.45. A guest speaker is tbc.
Sheffield March and Rally in support of Public Sector strikers Tuesday 14th October
Sheffield Trade Union Council is organising a march and rally in Sheffield in support of the public sector strikes taking place that week across the country. Local Authority workers in UNISON, GMB and UNITE are taking a day's strike action over pay restraint which has seen their pay fall in real terms faster than any other group of workers
Assemble 1100hrs Devonshire Green. Speakers at 1115hrs. March sets off 1130hrs. 1230hrs arrive at City Hall steps Barkers Pool for final rally and speeches. Close 1330hrs.
Regional coach to TUC Britain needs a pay rise demo, London, 18 Oct 2014
Workers in Britain are facing the biggest squeeze on their incomes since Victorian times; wages have fallen in real terms every year since 2010. Britain's richest people have managed to DOUBLE their wealth in the five years since the financial crash with a combined fortune of £519billion. This TUC demonstration will take place at the end of a week of strikes by various unions, including FE members of UCU. Let’s make this the biggest TUC demo ever – Britain Needs a Pay Rise.
SHEFFIELD: depart 7.45am - Paternoster Row (near Showcase Cinema) S1 2BX
Book seats on the coach via Helen Sidlow, UCU Regional Office: hsidlow@ucu.org.uk
SUCU Branch News 25 Sept 2014
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Industrial action - USS ballot starts 1 Oct
Delegates at the Special USS Conference last Friday discussed the threats to the USS pension scheme and the UCU negotiators' recommendation to ballot for industrial action. The Conference agreed to a ballot for industrial action, to be taken if agreement can't be reached. The ballot will start next Wednesday 1st October and close on Monday 20 October.
The Universities UK proposal would mean a reduction of thousands of pounds in the annual pension for most members, and indications are that further erosion of the scheme would follow. The proposal is:
Closure of the final salary section of USS, with all final salary scheme members forced into the inferior career average scheme
A £40,000 earnings cap above which even the career average scheme will not apply
A grossly inferior new 'defined contribution' (money purchase) pot for salary above £40k, with a lower employer contribution, the income from which would depend upon 'investment performance'.
Your union's message is:
The huge 'deficit' is artificial - USS is healthy and growing. The USS projections involved are contested by UCU and we believe the employers’ proposals are a deliberate overreaction. Since 2011, the fund’s investments have grown by £8bn. Returns on investment have outperformed both average earnings and inflation.
If the Employers are allowed to introduce a defined contribution scheme then indications are that they would soon end all guaranteed benefits. We know this from experience. We predicted that they would propose ending the final salary scheme once they got the inferior career average scheme in place, and now they are. We predict they will do the same with the grossly inferior 'money purchase' scheme if they get away with introducing it. This must be stopped.
FE members in England to strike on Tuesday 14 October
UCU’s further education committee (FEC) met last Friday (12 September) to consider an e-ballot of members in English colleges where 85% of those who voted chose to reject the 1% final pay offer for 2014/15. Following significant discussion regarding the level of turnout in the member consultation, the legality of taking action and of all available options, FEC voted in favour of calling on FE members in England to take strike action on Tuesday 14 October 2014. Members will be joining colleagues in other public sector unions, providing opportunity for coordinated regional rallies and demonstrations. Full report and latest FE News here.
Regional UCU coach to TUC Britain needs a pay rise demo, London, 18 Oct 2014
UCU HQ can fund a coach for our region to this important demonstration. Plans are being finalised but the intention is for the coach to pick up in York, Leeds and Sheffield. A leaflet and further details will be forwarded soon.
Stand up to UKIP demo in Doncaster (at UKIP conference),27 Sept 2014