We have a set of slides with information for students (as a PowerPoint which includes notes pages with explanation, and also in a PDF version). We suggest UCU members explain the strike action to their students in lectures and seminars. This helps to encourage student support for striking staff. Continue reading
Author Archives: cardiff
UCU Strike 2019: Frequently Asked Questions
We discovered last year that colleagues, students and members of the general public do not always understand what we mean when we talk about trade unions, strikes, and picket lines (and so on).
UCU Strike 2019: Summary of key issues
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at sixty universities in the UK, including Cardiff University, will be engaging in a wave of 8 days of strike action from Monday 25th November to Wednesday 4th December followed by ‘action short of a strike’ which involves strictly working to contract, not covering for absent colleagues, and refusing to reschedule lectures lost during the strike action. Continue reading
President’s Report
I want to start this brief report by acknowledging the work that colleagues do in the branch office, and also to recognise the support we receive as officers and members from staff in the office in Bridgend who have been in Cardiff to support our efforts with Getting the Vote Out. Continue reading
Historic mandates in Strike Ballots:
The results of the “four fights” and USS ballots amount to an overwhelming vote for industrial action, a clear mandate for our negotiators, and a clear message from staff to employers.
Cardiff UCU would like to thank the small but tireless team of local reps for their work campaigning to get the vote out, as well as our broader membership who voted so convincingly in favour of action to improve our Universities.
We’d also like to apologise to our members for hounding you about voting so regularly for the last month, and to thank you for your patience. It’s essential that as many of us vote as possible, and a steady stream of door-knocks, personal phone calls, and emails are the only tools we have at our disposal to do so.
Nationally, in the pay ballot, a record 55 post-92 and pre-92 branches are in a position to take industrial action, with a higher overall turnout (49%) and a larger yes vote (74%) than ever before. In the USS ballot, 43 branches are in a position to take action, with an even higher yes vote of 79% and an overall turnout of 53%.
At Cardiff, because of your collective resolve we met the punitive, anti-union, 50% threshold in both ballots, with a resounding vote in favour of strike action and ASOS in both too.
Although none of us want to go on strike again, this vote shows that most of us feel the sector needs to change. UCU nationally has called on employers to return to negotiations immediately. In the meantime, the union will plan for the next phase of each dispute. UCU’s higher education committee will meet shortly to discuss the results and consider our next steps, including the nature, timing, and scale of industrial action.
Cardiff UCU branch General Meeting:
Our branch General Meetings are incredibly important to the smooth and democratic running of your local UCU branch. The more of our members turn up, debate, and vote, the more reflective of our members’ interests the branch will be.
Our next general meeting will take place on Weds 6 Nov at 1.10pm in the John Percival Building, Room 1.57 – with lunch available from 12.45pm.
You can find the agenda here and all of the papers on the branch website here.
We have a big year ahead – come along and help shape our branch’s activities and campaigns!
Cardiff delegates needed for two national UCU meetings:
We are in need of delegates for the UCU special Higher Education Sector Conference (HESC) about USS on 6th December (http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu971.html) and the UCU Democracy Commission Special Congress on 7th December (http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu976.html). If we don’t get enough volunteers, we won’t be able to use the full extent of our branch’s influence in our Union.
For context, the HESC meeting is a one-off special meeting which will focus on deciding and planning our future position on the USS dispute. The Democracy Commission is a body set up after the 2018 strikes to ensure a grassroots, member-led, UCU after widespread disappointment with the way the former union leadership ended the dispute. This conference will consider the recommendations of the Democracy Commission and decide the future of the UCU’s democratic structures (something we all agree will be crucial if we are forced to strike again).
The Cardiff UCU General Meeting next week will be the last chance for confirming delegates – so if anyone thinks they might put themselves forward, or would like to know more, please email ucu@cardiff.ac.uk as soon as possible.
The meetings are in Manchester, but the branch will be able to provide travel and accommodation expenses.
Results of the Cardiff UCU branch vote in both ballots:
CARDIFF UCU PAY, CASUALISATION, EQUALITY & WORKLOADS BALLOT: Turnout 52%
ARE YOU PREPARED TO TAKE INDUSTRIAL ACTION CONSISTING OF STRIKE ACTION?
77% Yes – 23% No
ARE YOU PREPARED TO TAKE INDUSTRIAL ACTION CONSISTING OF ACTION SHORT OF STRIKE ACTION UP TO AND INCLUDING A MARKING AND ASSESSMENT BOYCOTT?
84% Yes – 16% No
CARDIFF UCU USS BALLOT: Turnout 52%
ARE YOU PREPARED TO TAKE INDUSTRIAL ACTION CONSISTING OF STRIKE ACTION?
82% Yes – 18% No
ARE YOU PREPARED TO TAKE INDUSTRIAL ACTION CONSISTING OF ACTION SHORT OF STRIKE ACTION UP TO AND INCLUDING A MARKING AND ASSESSMENT BOYCOTT?
88% Yes – 12% No
The full results for all local branches who voted can be found here
Monday 28th is your last chance to vote in the two active ballots:
There are only a few days left to have your say in the higher education ballots so please post your ballot paper by Monday 28 October at the very latest.
Voting now will improve the union’s bargaining position and empowers your negotiators. If we beat the 50% threshold for strike action we anticipate that the employers will seriously consider making us an offer before any action happens, because they will remember how effective last year’s strikes were. If we don’t, there is no realistic chance of us improving our lots in relation to pensions, pay, workload, casualisation, or equality. It really is that stark.
A strong turn-out in Cardiff specifically will also help the local branch in its on-going negotiations for improvements with Cardiff University. A weak one will have the opposite effect.
We as a union have democratically decided to encourage members to vote “Yes“ to strike action and ASOS in both ballots, but whatever you think about pay, pensions, job security or equality: please don’t leave it to others to speak for you. Please vote, and also remind your colleagues to vote by sharing this short video clip or by sharing this Facebook event
Could you be a UCU workplace rep?
Your local UCU branch relies on the work of its Departmental Representatives (Dep Reps) who play an essential role in raising awareness of the union and supporting members. We need more.
If you are interested in becoming a Dep Rep, please get in touch with Sally in the branch office (ucu@cardiff.ac.uk). You can also take part in the following regional training.
Induction to Representing Members – Venue: UCU Wales Office, Tondu, Bridgend CF32 9BS
UCU Wales will be holding an Induction to Representing Members on Wednesday 6th November 10am – 2.30pm
This 1 day course is aimed at new reps/caseworkers, activists and departmental contacts who are or will be undertaking a role in the near future. The induction course will cover aspects of representation of members, organising, recruitment and building a strong branch.
We are currently without reps in the following schools: Business School, CPE, School of Welsh, Healthcare, Architecture and Engineering. We are also very keen to increase the number of reps we have in professional services across the board.