UCU members in 69 UK universities will begin an assessment boycott on Thursday 6 November. The assessment boycott will stop students being set coursework or receiving formal marks and feedback, as well as halting exams.
UCU press release.
Come to the Special Branch Meeting Wed 5 Nov 1-2, Hicks Building LT3 to ask questions and talk about practicalities. Display this poster to publicize the meeting.
Bullying & Harassment Awareness Day tomorrow
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!
Bullying in academia - Guardian Higher Education Network article
Members are encouraged to read this article about bullying in academia and complete the Guardian survey. The survey is anonymous and aimed at professionals (both academics and support staff) working in universities in the UK and overseas who have been / are being bullied. It should take no more than a few minutes to complete. The findings will be published on the Guardian Higher Education Network.
A short survey on workplace cyber harassment
We are aware of this study which has been ethically approved by the Sheffield University Management School. The survey asks about your experiences of negative work-related behaviour both face-to-face and via technologies (which can include text messaging; pictures/photos/video clips; phone calls; email; instant messaging; social networking websites; video software and general websites).
TUC "Pensions for All" seminar 19 November 2014
The regional TUC equality fora, led by the Retired Members’ Forum, are holding a seminar on pensions aimed at pensioners, pension activists and working members who will also be affected by the implications of the 2014 Pensions’ Act. Speakers include Bryn Davies and Dot Gibson. See attached flyer and registration form. Venue: The Tramways Club, 1 Mill Street, York YO1 9PY.
Help to stop anti-choice campaigners who are threatening to close down abortion services
There has been a significant upsurge in anti-abortion protests by a group called Abort67 over the last couple of weeks. This is a group which protests outside clinics with posters of aborted foetuses and which aggressively accosts and harasses women trying to access clinics. They have recently targeted an NHS clinic in Southwark which is deeply worrying – it is not just that they are harassing women, staff and members of the public near clinics – they are trying to prevent women having any access to abortion services in the local area full stop. If they were successful in closing down the service, this would set a worrying new precedent in the UK. Our friends at Abortion Rights (to which UCU is affiliated to) have set up a petition.
Stonewall LGBT survey
We would encourage members to complete the Stonewall survey recently circulated by the University to hear from staff about their views and experiences of LGBT equality at work. Please use the University of Sheffield Three Digit Code: 719.
SUCU Branch News 22 October 2014
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USS dispute
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