UCU Salford News

EGM Final Reminder

2012-01-26T08:56:00.000Z

Please don't forget that the EGM will be held today, January 26th at 12:45pm in the Rayleigh Room, Faraday House. Members are urged to attend if at all possible.

Survey Link

2012-01-20T14:53:00.001Z

A survey link has been sent to all members today via Email. If you have not received this email, please contact the communications officer (comms-ucu@salford.ac.uk) with your membership number to be added to our mailing list.

EGM - January 26th

2012-01-19T16:37:00.002Z

An EGM will be held on Thursday 26th January at 12:45pm until 2pm in the Rayleigh Room, Faraday House to discuss the latest developments in the USS dispute. All members are urged to attend if possible.

2012-01-10T15:58:00.002Z

Dear Members,

Members who work at Media City at least part of the time are kindly invited to attend the inaugural trade union meeting at Media City. The meeting will take place on Wednesday 11th January 2012 in room MC 2.36 and will start at 12:00.

Wednesday's Action

2011-12-01T15:43:00.004Z

Below is an extract of an e-mail sent by our Branch President this morning. If you have not received the full message, and are a member at The University of Salford, please contact the communications officer quoting your membership number and we will add you to the list.

"Thank you for all of your support yesterday. It was a great day, and our march took in two great cities; Salford and Manchester. The education sections, including UCU, were most impressive and public support was good too. The support from both the older and younger generation on the route was very moving. Our thanks also go out to the Salford Students and their Union who were behind us on the 30th, and furthermore visited our picket lines to make their support known. Thanks also go to the solidarity of the Post Office Staff and others who turned their delivery round so as not to cross an official picket line. "

USS Action

2011-11-29T09:36:00.001Z

For all the latest news on the USS dispute, don't forget to visit UCU's national website.

EGM Reminder

2011-11-23T09:18:00.001Z

Don't forget that the EGM is today, Wednesday 23rd November at 1pm. Peel Building, Room 337.

EGM Notification – VIP Speaker Confirmed

2011-11-17T16:34:00.001Z

Dear Members,

An EGM will be held on Wednesday 23^rd November at 1pm until 2pm in Peel Building Room 337. The Senior UCU Negotiator on pensions, Alan Carr, will speak to the meeting about the progress and challenges facing the union in its attempts to prevent the theft of our pensions. We are very grateful for Alan's attendance as he is the UCU expert on pensions and has attended all the negotiations with the employer's representatives.

30th November Strike Day

2011-11-17T10:34:00.002Z

Dear Members,

There will be an EGM between the 21^st and the pensions strike day of 30^th November. This will enable us to update you on our Industrial Action, and to let you know if the Strike has been called off due to a settlement. The Branch Secretary will send out details in due course.

Further information on progress with the USS dispute has been emailed to members this morning. If you are a UCU member at Salford University and have not received an email today, please contact the Communications Officer quoting your membership number and we will ensure you are added to the mailing list.

High Level of Enquiries - Working to Contract

2011-11-11T13:45:00.000Z

Dear members,

We are receiving a high volume of traffic regarding this subject, unfortunately this week the Branch Secretary is unavailable, and the VP and Treasurer are training. Things should be back to normal by Monday when we will have our full capacity back.

It would be helpful if members who have a Rep in the first instance approach their Rep. It will also help if you have a copy of your contract, your workload and can ask your line manager before contacting the Branch; ‘is this voluntary’ or is it ‘part of my workload’. By all means if you are still struggling to understand the instructions please email the Branch, or re-email the Branch, if the delay in answering is problematic.

Important Advice From UCU Salford's Health & Safety Officer

2011-11-10T16:29:00.001Z

By law, every employer must perform a suitable and sufficient analysis of workstations (Regulation 2, Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992).

Information provided by users is an essential part of an assessment. But the employer has to “Arrange training for users on the risks, and safe behaviour and practices” and also arrange training for “workstation assessors”. Involving workers actively in the assessments is good practice, but who among us has been trained? The guidance to the regulations emphasise that “Whatever type of checklist is used, employers should ensure workers have received the necessary training before being asked to complete one.” (their bolding, not mine).

The user filling in the checklist should only be the first stage, not the whole assessment. A properly trained workstation assessor should go over the completed checklists, clarify any doubtful points, and tackle problems that the user can’t solve. This assessor is likely to be the trained safety co-ordinator in the school. So it seems to me that the instruction to staff from the Heads of Directorate that “Any issues arising from your DSE Workstation Assessment should be discussed with me as your Line Manager” could be questioned. It might be worth enquiring as to the extent of their training.

Of course, other factors, including rest breaks and office conditions - particularly humidity - can also be very important in the development of screen-related problems. Assessments should also be reviewed in the light of room changes, software changes etc.

The University of Salford code of practice is here:

http://www.hr.salford.ac.uk/docs/Display%20Screen%20Equipment%20Code%20of%20Practice%20Ver5.doc

The HSE guide is also useful:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg90.pdf

URGENT - Hourly Paid Staff - LEGAL ADVICE

2011-11-09T09:51:00.001Z

Dear Hourly Paid Lecturers,

Please attend this meeting today (12.30 until 2pm in Allerton L527). It is imperative that you attend and receive legal advice regarding the recent redundancies including the reductions in hours.

Reminder - Hourly Paid Part Time Staff

2011-11-08T15:33:00.001Z

A quick reminder of the meeting for hourly paid part time staff on Wednesday 9^th November 2011 at 12.30 until 2pm in Allerton L527.

March to Defend Education

2011-11-04T15:46:00.001Z

Any Salford members who wish to join the March to Defend Education on 9^th November in London should contact the UCU Salford office by 7^th November at the latest in order to discuss transport to the event.

Hourly Paid Part Time Staff

2011-11-01T15:49:00.001Z

A meeting for part time hourly paid UCU members will be held on Wednesday 9^th November 2011 at 12.30 until 2pm in Allerton L527 when pertinent issues and developments for those in these positions will be discussed. Hourly paid staff make a huge contribution to the education sector and few institutions could function effectively without them. Despite this, these staff are undervalued by their employers and the vast majority are low paid and have no job security or career progression. Salford University UCU Branch wishes to engage with the concerns of these members and explain what UCU is trying to achieve in this area. Please try to prioritise your attendance.

Latest Advice on Statement to Employer

2011-10-11T09:01:00.001+01:00

Latest Advice on Statement to Employer

Dear Members,

Please note the latest advice below from our UCU Officials. This gives you the appropriate wording to assist you in responding to the employer, AFTER the action has started, i.e. after yesterday, 10th October, 2011.

The advice makes reference to the fact that ONCE industrial action has begun, ie after today, if members are asked about their participation in 'action short of strike action' they should quote the statement on our website:

I confirm that I am participating in current industrial action organised by UCU, in the form of ‘working to contract’. UCU advises me that because I am fulfilling all reasonable contractual duties, the employer should not make any unauthorised deductions from my salary.

I hope this clarifies matters.

2011-10-10T15:37:00.001+01:00

WORKING TO CONTRACT - UCU EXPERT ADVICE - NO DECUCTION IN PAY
NO REQUIREMENT TO GIVE ADVANCE NOTICE OR TO COMPLETE PROFORMA

Dear Members,

I note that the Employer is confirming that we are NOT taking action that would warrant a deduction in pay. This of course is correct and helpful.

As this is the case and we are NOT taking the above action, it is NOT required upon us or our members to advise the Employer in advance on whether an individual member is engaging in the ‘action short of strike action’. As we know any such ‘notice’ would provide the employer with an opportunity to minimise the purpose of our intended action.

This advice is consistent with the advice we gave you in March when we were last in dispute.

Accordingly the Employers last paragraph has confused many of you, and seems to ask for notification in advance. Again here is UCU official advice: MEMBERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO ADVISE THEIR EMPLOYER OF ANYTHING AT THIS STAGE IF THEY ARE ENGAGING IN ‘ACTION SHORT OF STRIKE ACTION. YOU DO NOT NEED TO COMPLETE THE PROFORMA.

Contact Chris, Phil or Anthony if you wish to discuss further. Committee members please ensure that this message is circulated widely to ensure that all of the UCU Salford Branch is in receipt of this communication.

EGM Notification

2011-06-14T15:33:00.001+01:00

There will be an EGM on Wednesday 22nd June at 12:45. The location will be confirmed when arranged. The EGM will be to discuss the UCU ballot on industrial action over the USS changes.

AGM - 9th May 2011

2011-04-13T14:45:00.001+01:00

First Notification of Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the University of Salford UCU Branch will be held on Monday 9th May 2011 at 12.30pm in the Clifford Whitworth Conference Room. A light lunch will be provided.

EGM - 13th April 2011

2011-04-12T16:29:00.000+01:00

There will be an Extraordinary General Meeting held tomorrow, Wednesday, 13th April 2011, at 12.50pm in Mary Seacole Building Room 271 to update you in regard of current issues.

It is important that you attend in order that we can keep you informed about changes, the National and Branch responses, and your view on all matters. A light lunch will be provided.

EGM - Today

2011-03-16T09:42:00.001Z

Don't forget the EGM being held today at 12:30pm in the Clifford Whitworth Conference Room. All members are urged to do their best to attend.

Emergency General Meeting - Wednesday 16th March 12:30pm - Clifford Whitworth Conference Room

2011-03-09T14:50:00.002Z

In view of the recent ballot result in which members voted for industrial action, an emergency general meeting will be held on WEDNESDAY 16TH MARCH AT 12.30 until 2pm in the CLIFFORD WHITWORTH CONFERENCE ROOM to address the response of the branch to the result. A light lunch will be provided. Please make every effort to attend.

Extraordinary General Meeting 26th Jan 2011- 12:45 - Chapman 1

2010-12-21T09:51:00.001Z

At the general meeting on the 26th January, the membership will be updated on developments on the voluntary severance pay negotiations. It is important that all members support the decisions made at the meeting and in view of the grave nature of this matter, it is imperative that all do their utmost to attend

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING – THURSDAY 16TH DECEMBER 2010 in Newton B2

2010-12-09T16:53:00.000Z

An EGM will be held on Thursday 16th December 2010 at 12.45pm to discuss the results of our negotiations with the employer on redundancy payments and salary protection pay. A VOTE WILL BE TAKEN ON THE PROPOSALS. It is very important that all members attend.

2010-11-02T10:54:00.001Z

All UCU Salford members should have received email notification of the travel arrangements for the demo on 10th November. If you haven't received this email yet, please contact one of the Committee for more information.

Pensions Update Meeting - 1st November

2010-10-27T09:35:00.000+01:00

Dear members,

Due to demand, Philippa has agreed to re-run the presentation Roger Brooks delivered on the proposed changes to the USS Pension scheme. This session will be delivered on 1st November 2010 at 12:30 and will be held in the Clifford Whitworth Conference Room. A light lunch will be provided, and the meeting will finish no later than 13:50.

Please be aware that this is not an EGM, and is simply an opportunity for those members who were unable to attend Roger’s presentation the first time around, or wish to discuss the pension issue further. No other items will be on the agenda. Philippa will highlight a number of areas where UCU considers the employers proposals to cause a greater detriment to pension prospects than members may realise.

Your committee will be in touch again shortly to advise on the date and time of the next EGM.

To all health educators in higher education

2010-10-27T08:47:00.001+01:00

To all health educators in higher education

Health Educators’ Summit , Tuesday 30 November 2010, 1000 -1630, UCU headquarters, London.

UCU is organising the event in conjunction with the Royal College of Nurses , Royal College of Midwives, Chartered Institute of Physiotherapists and British Association of Occupational Therapists, with whom we have joint membership arrangements. Health educators working in higher education health faculties throughout the UK face a period of unprecedented turmoil and uncertainty as a result of healthcare workforce changes, NHS reforms including £20 billion in NHS cuts dressed up as ‘efficiency’ savings, and the looming prospect of huge higher education sector funding cuts.

The Summit is your opportunity to get the latest information and authoritative insights on the future delivery of healthcare and the potential implications for health professionals. Find out what the government’s NHS reforms could mean for your institution and how we can work together to defend health education provision in higher education.

Places are limited so register now by clicking on http://www.ucu.org.uk/healthsummit.

Contact me if you have any queries.

Barbara

Barbara Beckles

National Industrial Relations Official (HE)

UCU

University and College Union

Carlow Street

London NW1 7LH

020 7756 2553 (direct line)

020 7756 2501(fax)

07581 186517* (Blackberry) * out of office access

bbeckles@ucu.org.uk

Extraordinary General Meeting.

2010-08-05T09:18:00.001+01:00

An extraordinary General Meeting will be held for all UCU members on Wednesday 8th September 2010 at 12.45pm until 2pm in the Clifford Whitworth Conference Room. A light lunch will be provided.

The meeting will discuss the Pensions issue and the Lauwerys Report.

EGM Location Confirmed

2010-06-18T12:04:00.001+01:00

The location for the EGM on 21st June has been confirmed as Gilbert Room 1. (Gilbert rooms are the small building between Maxwell Well and the Salford museum - building 19 on the campus map.)

Extraordinary General Meeting of the Salford UCU Branch

2010-06-14T14:19:00.002+01:00

Dear Members,

Extraordinary General Meeting of the Salford UCU Branch

A meeting will be held on Monday 21^st June at 12.30pm till 1.30pm. Venue to be confirmed. A light lunch will be provided.

An agenda has been emailed to all members, if you have not received one, please contact the comms officer on

comms-ucu@salford.ac.uk.

AGM Agenda

2010-04-30T14:19:00.001+01:00

The agenda for next week's AGM has been emailed to all members today. If anyone has not received it, please contact comms-ucu@salford.ac.uk for a copy.

AGM Catering

2010-04-23T10:08:00.003+01:00

Can all members planning on attending the AGM on 5th May, please ensure that they email comms-ucu@salford.ac.uk with their intention as soon as possible so we can ensure that we provide an adequate lunch.

UCUS Annual General Meeting Notice

2010-04-21T10:29:00.001+01:00

Dear Members,

The UCU Salford Branch Annual General Meeting is to be held on Wednesday 5^th May 2010 at 12noon in the Clifford Whitworth Conference Room .The current President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Communications Officer and Equality Officer will seek re-election to their posts.

UCU Salford welcomes nominations from interested parties to these aforementioned posts as well as for Workplace Representatives, Health and Safety Reps (4), Green Rep, Learning Rep. and Pension Rep.

Nominations should be received in writing to me no later than 7 working days before the day of the AGM. Nominations must be accompanied by the written consent of the nominee and supported by the identifiable signatures of 2 members of the Branch.

The meeting will have guest speakers and lunch will be provided.

Anthony Hesketh,
UCU Salford Branch Secretary

National Negotiations News

2010-04-19T09:57:00.001+01:00

Please see the following from Justine at Head Office:

Higher Education – 5 Unions 1 Demand: time to raise the pressure on the employers!

National negotiators for the five higher education unions are scheduled to meet the employers on Monday 19 April. This follows a recent meeting at which the employers offered a non consolidated 0.25% cash sum and refused to engage with the unions on our claim for an agreement on job security. The five unions were united in rejecting this offer and asked the employers to come back with a revised offer. With the sector riven by local disputes, it’s time to raise the pressure on UCEA by showing that the five unions are united in pressing our claim.

*WHAT YOU CAN DO:*

Branches: Materials are available at: http://www.ucu.org.uk/defendeducation

OR: http://defendhighereducation.org.uk/?p=76

You can also order copies by emailing jstephens@ucu.org.uk

Members: Sign the joint unions’ petition here: http://defendhighereducation.org.uk/?page_id=13

Further Education – send your support to branches in dispute

With Northumberland College about to be hit by strike action (Thursday 22 April) and 11 London colleges currently balloting for action with a twelfth, Bradford, about to ballot, colleagues in these branches need your support. Northumberland colleagues are set to take strike action in defence of 67 jobs and in resistance to attacks on terms and conditions across the college. The 11 balloting colleges are: Barnet College, City and Islington College, College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, College of North West London, Greenwich Community College, Hackney Community College, Lambeth College, Lewisham College, Richmond Upon Thames College, Tower Hamlets College, Westminster Kingsway College. Please send messages of support to: jstephens@ucu.org.uk and we will pass them on to the relevant secretaries.

Best, Justine

Justine Stephens

Head of Campaigns

UCU

Carlow Street

London

NW1 7LH

Campaigns News

2010-04-19T09:55:00.001+01:00

For the latest edition of the UCU campaigns news, you can see our facebook discussion page

Campaigns News

2010-04-14T13:10:00.002+01:00

Don't forget that every week we will be posting a copy of UCUs national Campaigns News report on our facebook discussions page.

Protests at Glasgow University with over 80 jobs at risk

2010-04-14T13:07:00.003+01:00

Members of the UCU will protest at Glasgow University on Wednesday (14 April) in a row over job cuts.

The university has already targeted 25 jobs in the department of education and is now looking at the possibility of at least 60 more jobs going across the institution. The union says job losses are unnecessary and that the university has broken promises to staff.

See the Full Story on UCUs Website

2010-04-08T16:17:00.003+01:00

Unions rebuff Ucea’s one-off 0.25 per cent offer

2010-03-30T16:15:00.001+01:00

Please see the full article in the Times Higher.

UCU National Campaigns News

2010-03-30T08:57:00.002+01:00

ACTION: All branches – April 10 demonstration for public services

UCU is supporting a joint trade union demonstration on 10 April in central London as part of a campaign to defend the Welfare state and public services. We are asking all branches to support the demonstration. Download a flyer for the march here: http://www.10410demo.co.uk/forms/flyer.pdf. Make sure you and your colleagues are there. You can find out more about the march, including full details on how to get there, here: http://www.10410demo.co.uk/

ACTION: HE branches:

The first ever joint union claim for higher education has been submitted to Ucea. The first meeting is on Monday (29 March). The claim includes:

· calls for catch-up pay for the real terms cut last year and a keep-up element for next year, with a need to recognise the lowest paid.

· demands for national negotiations over a approach to job security.

· ways to address equality, particularly for hourly-paid lecturers, and close the gender pay gap.

*What you can do*:

1. approach your management to ask that they tell Ucea to negotiate meaningfully on the entirety of the claim, particularly job security - we want them to agree to a national approach to a national problem.

2. submit the claim jointly with the other unions to demonstrate our united front to your management and let us know the response at: 5unions@defendhighereducation.org.uk

3. distribute widely the joint union materials that will be with you shortly from the UCU campaigns team.

The full claim can be read at: http://www.ucu.org.uk/he2010

2010-03-26T13:58:00.003Z

2010-03-24T09:38:00.001Z

UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE UNION (UCU) PRESS RELEASE

date: Wednesday 24 March 2010 for immediate release

Strike and rally off at University of Kent as threat of compulsory job losses removed

The University and College Union (UCU) today confirmed that it had cancelled a ballot for industrial action at the University of Kent after talks between the union and the institution resulted in the threat of compulsory job losses being removed. A planned protest organised by students in Canterbury for today has also been shelved.

Staff in the school of biosciences were at risk from compulsory redundancy, but now an agreement has been thrashed out that commits both the university and UCU to a redundancy avoidance agreement.

UCU Kent branch president, John Fitzpatrick, said: "Industrial action is always the last resort and the talks have delivered a great result for everyone at Kent University. The support from UCU members and students right across the university was magnificent and crucial to the successful outcome."

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: “We are delighted that the dispute at Kent has been resolved. This is the second dispute in as many weeks to have been resolved by talks, rather than industrial action. With ballots taking place at UCL and Westminster at the moment and strike action happening at King’s College on Tuesday, we reiterate our message that we want to resolve disputes around the negotiating table, not from the picket line. Universities refusing to talk to us could learn a lot from the likes of Kent and Leeds.”

The union and university have issued the following joint statement:

“The university and UCU have had further constructive discussions in relation to the future of the school of biosciences and have agreed upon an acceptable resolution of the matters in issue between them. This successful conclusion to the discussions indicates a renewed spirit of constructive partnership between management and UCU, and both parties are committed to entering into a redundancy avoidance agreement for the future. As a result, the threat of compulsory redundancies has now been lifted from UCU members in biosciences, and UCU has therefore cancelled the planned ballot of its members on taking industrial action which was to commence on Friday 26 March 2010."

ends

contacts:

Dan Ashley
t: 020 7756 2600;
m: 07789 518 992;
e: dashley@ucu.org.uk

Alex Rossiter
t: 020 7756 2598;
m: 07977 562 686;
e: arossiter@ucu.org.uk

UCU Blog News

2010-02-23T10:16:00.003Z

Since the end of Project Headroom, we have not been using this blog.

UCU and the other unions at Salford University are now working together and meeting regularly with the VC and his representatives to resolve issues. That is not to say that there may not be a need for vigilance and action in the future, but currently things are on a calmer footing.

Should we need to do so, we may reactivate this blog again in the future.

UCU, the University & College Union @ The Manchester College

2009-09-08T12:03:00.002+01:00

Lobby the local Labour Party - Friday 11 September

The Manchester College have:

Attacked education provision for the most vulnerable in society by

Closing a creche, damanging access for single mothers and others
Closing basic ESOL courses, limiting access for refugees
Closing sign language courses, hurting disability access

Failed to follow legal procedures required for redundancies by

Refusing to discuss ways to avoid redundancy
Failing to outline proper reasons for the redundancies
Failing to agree or even discuss redundancy selection criteria
Failing to use objective selection criteria
Failing to make any real efforts towards redeployment
Refusing those to be made redundant attendance at their own appeal

Invented a redundancy within Maths purely in order to victimise our Branch Secretary

No courses to close or hours to be cut from courses
No proper justification given for redundancy
Shortage of maths teachers now evident at college
Management legally found to have victimised trade unionists before

Continuing to attack UCU and staff

Refusing to meet with the union
Refusing legally required facility time for reps i.e. time used to help members
Aiming to introduce new contracts for all teachers

With further cuts in public funding ahead, and already over a million unemployed young people in the UK, we say:

No education cuts and job losses when society needs education more than ever.
Educational provision for the most vulnerable should be especially protected.
Trade unions should be allowed to operate freely and independently.
Our Branch Secretary, and the others made redundant, should be reinstated.

Lobby the local Labour Party - Friday 11th September

Management at the college are connected to the Labour Part (who also run the City Council). We like to hope that we can get support and help if we let them know what is really happening at the college. Please come along.

6.30pm at The Palace Hotel on Ducie Street near Piccadilly train station
or meet after work at 6.30 in the Bull's Head opp lower entrance to Picc. Station

London Met – the first institution to suffer ignominy of greylisting

2009-09-07T14:07:00.000+01:00

On Tuesday London Metropolitan University (LMU) became the first institution to be greylisted in UCU’s history. A huge thank you for all the amazing response we've had so far. We have been inundated with messages of support and been copied in on hundreds of emails to vice-chancellor, Alfred Morris. We will be responding to all the individual queries as soon as possible and everyone can expect a response by Wednesday of next week.

What you can do:

· Send a message of support to the branch via jstephens@ucu.org.uk

· Non-attendance, speaking at or organising academic or other conferences at LMU

· Not applying for any advertised jobs at LMU

· Not giving lectures at LMU

· Not accepting positions as visiting professors or researchers at LMU

· Not writing for any academic journal which is edited at or produced by LMU

· Not taking up new contracts as external examiners for taught courses

For more details on the LMU situation go here http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3680 and here http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=407959&c=2

Not in Our Name

2009-07-08T16:58:00.000+01:00

In just two weeks the BNP will be taking their seats in the European Parliament. We need to send the strongest possible message that they are not there in our name.

Over 80,000 people have already done just this by signing Hope Not Hate’s ‘Not in my Name’ petition. Hope Not Hate needs your help to make sure that over 100,000 have signed this petition by the time the BNP go to Strasbourg.

Hope Not Hate have set up a simple tool to let you do this – please invite your friends to join the campaign:

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/morenamesneeded

They need your help in showing that Griffin and Brons don’t repeat us – that they don’t speak for Britain.

Hope Not Hate are currently organising who they are going to hand their petition in to at the European Parliament on 14^th July and want to make sure that as many people as possible have signed the petition before then.

Vestas Wind Turbine Plant Closure

2009-07-07T16:39:00.001+01:00

As you may know, the Vestas corporation is planning to close the only factory making wind turbines in Britain, on the Isle of Wight. There is now a campaign among local people on the island and Vestas workers to save the Vestas plant. This will save 600 jobs. More than that, it matters to them because it matters to the planet.

They have asked for emails from individuals and organisations expressing support. The address is savevestas@gmail.com. PLEASE DO THIS as soon as you can. Just tell them briefly who you are and what you feel. It will be important in giving them confidence and courage. Please do it now and ask your friends and colleagues to do it too.

We will never halt climate change without wind power. We need thousands of wind turbine plants, not none.

Jonathan Neale, International Secretary
Phil Thornhill, Coordinator
Campaign against Climate Change

Manchester College strike action over job losses

2009-06-25T11:44:00.001+01:00

24 June 2009

Members of UCU today (Wednesday) overwhelmingly voted for strike action at Manchester College.

Following a ballot where 74% of members polled voted yes to strike action and 84% voted in favour of action short of a strike, the union announced that members will walk out on Wednesday 1 July.

The union is furious that the college, which is a result of a merger last summer between MANCAT and City College Manchester, is pushing ahead with what it describes as 'unnecessary and punitive' job losses. The redundancies would see six jobs go in maths and biology and seven in English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).

Some of the courses to close include the most basic level ESOL classes and UCU is concerned at the effect this will have on the most vulnerable people in the local community. The union warned today that Wednesday's strike could be the first action in a long campaign to save jobs, if the college refused to back down.

UCU head of further education, Barry Lovejoy, said: 'At a time when we should be looking to extend further education's ability to meet the needs of our communities, Manchester College seems intent of pushing ahead with unnecessary and punitive job cuts. The college should be joining with unions in presenting a case to government to preserve education funding at a time when our communities need it the most, rather than pushing through these irrational job cuts.

'Manchester College is one of the biggest in Europe and should be looking to make full use of the expertise of the staff it has, not axe them when the local community needs them most. Management needs to develop a better relationship with the union. It's in the interests of staff and students for there to be better industrial relations.'

South Manchester College Redundancies

2009-06-24T11:33:00.002+01:00

David Swanson, long-time rep and trade union activist at South Manchester College is being victimised by bosses, among around 20+ staff targeted for compulsory redundancy. The targeting of David is a clear case of victimisation. The UCU at MANCAT have balloted for industrial action. They will be going on strike next Wednesday.

Please send messages of support and solidarity to: UCUthemanchestercollege@googlemail.com

Anti-BNP Demo

2009-05-22T14:28:00.002+01:00

There is going to be an hour of leafleting against the BNP in Salford Precinct this Saturday morning 22 May. Meet at 11am by Tesco. Apparently the BNP tried to set up a stall in the Precinct last weekend, but local people objected and they left.

Media City Costs

2009-05-14T11:18:00.001+01:00

We had clarification of the above at the recent Union-Management Joint Forum at which it was stated by the Director of Finance that these were always known to be £27.5M, not the £10-12M that we had somehow thought. So, with the HEFCE grant of £8M, the University has to come up with nearly £20M in order to move into MediaCity in the next 2-3 years. Annual running costs are apparently expected to be £5M.

Project Headroom Update

2009-04-20T14:57:00.004+01:00

Apologies for the blog going quiet, news on Project Headroom has been quite slow lately. If anyone has anything please do send it to the UCU email address. Substantiated facts only I'm afraid, no rumours & myths.

Jim Atherton & John Dobson went to a Headroom overarching meeting on the 14th April. The current state of play is :-

They have achieved 140 of the 150 job losses they wanted.
There are 10 positions still at risk and 33 staff in the ‘at risk’ groups
The jobs are risk are:

- Health Faculty Office – 1 AR

- Languages – 1.5 Academic

- Learning Development Unit – 1 non-academic

- ILS – 2.5 carried over from Phase 1 (1 AR, 0.5 non-academic).

- CSE – 2 (1 academic, 1 academic related)

- ELS – 1 academic

- Estates – 1 non academic

While there are no guarantees, it seems likely that these 10 will reduce considerably during the next few weeks through ‘bumping’ and redeployment.
The 90 days minimum statutory redundancy consultation ends on Thursday 16th April.
We have refused to end the redundancy consultation. This was not controversial and was accepted by Management. However, we have agreed that work can progress in making arrangements for the volunteers to leave. Agreeing a leaving date is the first step.

SUDE Demo Today

2009-03-12T09:25:00.001Z

Today(Thursday 12 March) at 4:30 - 5pm, staff and students will be assembling at the Clifford Whitworth Building in order to take our petitions and protests against cuts and redundancies to the Old Fire Station.

We estimate that the combined petitions may hold around 3,000 signatures of staff and students, a not inconsiderable figure. In collecting these signatures, we have been able to gauge the general mood on the different campuses regarding Project Headroom and the impact that it will have, and is already having on staff and students alike. For those staff who have been involved in the staff/student petition, there is widespread concern and dismay that students are paying increasingly higher tuition fees, yet they are receiving a poorer education as a result of the widespread redundancies and cuts in courses, which are an inevitable result of management strategy.

Further, through our actions, we have consulted far wider layers of the university population than have upper management over the issue of redundancies. We have spoken to staff and students directly and it appears from our petitions, that there is a resounding 'thumbs down' to Project Headroom.

We need to ensure a large turnout tomorrow for the 'handing over' of the petitions which will be undertaken by one member of staff and one student. Please circulate this email as widely as possible and encourage students to come along to the event. We are after all, fighting for their education.

There is still time to sign the staff petition if you have not done so already. There is one in the School of Language office 8th floor Maxwell.

We will also be able to air our brand new branch UCU banner.

Petition Against Compulsory Redundancy

2009-02-18T15:34:00.002Z

A petition has been created by UCU for staff to sign. This petition is available online here. If you do not want to sign online, for whatever reason, there are plenty of opportunities to sign a hard copy of the petition.

Reps in your area should be coming round asking you if you would like to sign. There will also be a stall around the University manned by reps and officers of UCU. The petition is not just for union members to sign, non-union members and members of other campus unions are also welcome. Non-union members may also want to consider joining the union in this particularly uncertain time.

Demonstration Against the Cuts,Thursday 5 February

2009-02-09T15:54:00.005Z

On Thursday 5 February a demonstration was held against job cuts at the University of Salford. This was attended by staff and students. Here is a video of the demo:

A member of staff attending the demo gave the following report:

Yesterday’s demonstration was very well attended (150-200 people), lively (stopped traffic for a short time) loud (students playing instruments) and eye-catching (many wore masks, and a coffin was carried across the road and placed outside the Old Fire Station to symbolise the potential demise of education at Salford). Staff and students spoke of their concerns about ‘Project Headroom’ and the future of education here. The chanting, music and speeches resounded around the Old Fire Station. It was an inspiring protest and gained coverage on Channel M, Key 103 radio, and a photo- report in the Salford Star.

During the coming week there will be petition stands around the University and members of staff will be coming round asking you to sign a petition against the proposed job cuts. The petition is also available on line and can be found here. Please take a moment to sign this so that the Senior Management Team can see the strength of feeling against cuts and redundancies at the University.

Fight the staff cuts at Salford University

2009-02-03T15:03:00.003Z

There will be a demonstration organised by SUDE against the staff cuts and proposed redundancies:

5:00pm Thursday 5th Feb
Old Fire Station
The Crescent
Salford
opposite Maxwell Building
University of Salford.

Please come along if you can make it.

Support Amanda Sackur, NEC Member

2009-01-20T09:27:00.003Z

Amanda Sackur, a branch officer at London Met University at the forefront of the campaign against compulsory redundancies, is being disciplined for her trade union activities.

Amanda attended Nottingham Trent University to advise UCU Members on the action being taken against the de-recognition of UCU at that institution. She did this in her capacity as a NEC Officer. She is being disciplined by LMU for non-attendance at work. Amanda is a member of Academic Staff and is not contractually obliged to be on the premises in order to conduct her work.

Please sign the on-line petition at www.petitiononline.com/defendas/petition.html

TCM - An Update

2008-12-19T12:49:00.003Z

Members of staff in CHSSC were sent the following email on Wednesday 17th:-

We are writing to correct considerable inaccuracies in the statement made by John Dobson in relation to TCM in the School of CHSSC. All the points noted below have been raised frequently in a series of meetings in relation to Phase 1 of Project Headroom; namely:
• The original business case was carefully put together. Its key point was the academic case for re-structuring; we recognised that TCM made a small surplus.
• The union’s re-calculation of the finances of the programme, incorrectly omitted some of the staffing costs and overheads; plus, that retention has been an ongoing issue, several students are part-time and several have ELQs. Our re-calculations of their figures confirmed our original finding that TCM made a small surplus.
• TCM as an undergraduate programme is no longer a sound academic fit for the School.
• The loss of income from TCM undergraduates will be replaced by recruiting students in other subject areas which are a sound academic fit for the School.
• The School and Faculty are working with TCM staff to determine whether a sound research profile can be established for TCM which would give it a place, allied to a clinical research base, in our PG portfolio. This latter option is to be developed over the next few years while the TCM undergraduate programme is still running. If successful, one post which is VS would be saved before the staff member is due to leave in 2010.
• The union has at no time given any alternative options which would achieve the £980k saving

From:
Dr Ruth Wright, Head of School CHSSC;
Professor Cynthia Pine, Executive Dean of the Faculty;
Mr Simon Attwell Director of Finance”

The following observations spring to mind:
 The authors acknowledge that TCM makes a surplus
 There is no explanation as to how the additional recruitment in other subject areas, to cover the loss of TCM income, will come about
 The potential for TCM in some postgraduate format is clearly far from a certainty, particularly since it is not known yet which School will host this. Furthermore, there is no reason to lose a viable undergraduate programme while developing the postgraduate one.
 Salford UCU has never accepted that £980K should be saved as it has consistently refuted the basis for Project Headroom, hence no alternative options to save this amount

The only conclusion is that TCM was always to be closed, regardless of UCUS efforts – “no longer a sound academic fit for the School”.

SBS Poetry Anthology Part 3

2008-12-15T13:22:00.003Z

The writer of today's poem wished to remain anonymous. Nevertheless, we'd like to thank him or her for writing the poem and submitting it.

‘The Education of Oppenheimer’

By ‘anon’

Look! I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.
This ‘World’ collapses, stripped of its most precious resources
Yet the destroyer feels no guilt.

Death stalks the corridors, the chilling touch felt by all
As ‘Fate’ decides your number is up.

Destroyer, you are a classic general.
You had loyal troops but, sat in your ivory tower,
your men became more numbers,
morale an intangible asset, lives simple figures to be balanced.

Destroyer, see your world. You have destroyed it.
Your legacy is desolation, your kingdom laid to waste.
Look, you have become Death.
You have destroyed your own world.

Traditional Chinese Medicine - Programme Closure

2008-12-12T12:47:00.000Z

It is with much regret that I have to announce that, despite the hard work of many people, the University is to continue with its closure of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Programme.

Despite figures showing the programme to be profitable to the University, the Finance Department has given the following feedback:

(1) They originally based their figures on 80 students. We used 77 being the average of the last 5 years.

(2) They have come back and changed their figures to 60 students – being this year’s intake, which has been lower than for any previous year (probably the effect of centralising admissions).

(3) Further they have now decided that 15% students are ELQ (equivalent and lower qualifications), and therefore are further reducing the number of students from their original 80 to 50.

(4) As a consequence, the programme which made a small surplus on 14th October 2008 now makes a substantial loss.

(5) The programme will therefore be closed.

The Programme Leader, Mei Xing, has commented:

At this disheartened moment, what I would like to say is Thank You all for your effort to save this programme, but at the end of the day, it is a loss of the university!

SBS Poetry Anthology Pt 2

2008-12-11T16:16:00.003Z

Another poem. I should shortly be able to provide a write up of Wednesday's meeting and a serious update.

I rather think that this week's poem, although short, is a call on everybody to get together and make more of a fuss about what's happening. It's by Andrew Basden who is the Professor of Human Factors and Philosophy of Information in the Informatics Research Institute of Salford Business School.

I'll have a think
To raise a stink

Before we all go
Down the sink.

SBS Poetry Anthology

2008-12-03T11:46:00.002Z

Staff in SBS have been asked to write a poetry anthology for those taking redundancy, to be given to them as a memory of their time at University of Salford. That is, as a memory of their friends and colleagues here. We thought it would be nice to publish some of those poems here, so I will be trying to do that once a week over the next 3 weeks.

So here is our first poem, it's by Graham Taylor Cooke. Graham is the Programme Leader for CIPD Leadership and Management. It never fails to amaze me, that with so much expertise in management and leadership at the University it never seems to get drawn upon.

‘THE BUREAUCRATS’

Graham Taylor Cooke June 1997

(Some things never change)

They’re painting the house, they’re baking a pie,
They’re digging a hole and they don’t know why
The faceless beige people with the usual names
Plotting our course with their management games,
They write the procedures, they give us no quarter,
They’re...
The writer, the enforcer, and their blind supporters

Monitoring progress of things that don’t move,
Inflexible people in the processing groove
They’ll never falter in their quest to gain order,
And plot to discredit the ones on the border
And creative spirit is diluted with water,
By...
The writer, the enforcer, and their blind supporters

They’re bureaucratic, acrobatic people in beige,
Who jump through the hoops and work hard for their wage,
But when the great change comes, these beige bureaucrats
Will write more procedures whilst wearing two hats,
And they’ll slip unaware like lambs to the slaughter,
No more...
The writer, the enforcer, and their blind supporters

Special General Meeting

2008-12-02T11:26:00.003Z

Wednesday 10th December 2008 13.00 - 14.00

Venue : Mary Seacole Lecture Theatre G 21

Agenda :

1. Collective Redundancy Consultations – progress report

2. Update on redundancies in :-

(a) CHSSC

(b) SBS

(c) ILS

3. Phase 2 redundancies

4. Questions from members

The officers will remain behind after 14.00 to answer any personal questions.

John Dobson

President

Salford UCU

UCUS Response to Project Headroom

2008-11-28T11:31:00.002Z

Please visit the UCUS website to read the official UCUS response to Project Headroom.

More Pictures from the Lobby & ILS Update

2008-11-28T09:25:00.006Z

Those people being made "voluntarily" redundant have now received their letters. Staff in ILS still under threat from Project "Headroom" have been invited to meetings to be informed of the next steps. None of the remaining staff want to leave, like all of those under threat, many have families and mortgages to pay, few are nearing retirement age.

Being made redundant from an IT post during a time of recession when many privatised industries are cutting back is causing stress amongst the remaining staff, and I am sure that this is also true of staff in the 2 affected Schools. We believe that the remaining staff losses could be made due to "natural wastage" ie not filling posts when staff leave and waiting for retirees to reach their retirement date, however the powers that be do not appear to want to consider this as an option.

If anyone has any information about what is happening on the ground, and how staff are feeling, in SBS and CHSSC please let us know.

In the meantime here are some more pictures from Wednesday night's lobby of the SBS Annual Lecture, showing the support from the Student Union.

Successful and well attended lobby against the redundancies during the Annual Business School Lecture to be given by Brendan Barber

2008-11-27T16:29:00.008Z

Over 100 people turned out on a wet Wednesday evening to support the Lobby against Redundancies at the Allerton Building during the Business School Annual Lecture.

It was good to see both staff and students working together to defend higher education. The rally was also supported by representatives of the trade union movement including the Manchester Trades Council and the local community.

Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the Trades Union Council (TUC) addressed the rally as did local MP Ian Stewart (MP for Eccles). Brendan Barber said that he was aware of the situation at Salford and had just come from a meeting with all the Salford Unions.

Ian Stewart said that he come to attend the lecture and had only just become aware that large scale redundancies were taking place at his local University.

Both speakers pledged their supported of the Unions stand against compulsory redundancies, as did all the speakers.

Explanation of Voluntary Redundancy Letter

2008-11-26T16:23:00.001Z

A number of staff who have volunteered for redundancy have been very concerned about the following statement which was included in the letter which management have handed out today, and have asked us what it means.

‘at this stage, your acceptance is only provisional.
The reason for this is that the University is unable to progress any applications at this stage because the ongoing Collective Consultation process with the Trade Unions and they have requested that we put the Voluntary Severance process on hold’

The University has a statutory duty to consult with the unions. This consultation period does not end until mid January. Unfortunately, the University decided to start implementing the redundancy programme the day after it started consultation. Unfortunately, the consultations have not proceeded easily. It has taken us weeks to get financial information from management which we thought should be readily available. As a result, our consultations have been delayed. But even more worrying, the financial information we have received from the University, together with our own calculations have given us serious concerns about the concept of Project Headroom and also its implementation. Our detailed written reply to the University will be made available to members shortly. But in short we have serious concerns that the business plans for the two Schools will leave both Schools financially weaker and will result in further redundancies next year.

Staff Meeting

2008-11-12T14:21:00.003Z

A general meeting of staff and students, organised by members of staff, was held in Mary Seacole Building. Members of staff that attended were not all union members. A number of union officials from UNISON and UCU attended in order to answer staff questions as far as they possibly could.

Both staff and students were angry about the proposed redundancies, particularly in the Faculty of Health and Social Care where most of them were based.

It was felt that good courses were being targeted that were currently making money for the University. For staff there seemed to be no financial reason for this. Students were worried that their quality of education would be adversely affected, particularly if there was to be increased casualisation of staffing.

Students have not been informed about the proposals and were only finding out through rumour, unofficial channels and the Manchester Evening News.

Staff have been attempting to make alternative proposals to their management, but have no evidence that any of these have been given serious consideration. Financial data has been requested by the unions, but has not been provided by the date agreed. Many staff feel that their jobs are being cut in order to fund the Media City (UK) move.

The staff at the meeting were very angry and are proposing to stage protests about the cuts and the way that the situation is being managed.

Managing Director of Media City Quits

2008-11-11T10:41:00.002Z

The following article appeared in last Thursday's Manchester Evening News.

Peel hunts a new boss for MediaCity

don frame
6/11/2008

BOSSES at MediaCityUK said today it was `business as usual', despite the shock of losing its managing director Brian Greasley.

The man brought in to oversee the setting up of the £500m complex at Salford Quays quit just a year after being appointed.

Peel Holdings, which owns the 200-acre site, said the 46-year-old entrepreneur, whom it headhunted, was `now looking forward to seeking new challenges', having done the job he was brought in to do.

The company said Mr Greasley had been brought in to create the vision for Media CityUK and establish an implementation team, `which he has successfully put in place'.

An inside source suggested that there had been a `mutual realisation' that he was perhaps not the best person to drive the project further forward.

He said: "He had vision, but there was a feeling that his relationship with big public-sector organisations, including the Salford Regeneration Company, was not close enough, and that he needed to network more with people, an aspect of the job that he appeared not to like."

He said there had been hopes that, by now, key players from the private sector might have been lured to MediaCity, where the only anchor tenant so far is the BBC.

It is understood that attempts have been made to interest big media hitters in the United States, with a view to their establishing a base at the Quays, but with little success.

Neither the Salford Regeneration Company nor the North West Development Agency, both closely involved in the project, had any comment to make on Mr Greasley's departure. The Peel statement says that Mr Greasley's strategic responsibilities will be taken temporarily by Andrew Simpson, the group managing director of Peel Holdings, supported by the team of specialists already recruited by Peel.

Mr Simpson said: "Over the last 12 months, Brian has done a first-class job in setting out the vision for MediaCityUK, and establishing a high-quality operational team. I would like to thank Brian personally for all his efforts and wish him well for the future."

He went on: "We will be seeking a replacement for Brian in due course, who will focus on the next phase of the project, as well as implementing the ongoing programme of strengthening the MediaCityUK team."

Salford Council leader John Merry, who has been closely involved in the development plans for the project, said: "I understand that Brian feels that he has taken the development as far as he can, and now wishes to move on and do something else. He has got it off the ground, and now that it is up and running, he wants other challenges."

Father of four Mr Greasley, who was born in Plymouth, outlined his hopes for the development in January, pledging to make the hi-tech Salford centre `the new Silicon Valley'.

Clarification of Phase One Voluntary Redundancies

2008-10-28T11:29:00.003Z

Dear Member,

We are getting a lot of very concerned members in the three areas affected by Phase One redundancies (Business School/ILS/CHSSC) asking us what will happen to them if they do not volunteer by 10th November 2008.

Our advice is quite simple.

Requests for information from members in Phase 1 Areas. Members in Phase 1 who might possibly have even the remotest interest in VS should ask for their personal financial data on VS and if over 50, their pensions estimate. This request is confidential and will not result in you being placed on a redundancy list at a future date.

Requests for information from members in Phase 2 Areas. Members in Phase 2 (all other Schools and Departments) cannot request detailed estimates at the moment. However anybody in Phase 2 areas who thinks that they may be interested in VS and early retirement (if over 50yrs), should visit the personnel web-site (voluntary severance section). Links will enable members to carry out their own rough calculations.

If you want VS/early retirement, let us know because you may be able to change places with someone who is being made redundant in Phase 1.

10th November deadline for volunteers from Phase One. Members in the three areas in Phase one should only put their names forward during the period 5-10th November if they want to be seriously considered for redundancy. If you do not want to be made redundant, you do not have to put your name forward. You can do yourself no possible harm by not volunteering at this stage. Should the worst happen, and your post becomes redundant, you will have other opportunities to volunteer.

John Dobson

President
Salford UCU

UCU Emergency General Meeting of all Staff Affected by Redundancies 17th October 2008

2008-10-21T15:22:00.001+01:00

Despite the short notice and the fact that the meeting was on a Friday, the meeting was attended by over 140 people and there was standing room only.

Following a slide show outlining what had happened so far and the Union's position on the redundancies, staff were asked for any comments and questions. Note the slide show is available on the UCUS Website for those who could not attend the EGM.

All contributions from the floor were highly critical of management's proposals. Not one person spoke in favour of the 'headroom' strategy or the proposed redundancy plan. Below are some of the points raised in discussion:

Is it possible that staff will take severance and then there will be restaffing at a later date, given that posts are supposed to be made redundant not people the assumption is that people cannot be made redundant and then be replaced by cheaper staff?
It has been made clear that this will not happen. The proposal is to make savings by making people redundant, not by replacing them with cheaper staff.
Has the University looked at other ways of saving money? Would it be possible to make savings through removing the extra layers of management created through the doubling up of Schools and Faculties?

It appears to staff that these cuts are intended to fund the prestigious investment in Media City UK which looks to be costing £13M. The cuts to administrative staff will add further to the workload of academic staff. There also seems to be a move towards more hourly paid staff who are cheaper. Would it be sensible to involve students in any campaign, as this will impact on their quality of education?

Whilst staff are worried about the proposed voluntary severance and don't want to stop this for those who want to go, they are concerned about the overworking. It is clear that people want to go because they are unhappy here, and the redundancies will only make things worse for those who stay.

The deadlines for VS appear to be rather short and there is concern that the timescale for Compulsory Redundancy takes place before the expiry of the 90 days' consultation that we are legally entitled to? What is happening about this?
The Full Time Officer is coming on Monday to clarify the situtation on this and other issues relating to the redundancies.
How can there be consultation when we have been given no definite facts or figures regarding the University's financial situation and the savings required? We don't even know how much it costs to teach a student. It is impossible to challenge the cuts without this information. Other cost information people are interested in receiving includes:

- The cost of refurbishing the Old Firestation

- The growth in staff of central areas

-VC/PVC/SLT salaries

- Refurbishment of Acton Square

- Cost of ROV

-Are the redundancies being used to fund the October pay rise?

The Unions have asked for an extra 30 days on the consultation period because some financial information is not likely to be made available until mid-November, yet the timeline has not been changed for consultation on redundancies.

School of Languages privatisation has been put on hold for the time being. This needs to bekept in mind, as it could be used to get rid of Languages staff under TUPE to a private organisation. There is concern that privatisation is to be introduced in other areas, ie Estates and ILS.

How many managers are being made redundant? Many areas appear top heavy with management. In ILS one management position is not being filled and the management is making a big deal out of this particular saving. However, it is frontline staff who are taking the brunt of the cuts and therefore services across the University will be cut. There appears to be little we can do about this, management claim they are consulting us, but our opinions are being dismissed and not listened to. Decisions have already been made, this makes a mockery of any concept of consultation.

There is a need to ensure that the criteria for redundancy are clear.
Why is the VC driving this through when there is a new VC starting next year?

How voluntary is voluntary? Many people see it as unemployment, there are a lot of female staff affected by this who have not been in post very long and who have returned to work following breaks in service, this is a particular issue for CHSSC. Many people feel as though they sould go before they are pushed, especially in the targeted areas. There appears to be no difference between CR and VR if a post is targeted and there is only one person in that post. This is a big issue in ILS, where generic job descriptions are being used to make cuts, yet these descriptions do not really reflect what people are actually doing.

There should be a consultative ballot on potential action over any possible Compulsory Redundancies, a line needs to be drawn. The ballot needs to include all unions.

VS should be opened up to the whole University before staff are made compulsorily redundant to allow more bumping and redeployment.

Although some members wanted strong action immediately, the UCUS Committee recommended that:-

we should strongly oppose the redundancy proposals using the consultative procedure.

any attempt at compulsory redundancy should be fought using any means including industrial action.

When the Committee's recommendation was put the vote, it was accepted unanimously.

Questions from Staff

2008-10-15T10:56:00.002+01:00

Here are some questions received from staff members so far that we are able to answer. If you have any questions, please email us at ucu-comms-isd@salford.ac.uk or email one of us. Our contact details are available on the main UCU Salford website.

Does the branch intend to second officers from Regional/National/another institution in order to assist us to organise against the impending redundancies? We could do with Union representation at all meetings with management to avoid –‘divide and rule’ techniques.

Members can rest assured that we are in regular contact with the full time officers in the Regional Office who are advising us at each stage, and I may say have given us some excellent advice. We did discuss the situation at Salford with the full-time officers at the Regional UCU meeting on Saturday 10th October. They wanted to attend our meetings both with management and the general meeting, but unfortunately were elsewhere.

Is there a possibility for staff to reduce their hours as an alternative to redundancy?

Job share is certainly something that UCUS could propose if this is what the members want.

There have been redundancies advertised across targeted areas that could be filled by current staff. Why were these not held back until redundancy decisions have been made to enable them to be advertised as redeployed opportunities?

Your officers have made strong representations to management about the continued advertisement and filling of posts without any attempt to see if this could be filled by an existing member of staff. Management have now introduced a 'job freeze' and a procedure for approving all future recruitment. We only wish that management had introduced this earlier.

If I ask for details of Voluntary Severance, will this mean that I will automatically be considered for VR?

Quite a number of staff have expressed concern that if they ask for details of their entitlement under the current voluntary severance arrangements and also their pension estimate (if they are over 50 years old), that they would in some sense be 'marked' for pressure to volunteer or even selected for compulsory redundancy. We have raised this concern with the management and they have assured us that all applications for information will remain confidential within the HR Department and will not be disclosed to the School or Department. A statement to this effect will be included on the information application form.

Can I be accompanied by a Union representative at any meetings with management?

Any members that want a Salford Union Officer to accompany them to any meeting with management has only to ask. If the Officers are not free, another member of the Salford Executive will accompany them. We are anticipating a lot of involvement with individual member's cases over the next 9 months.

One issue which we are expecting to do a lot of work is with individual members is in cases of what the management call 'bumping'. This is when a member who wants to accept voluntary severance but is not redundant is 'cross-matched' with another member of is facing the prospect of redundancy but doesn't want to go.

Some further points we would like to make are:

We strongly urge members to ask management as many questions as possible during their briefing meetings. If members are reluctant to ask questions, they should get their School or Department UCU representative to ask them.

We have agreed to work with the other Campus unions to prepare a joint union response to management, and will need to work with members in each School or Department to produce a robust reply.

Salford UCU - Emergency General Meeting - 17th October, 1PM, Chapman 3

2008-10-14T10:57:00.000+01:00

Dear Member,

Given the circumstances of the proposed redundancies, and the timescale involved, your Officers have called an EGM for this Friday – 17^th October – starting at 1PM prompt with a planned end-time of 2PM. Note, however, the Officers will be on hand after 2PM for informal discussion. Note also that this announcement supersedes any other suggested dates/times and the venue is Chapman 3. The timing of the meeting means that the initial consultation with the trade unions on Tuesday 14^th will have taken place. Also, staff in the three affected areas will have been separately addressed by management on Wednesday 15^th (& Thursday 16^th for some in ILS).

Given the fairly short duration of 1 hour only, it is hoped that members will make every effort to attend and show their concerns at this very difficult time for us all.

To reiterate:

DATE: FRIDAY 17^TH OCTOBER

TIME: 1PM PROMPT

VENUE: CHAPMAN 3

PLEASE DO YOUR BEST TO ATTEND.

Kindest regards,

Jim Atherton, Secretary & Treasurer

University of Salford Redundancies

2008-10-13T10:24:00.003+01:00

As you all know, the management at Salford plan to axe 150 jobs during the next 10 months (6% of the workforce) to save seven and a half million pounds. This will involve most Departments and Schools. Fortunately they have said that they will try to do it by voluntary means, but have not ruled out compulsory – indeed they have already established a Redundancy Committee.

The Committee have real reservations about the management plans.

They talk a lot about strategy and planning, but this looks like crisis management. Indeed only two years ago, they implemented a substantial expansion of ILS (formerly ISD).
They are still recruiting, with no obvious attempts at redeployment.
We are very concerned about the continued waste and investment in non-essential projects.

What do you think? Email us at ucu-comms-isd@salford.ac.uk

John Dobson, President, Salford UCU