Chair’s quick updates for members
Happy May Day: Dundee and Cardiff victories over compulsory redundancies. A delegation of 20+ Newcastle University UCU delegation visits Durham UCU pickets.
Today over 20 members visited the pickets at Durham University in their dispute against compulsory redundancies for their Professional Service staff members. The delegation good a big cheer from our 150 or so Durham colleagues on the picket line.
At the end of picket rally we heard through voicemail from the Branch Chair at Cardiff University who were set to strike today of their victory with management backing off from compulsory redundancies for now at least. This is a big victory and we should celebrate it as such. But it is bittersweet as their chair told me as many colleagues have left through VS there and the longer term threat is still potentially there.
I was able to report on the news from Dundee University UCU who have also got their management to back off from compulsory redundancies. These are two big wins for branches that we have reached out to and networked with. Their fight is our fight. If they can win it isolates our management even further.
Report back from the consultation meeting yesterday, Wednesday 30 April.
We had been told that the management would come with a proposal for consultation on the next phase of voluntary/compulsory redundancy should it be necessary at the end of April so we had assumed that this would occur yesterday. Instead, all we got was an update on the fourth and latest round of voluntary severance.
The meeting opened with us asking for clarification of the widely reported statement that the VC had mooted the merger of PS services namely the library with Northumbria University and why the meeting to discuss PS matter alongside the other campus unions had been cancelled shortly after the VC’s infamous Town Hall. The Head of HR denied that the VC had said this and that she believed that the recording was available online. We pressed on PS Alignment and the two-year transformation programme in the consultation pack fo the 21 January. There were ‘no current plans’ for reorganisation. This has been a motif of management about all the things that have transpired since September 2024. At that time there were ‘no current plans’ for redundancies. It is important to mention this because there is a bigger picture in which management plans are a threat to those well beyond the targeted areas and the issue of redundancies alone.
A situation where a Faculty Pro Vice Chancellor says openly why are you worrying about workload you are lucky to have a job says it all.
The update on the latest targeted VS scheme was that 8.5FTE have applied (with possibly 1FTE more) which would result in something of the order of £0.5m. This is on a ‘gap’ on intended staff savings of £4.9m. Management would not confirm this mean that they would move to VR/CR but that should they do so the meeting next Wednesday with the Faculty PVCs in attendance where they would bring the business case/a proposal for consultation. We pressed hard on the statutory obligations to consult when these matters were ‘in formation’ and other areas that we dispute but management stuck to their position that they have reiterated time and again.
The minutes will be made available so members will have a fuller account when they are published.
The big takeaway is the pivotal moment that we are in. UEB meet on Tuesday. Consultation is on Wednesday at which they would potentially bring a proposal or business case(s) for redundancy. That they have repeatedly delayed this moment shows how our action has made them wary of pushing the button of compulsory redundancy. So far we have prevented a single compulsory redundancy lets keep up the pressure on them.
Strike days 14, 15, 16
Monday again was an excellent turnout on the picket lines.
Another good turnout on Friday is important as we are entering a crucial stage.
Remember the branch meeting on Friday at 1pm. See previous email for the motions.
Solidarity all. Amazing pickets. Great visit to Durham pickets today: We are spreading the resistance!
Tomorrow’s pickets will hold a cacerolazo; brings pots and spoons!
Details of tomorrows branch meeting below:
Friday 2 May 13:00 – 14:30
UCU Newcastle Branch General Meeting
https://newcastleuniversity.zoom.us/j/87065247786
Meeting ID: 870 6524 7786
Agenda:
* Visiting speakers
* Update from negotiators
* Motion on strike dates next week
* Discussion of industrial action and marking
* Workplace day of action 7 May: Trans rights
Motion below:
Newcastle UCU branch notes:
a. The ongoing dispute on the threat of compulsory redundancies and workload, equalities and casualisation with regards to redundancies and austerity measures
Newcastle UCU branch resolves:
i. To strike on Wednesday 7 May, Thursday 8 May, Friday 9 May
ii. To strike on Saturday 10 May, and for Newcastle UCU committee to circulate advice to members regarding whether to declare Saturdays as a strike vis-à-vis offer holder and open days.