Outcome for Sally Hunt

Nearly 23,000 of you voted in the ballot. The turnout has far exceeded that in recent elections including my own. However you voted thank you for taking part!

Overall the results were as follows:

•88.6% voted to support reducing the size of the National Executive Committee and spending the savings to improve member services
•85.1% voted to be balloted whenever the majority of negotiators believe a final offer is on the table and before a decision is taken to accept or reject
•82.4% voted to elect your lay national negotiators by one member one vote rather than by annual conference.

IFL Fees Scrapped

UCU today welcomed the news that staff in further education colleges would no longer be forced to pay a fee to do their job. An independent panel said the Institute for Learning (IfL) could not remain a compulsory body and money should be refunded to staff who had paid to join.

Membership of the IfL is currently compulsory for teachers in adult and further education, but up until this year the fee was picked up by the government. In September, members of UCU voted overwhelmingly to boycott the IfL after membership became compulsory.

That action, coupled with the threat of legal action, prompted further education minister John Hayes to announce an independent review into professionalism in the sector in England. As well as welcoming the news that IfL membership is no longer compulsory, the union said it was looking forward to playing a full role in the wider review of professionalism.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We are pleased that the panel has recognised compulsory membership of the IfL is a bad move. We are also delighted that the relatively small number of people who did pay the fee will now be reimbursed.

'Boycotting the IfL was not a decision UCU members took lightly, but to be effective as a professional body it must enjoy the confidence of the majority of practitioners. Today's recommendations are a vindication of the members' boycott and we look forward to playing a full part in the review of professionalism in further education.'

The full report can be found the department for business, innovation and skills website

The report says: 'The panel recommends that, as already planned, public funding to the IfL should come to an end in the financial year 2012-2013. When combined with our recommendation to revoke the 2007 Regulations, this advice will restore the IfL to its original status as a private membership body, dependent on voluntary subscriptions in return for services.'

GS Manifesto Vote Closes on Wednesday

General Secretary’s manifesto proposals: A reminder that the consultative ballot on the General Secretary’s proposed changes to UCU will close on Wednesday 28 March, so if you want your say on UCU’s future, make sure you use your vote: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5993

Supporting London's Strike

TPS dispute – Support London’s strike and demonstration on Wednesday:A reminder that London members in the TPS pension scheme will be taking a day’s strike action alongside NUT members on Wednesday 28 March in the latest phase of the campaign. There will also be a demonstration in central London. If you are covered by the call to strike action, please support your union. You can find out more about the demonstration and see our latest campaign materials here:
http://tps.web.ucu.org.uk/
If not , you can show your support by attending the demonstration or getting involved in whatever support your branch is planning for the day. Lots of branches are already developing twinning arrangements with striking London branches. Contact your branch for more details.

Rolling Strike Action Confirmed

Dear colleague,

On Friday, the NEC agreed that the union’s London TPS members would take action alongside colleagues from NUT on 28 March. It was also agreed to defer a decision about action elsewhere in the country until the PCS union’s Executive had met. That meeting has now taken place and PCS have decided NOT to take strike action in the UK on 28 March. For the avoidance of doubt this means:

· UCU members in London TPS branches WILL called on to take strike action on 28 March

· UCU members in TPS branches outside London WILL NOT be called on to take strike action on 28 March

· UCU members in Scottish (STSS) and Northern Ireland (NISS) branches WILL NOT be called on to take strike action on 28 March

The NEC has asked branches not taking action to nonetheless hold lunchtime or similar events in support of our dispute on pensions on 28 March. Please let us know if you are planning an event so we can tell others. We will also be circulating details of a demonstration in London by NUT and UCU colleagues on 28 March as soon as we have more details.

All the best.

NEC Meeting last Friday

Last Friday’s NEC met to discuss what action to take in the light of the membership consultation.

1.       UCU had an overwhelming vote of over 80% (of those who voted) supporting the NEC’s rejection of the government’s pension proposals and in favour of a continuing campaign against them. 60% of those who voted also supported striking on March 28^th alongside other unions. The PCS, NUT and EIS all got broadly similar results from their consultations.

2.       The NUT Executive last Wednesday decided against a national strike on the 28^th but instead decided to bring out its members in London as the start of a campaign of rolling strike action. The EIS Exec. then decided not to strike on the 28^th. The PCS Exec. does not meet until today.

3.       We had to consider both what our members had voted FOR and what other unions were planning to do. We decided therefore to:

A)     Tell the PCS that UCU will endorse national strike on the 28^th March if the PCS does as well.

B)      Endorse UCU strike action in London on the 28^th alongside the NUT. With dinnertime protests nationally outside other colleges.

C)      Instruct the general secretary to talk to other unions urgently to agree a programme of action for after Easter.

4.       I’ll send out further details tomorrow when I hear the PCS decision. It strikes me, however, if it is the case that the PCS does not strike on the 28^th and we just have a London only strike on that day then one concrete way of making the day as national as possible will be for Yorkshire UCU branches to ‘twin’ with London UCU branches – that can mean collecting money to pay for picketers’ breakfasts, messages of support, linking up at department level etc. We must not let our London members feel they are being asked to fight for all of us on their own. So we also need to demand that there is a rolling programme of regional action to follow.

Weekly update

Dear Colleagues,



IN THIS WEEK'S ROUNDUP:

TPS Update:
Yesterday (16 March), the National Union of Teachers (NUT) National Executive met and agreed to ask their London membership only to take strike action on 28 March. Today our NEC has considered this and agreed to ask UCU’s TPS members in London to also take strike action on 28 March.
The NEC also agreed to confirm national TPS action (England and Wales) on the 28^th provided that the Executive of the PCS union does the same when they meet on Monday.  We will issue a further urgent update to TPS members on Monday as soon as we have more information.  The NEC has also asked the general secretary to contact other unions to discuss further possible rolling strike action. The full result of the  union’s TPS consultative ballot can be seen here:
http://tps.web.ucu.org.uk/

General secretary’s manifesto proposals:

In this week’s Time Higher Education magazine, general secretary Sally Hunt says changes will put members in charge and improve support for branches:
http://tinyurl.com/7bmokp5
We have also been asked to provide a link to  information from those who oppose the changes:
http://uculeft.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Why-we-should-vote-No-to-all-three-of-Sally-Hunts-proposals.pdf
To view the FAQs on Sally’s proposals and make a comment go here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5993

IFL reminder:
A reminder to all FE branches that members in England should continue to NOT pay their IfL registration fee:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/iflfee

Last chance to lobby on the NHS Bill:
The government is intent on forcing its Health and Social Care Bill through Parliament, but you can still help the TUC make a last bid to persuade Peers to delay it until the risk register is published here:
http://www.goingtowork.org.uk/peers/?campaign=6

UCUHE137: 23 March Post 92 annual meeting cancelled:
www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/UCUHE137.rtf
www.ucu.org.uk/circ/pdf/UCUHE137.pdf

UCU/414 Congress minutes 2011:
The formal minutes of UCU’s 2011 Congress meeting, including all resolutions passed.
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu414.html
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/ucu414.rtf

UCU/413 NEC annual report to Congress 2012:
An annual report of the union’s activities, reported in sections corresponding to the NEC’s sub-committees.
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu413.html
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/ucu413.rtf

UCU/412 Annual TUC Disability Equality Conference:
Details of arrangements for the 2012 TUC Disability Conference to be held in central London, 30-31 May.  Nominations should be sent to James Taylor ( jtaylor@ucu.org.uk) by 12 noon, Monday 26 March 2012.
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu412.html
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/ucu412.rtf

UCU/411 Academic-Related Annual Meeting – Agenda, Motions & Nominations:
Please see the agenda, motions and committee nominations submitted to the Annual Meeting for Academic Related Staff to be held at UCU HQ on 21 March. Please note that the deadline for any amendments to motions is 5pm on Monday 19 March.
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu411.html
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/ucu411.rtf

UCU/410  HE Negotiating Pack Briefings:
Details of the HE Negotiating Pack Briefings in April and May; why the packs have been developed, how the packs can help local negotiations, where the briefings will take place, what briefing your branch can register for and how to register. 
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu410.html
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/ucu410.rtf

Workers’ Memorial Day 28th April:
TUC calls day of action on health and safety: Commemorating those killed at work and campaigning for safer workplaces on 28th April. The TUC is calling all trade union members to make 28th April in UK a day of action. Planned events here:
http://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace/tuc-20489-f0.cfm      

All the best,

Justine Stephens,
Head of Campaigns UCU

Consultation on proposed changes to UCU

Following her re-election, UCU general secretary Sally Hunt is launching a ballot on members on the future structures of the union.

All members should receive an invitation to participate in the online ballot on three changes to UCU which Sally proposed in her election manifesto. The ballot will open on 12 March 2012 and will be run by Electoral Reform Services. Members for whom we have no valid email address will receive a ballot by post over the folowing few days. If you expect to and haven't received an email invtation by 16 March a query form will be available here.

A set of questions relating to these changes is set out belo and you can read again her letter to members on the changes here.

---

What are your proposals?

I am proposing three main changes.

The first is to reduce the size of UCU's National Executive Committee from 72 to a maximum of 40 and use the savings to improve services for members and branches.

The second is to give members a right to be directly consulted on a final offer from employers before the union decides whether to accept it or reject and escalate action.

The third is for members to elect lay national negotiator posts currently elected by annual conferences.

Today  marks the start of the ballot on the manifesto commitments made by the general secretary in the recent election.  Members for whom the union does not have an email address should receive a postal ballot over the next few days. Any member who has not got either an email postal ballot by Friday 16 March should use the online form here to request a new one: http://www.ucu.org.uk/changeproposals

Strike ballot results

Public sector pensions - consultation ballots

The results are as follows:

1. Do you support further strike action beginning with a national one day strike on March 28 alongside other unions?

Further Education (England and Wales) 

Yes 5,250 (62.9%), No 3,102 (37.1%) Turnout 25.1%

Higher Education (England and Wales)

Yes 3,668 (55.3%), No 2,962 (44.7%) Turnout 31.3%

Higher Education (Scotland) 

Yes 107 (69.9%), No 46 (30.1%) Turnout 26.7%

Further and Higher Education (Northern Ireland)  

Yes 145 (51.1%), No 139 (48.9%) Turnout 20.6%

2. Do you endorse the decision of the NEC to reject the government's final pension proposals and continue the campaign against them?

Further Education (England and Wales) 

Yes 7,151 (85.7%), No 1,194 (14.3%) Turnout 25.1%

Higher Education (England and Wales)

Yes 5,276 (79.4%), No 1,367 (20.6%) Turnout 31.3%

These results and those of other unions will be considered by the NEC at its special meeting this Friday.

*Turnout figures include any  ballot forms returned blank.

Weekly Update

A reminder that in this new weekly bulletin you will find links to all the publications we have produced this week for branch officers and activists. If there are officers in your branch who should be receiving this but are not on our current distribution list, please email jstephens@ucu.org.uk

We hope you find it useful.

IN THIS WEEK'S ROUNDUP:

Vote YES! LAST CHANCE to vote on Public sector pensions:
A final reminder to please urge your members to vote in the consultative ballots. The NEC urges you to encourage members to vote YES to rejecting the government’s final offer and YES to further strike action. Click here for all the arguments:
http://tps.web.ucu.org.uk/
For more on STSS, click here:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/stss

UCU supports NUS 'Come Clean' campaign:
UCU supports NUS’s campaign. Week of action - NEXT WEEK, including a mass walkout on Wednesday (March 14). UCU encourages all branches who have not already done so, to make contact with their local Students’ Union and are asked to request that members treat students who attend NUS activities during the week of action and the walk out sympathetically:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/comeclean
For further queries please contact: jstephens@ucu.org.uk

Also this week:

UCU/415  Results of UCU Trustee, General Secretary, Officer and NEC elections 2012:

The results have been declared and a list of all candidates elected is set out in this circular.  The scrutineer’s reports are available on-line at

http://www.ucu.org.uk/elections   

http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu415.html

http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/ucu415.rtf

General Secretary sets out reform plans:
General Secretary Sally Hunt wrote to all members this week setting out her plans for reform of UCU, following her re-election last Friday:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/5Mar12

IFL reminder:

A reminder to all FE branches that members in England should continue to NOT pay their IfL registration fee:

http://www.ucu.org.uk/iflfee

International Women’s Day Wall Chart:

To mark International Women's Day, UCU has updated its popular wall chart. http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/5/q/womens_poster_final_2012.pdf

Workers’ Memorial Day 28th April: TUC calls day of action on health and safety:

Commemorating those killed at work and campaigning for safer workplaces on 28th April. The TUC is calling all trade union members to make 28th April in UK a day of action. Planned events here: http://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace/tuc-20489-f0.cfm      

Health and Safety News:

The March issue of Health and Safety News is now out and available to download at the following link:

http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1739

Climate Week – 12-19 March:

The campaign for a low carbon economy is directly tied in with our fight for jobs inside and outside the sector so as part of Climate Week, UCU branches are urged to get endorsement from their institution for the Green Skills Manifesto that was launched last week:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5986

UCU/414 Congress minutes 2011:

The formal minutes of UCU’s 2011 Congress meeting, including all resolutions passed.

http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu414.html

http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/ucu414.rtf

UCU/413 NEC annual report to Congress 2012:

An annual report of the union’s activities, reported in sections corresponding to the NEC’s sub-committees.

http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu413.html

http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/ucu413.rtf

UCU/412 Annual TUC Disability Equality Conference:

Details of arrangements for the 2012 TUC Disability Conference to be held in central London, 30-31 May.  Nominations should be sent to James Taylor (jtaylor@ucu.org.uk) by 12 noon, Monday 26 March 2012.

http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu412.html

http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/ucu412.rtf

UCU/411 Academic-Related Annual Meeting – Agenda, Motions & Nominations:

Please see the agenda, motions and committee nominations submitted to the Annual Meeting for Academic Related Staff to be held at UCU HQ on 21 March. Please note that the deadline for any amendments to motions is 5pm on Monday 19 March.

http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu411.html

http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/ucu411.rtf

UCU/410  HE Negotiating Pack Briefings:

Details of the HE Negotiating Pack Briefings in April and May; why the packs have been developed, how the packs can help local negotiations, where the briefings will take place, what briefing your branch can register for and how to register. 

http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu410.html

http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/ucu410.rtf

UCUHE/136: Grade Drift:

Ways in which roles and the ‘rate for the job’ can be undermined by grade drift and actions for branches/LAs to challenge this

www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/UCUHE136.rtf

www.ucu.org.uk/circ/pdf/UCUHE136.pdf

Newsround

UCU General Secretary election result:
Sally Hunt has been re-elected as UCU general secretary following the election, winning by 10,776 (73%) to 3,941 for opponent Mark Campbell (27%). Sally will write to members on Monday. For more information read the press release here:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/5989

Public sector pensions ballots:
The consultative ballots on taking further action in the disputes over proposed changes to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, the Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme and the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Pension Scheme are now open. Please encourage all your members to use their votes and you are reminded that the NEC is recommending members to vote YES for more action:
http://tps.web.ucu.org.uk/
For more on STSS, click here:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/stss

HE News:
Reporting on the HEC meeting of 24 February, guidance on industrial issues for HE members and forthcoming annual meetings:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/henews

FE branch officers' update:
Reporting on: Funding Information and Model Questions, Lesson Observations – revised guidance and resources:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/docs/l/n/ucu_febranchupdate_2_march12.doc

FE News:
Latest on: funding, IfL, ESOL
http://www.ucu.org.uk/fenews

FE funding briefing note:
A Briefing Note on 2012-2013 FE sector funding (as reported in FE News) has been produced. It gives details of the funding for the next academic year for both adult learning and 16-19. It includes some model questions that branches can ask management:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/fefunding
If branches get responses from their college, please inform regional offices and head office (dtaubman@ucu.org.uk).

UCU supports NUS 'Come Clean' campaign:
UCU supports NUS’s campaign to highlight the hidden cost of study with a week of action (March 12-16), a mass walkout (March 14) and parliamentary lobby (April 18) and we encourage all branches to make contact their local students’ union:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/comeclean
Contact your local students' union for activities on your campus. For further queries please contact: jstephens@ucu.org.uk

Academic-Related Annual Meeting:
Branch/LA secretaries are asked to note the deadline of Wednesday 7 March 2012 for registration for the academic-related annual meeting, and to encourage members to attend. For details and registration, see:
http://www.ucu.org.uk/2729
  
UCU409: Post 92 Annual Meeting - Friday 23 March 2012:
This is a reminder to Branches/LAs for the post-92 meeting to be held on Friday 23 March 2012. branches/LAs are asked to register representatives as soon as possible, and before the deadline of 9 March 2012.
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu409.html
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/ucu409.rtf

UCU408: Annual meeting for staff on casual contracts – Friday 9 March 2012:
Agenda, motions and committee nominations submitted to the annual meeting for staff on casual contracts to be held at UCU HQ on 9 March 2012. Please note that the deadline for any amendments to motions is 5pm on Wednesday 7 March.
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu408.html
http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/rtf/ucu408.rtf

*NEW* UCU learning reps newsletter: 
http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/c/d/Learning_Rep_News__No._5__Feb_12.pdf