The branch relies entirely on members to function. Whether it is case-workers, dep-reps organising at a School or Directorate level, members engaging with working groups, or Executive Committee members, all the activities of the branch are undertaken by members. The more members we have actively working on branch business, the more progress we can make on local and national issues. People’s diversity of expertise and backgrounds also means that the more folks we have contributing to the running of branch activities, the better we will represent all workers across the university.

To facilitate UCU’s work, ‘facilities time’ is part of our recognition agreement with the University. This allows staff to take a proportion of their working week for union business. Staff are paid as usual for this time. Union business is quite broadly defined and include:

• Negotiation in connection with the matters for which the unions are recognised by the University for collective bargaining purposes
• Receiving information from, and consulting with, the University on redundancy (as identified under s188 of TULR(C)A) and provide advice to members at risk of redundancy
• Receiving information from, and consulting with, the University under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006
• Representing or accompanying University employees as the union representative at disciplinary or grievance hearings (including reasonable preparation time)
• Attending Joint Consultative and Negotiating Form or Joint Negotiating Committee meetings with the University
• To attend meetings of the Executive Committee of the relevant Union
• To attend University Induction/ Committees as invited
• To undertake general branch/local association administrative tasks
• To undertake general consultations with trade union members