HudUCU News Update

Some news which may be of interest to our members here in Huddersfield for the week ending 29/10/21

A report this week shows that half of UK university staff are suffering from depression. UCU said that the report should ‘shame every single vice chancellor in the UK’.

The report shows:

• 53% of those surveyed showed probable signs of depression
• 79% of respondents said they need to work very intensively, often or always
• 29% said they felt emotionally drained from work every day
• 21% said they work an extra 16 hours per week on top of contracted hours.

UCU’s Jo Grady said:

‘This report makes for stark reading, but sadly won’t come as news to the thousands of university staff who have been pushed to breaking point by their own employers. Over half of those surveyed are showing signs of depression, whilst almost eight in ten report regularly intense workloads. These figures should shame every single vice-chancellor in the UK, who rather than criticising university staff balloting for strike action over these issues, should demonstrate they take the welfare of their workforce seriously.

‘This crisis hasn’t happened overnight, and staff have been calling for action to tackle unmanageable workloads for years. However, university management have been more interested in chasing student tuition fees, cutting pay and attacking pensions, leaving worn out staff barely able to cope.

‘Staff know full-well that industrial action will cause disruption, but these statistics are a timely reminder as to why staff have been left with no choice. Students and staff alike will benefit from an improved culture in our universities, that treats staff as valuable human beings, rather than a transactional resource that can be picked up and dropped whenever.’

Here is a list of mental health charities which can help

The NHS advises you to speak to your GP if you are experiencing problems.

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HudUCU Myth Buster

“Can the union really help me with everyday problems such as finance?”

UCU can help you with a variety of services. For example, it provides financial advice through an appointmented financial advisor. This might include how to:

• build up a nest-egg tax-efficiently, for yourself or for your children or grandchildren
• boost your pension provision, so you will be able to enjoy a comfortable retirement
• protect your family’s income
• pay for long-term care
• pass on your wealth to your loved ones in a tax-efficient way
• plan for for retirement
• draw your pension

Please Post Your Ballot Form

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Please remember to post your ballot form by Tuesday 2nd of November

The UCU ‘Four Fights’ Dispute

HudUCU News Update

Some national news which may be of interest to our members here in Huddersfield for the week ending 22/10/21 …

Unsurprisingly, the dispute continues to dominate news this week. On a local level, Huddersfield members have been letting their views be known and there have been many interesting conversations. What are your views? Let your rep know. Let the union know. As a member you need to have your democratic say about the union’s activities and ambitions.

Some of you are wondering what the process is for the dispute.

1. On the 5th of November the ballot results will be published
2. From the 8th-11th of November, members will be consulted over the results
3. On November 12th each branch will express their views at a meeting
4. Also on November 12th decisions will be taken about actions to be taken

If you’re not sure what the issues are then you can find a summary of them here.

There’s also a handy infographic

A key piece of information of note is to do with a 50% turnout level. If our branch does not have 50%+ of members voting then we cannot take any industrial action.

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HudUCU Myth Buster

“Is UCU only there for staff not students?”

UCU is always supporting the student voice and students are eligible to join UCU. In fact, this week, UCU has been campaining to stop the government lowering the threshold at which students would repay loans. A letter was writen to Nadhim Zahawi. In it, UCU says any move to lower the salary threshold at which students repay would be ‘regressive’ and would risk putting off ‘less privileged students’ from entering higher education. UCU says lowering the threshold would ‘make a bad situation worse’. UCU also criticised the Westminster government’s 50% cut to the high-cost grant funding for creative arts subjects.

HudUCU Message from the Chair

Thank you to everyone who attended the EGM on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming vote on industrial action.  The “4 fights” dispute covers Pay, Workload, Equality, and Casualisation.  If you missed the meeting then please do check your email, as Anna and I have circulated information about the vote.  If you have any questions or concerns then please do get in touch.  If we can answer we will, and if we can’t then we will pass them on to Regional Office.

Locally, we continue our own discussions with management about Workload Allocation Modelling.  Do remember that we are ALL entitled to see our own workload allocations at any time, and that schools should publish their WAMS as soon as possible to allow us to compare our workloads to those of our colleagues.  If this is not happening then contact your line manager and ask to see your WAM.  If this doesn’t work then let us know and we will continue to pursue this.

We are still looking for reps for Human and Health Sciences.  If you are a member of UCU in that school and you are interested in getting involved then please do get in touch.  Facility time and training can be provided.

And finally, good luck for the term ahead.

HudUCU Myth Buster

“Is HudUCU only there for work-related disputes?”

The UCU does a lot to help and support its members. We’re here to offer a full range of advice to do with equality, health & safety, pensions, planning for retirement, part-time working and professional issues. Of course, UCU is there to help when things go wrong, but it’s also there for the other important work-related issues. Sources of advice are available for wills, lasting power of attorney, renunciation of executorship, probate, severance of joint tenancy, buying a newly built home, conveyancing, re-mortgaging and financial mis-selling claims such as payment protection insurance (PPI).

HudUCU News Update

Some national news which may be of interest to our members here in Huddersfield for the week ending 15/10/21 …

You’ve probably heard a lot from Huddersfield UCU this week about the ongoing national dispute.

The UCU national says:

“I know some of you will be anxious about another round of industrial action, after strikes in 2019/20, and of course the pandemic, which has been incredibly tough for staff and students alike.

But actually, students support us. They recognise that staff working conditions are student learning conditions, and today I am pleased to announce that the National Union of Students (NUS) has agreed to support our campaign. Staff – student solidarity will be essential in holding the line and winning what you deserve.

The truth is that we have tried to negotiate and compromise with employers, but they haven’t even met us half way. So, we have no option but to escalate and try to win change through collective action. “

This week the university of Huddersfield UCU met with members to discuss their views, concerns and answer questions. The meeting took place online and yielded a good turnout.

Fundamentally, the dispute is to do with:

• Pay
• Equality
• Casualisation
• In other universities (Not Huddersfield) there is also a dispute over the handling of the USS pension scheme

What are your opinions and views? Please let your union reps know.

Nationally, we are seeing disputes at other institutions develop. The Royal College of Art is now entering its second week of dispute. In the last two academic years there have been more than 1,000 visiting lecturers working on zero hours contracts at the RCA with no guaranteed work and limited employment rights. Included in the action at the RCA is a ban on marking, a refusal to re-schedule cancelled work due to industrial action, and a refusal to share materials related to the industrial action.

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