Author Archives: isaac

Update on negotiations with UEB:

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Following the GM vote on 16th September that no member of staff should be forced to work on campus during the pandemic, we submitted our demands to UEB and received this reply. We will meet with them on 18th November to begin negotiations on this. If we cannot resolve these issues through negotiations, we will consult members about moving into dispute including industrial action.

A united workforce is strategic in negotiations; please get in touch if you have any concerns or questions, to keep us updated on any developments in your schools or departments or if you would like to be more directly involved in these negotiations.

Return to Campus Survey:

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We recently surveyed members on their feelings towards working on campus in various contexts. 285 members responded. In summary, we found:

 

212 members (74%) do not feel safe to return to working on campus.

188 (65%) do not think it is safe to deliver face-to-face teaching on campus.

194 (68%) do not agree teaching staff should deliver face-to-face teaching for students, even if this teaching could be delivered online.

149 (52%) disagree it is safe for staff to provide professional services support on campus.

Members have mixed views on whether it is safe for staff to conduct research on campus.

 

We found that, when it comes to return to campus working, members:

 

  • Are concerned about health, family and community
  • Question current adjustments and their feasibility
  • Think teaching online is a good alternative to face-to-face teaching in the current climate
  • Lack confidence in the management

 

Find the brief report of the survey findings, here.  

Workload Reporting:

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The current workload policy asks Schools to publish workload allocation information for 2020/21 to individual staff within “reasonable timelines” to support a “more transparent working environment”. As a minimum, the information provided by your School should consist of the number of students you deal with, your total number of teaching contact hours and the titles of your managerial roles. If you are an academic member of staff and your school has not shared this information with you, as a first step you should ask your Head of School or school manager to provide it. If they refuse, please contact your UCU Dep Rep or the UCU office.

Redundancies:

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Many members of staff on fixed-term contracts or contracts with relevant factor, including staff with over 10 years of service, are being made redundant during these difficult times. The University has the obligation to carry out a collective consultation with the unions on the redundancies proposed every trimester. If you are at risk of redundancy, get in touch with us as soon as possible to help us better represent you in these consultations.

Survey on the impacts of REF:

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REF eligible staff will have received an email on 3rd November entitled “Updated: Real-time REF review – invitation to complete survey”.   Many of us have severe concerns about the effects of REF on workload, wasted resources, pressure on individuals and the directions in which it may push research. This survey will give you the chance to feedback on the effects of the REF, its processes and how it is handled in the university(closing date 16th November).

Sharing the load: Appeal to Members

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The UCU Cardiff branch executive committee  is currently composed of 23 university workers who, along with any UCU branch member, volunteer their contracted time to fight for and defend a better working environment for all. The committee currently has vacancies for a Policy Officer, Media and Communications Officer and Disability Rep.

We want as many people involved in branch activities as possible! There are a number of other ways you can get involved, including joining one of our working groups (currently workload, anti-casualisation, health & safety and communications), or being a departmental rep, health and safety rep, or a caseworker. We need a strong branch if we are to make improvements to our working conditions at Cardiff University, and we are asking all members to consider what they can do.

Support from all members is essential for the branch to move forward and achieve good results for the ongoing negotiations and campaigns.

The branch needs your help. If you have not done so before, this is the time to come forward and fight alongside your co-workers to make the kind of improvements you want for your work.

Please get in touch with the branch office (Ucu@cardiff.ac.uk) if you’re interested in getting involved!

Questions for Public Health Wales:

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A message from Margaret Phelan, UCU Wales Official:

“We requested on your behalf that Public Health Wales engage with members to explain their advice to government as it impacts on the post 16 sector in Wales. They have agreed to do that and I am working on your behalf with government officials to arrange an event after the fire break.

I want to ensure that all members are able to suggest questions to be put to Public Health Wales, however the time will be limited and we will need to prioritise those questions most members are keen to have answered.

Could you email your question to Karen Williams on kwilliams@ucu.org.uk and provide some basic information on your job role; union and sector? RESPONSE BY 4pm Thursday 29th October please.

Regards,
Margaret”

Anti-casualisation meeting Monday 26th October 9.30-10.30am:

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The anti-casualisation working group will be holding an online meeting on Monday 26th October at 9.30 to 10.30am to provide an update on the current situation, collective consultations on redundancies, and the Teaching Delivery Governance group.

The meeting will be held on Zoom and is open to all UCU members. You can join on the following link:
https://cardiff.zoom.us/j/89007854215?pwd=WlhuS3VyK1FIVUJYVjBvc1duRVhOQT09