Tag Archives: News Roundup 30 November 2018

A weekly roundup of Cardiff UCU news and announcements

“Transforming Cardiff” and defending jobs at Cardiff University

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The University has released on the intranet more information about its current restructuring exercise, “Transforming Cardiff”. It boils down to a commitment to improving teaching, research, and professional services, while spending less money. They have commited to releasing more information about the voluntary severance scheme (VSS) , which will form a major part of this plan, next week.

Cardiff UCU have raised numerous concerns about Transforming Cardiff in general, and the severance scheme in particular. This is the third such scheme our members have had to contend with in six years, and the VC has repeatedly refused to rule out compulsory redundancies.

We are currently working with the other campus Unions on a statement which explains our shared problems with the new VSS scheme, and our plans to collectively resist compulsory job cuts in future. We’ll keep you informed.

Workload Reps Training: Wednesday 5th December, 10am-1pm

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As part of our Workload Campaign, we are holding another training session on the morning of Wednesday 5th December for those who were unable to attend the last session.

Adam Lincoln from UCU Head Office in London will be coming to Cardiff to run a half-day introduction to the role of the workload rep., and how we can use our rights as trade unionists (particularly under Health and Safety legislation) to take action in support of manageable workloads. The training will provide you with the skills and information needed to help us take the next step in our campaign to take back our time.

To find out more, or book on to the training, please contact the branch office.

Participate in a Cardiff Uni student research project about your experience of trade union membership

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Zac Williams a final year Sociology undergraduate doing his dissertation on trade unionism. He wants to talk to Cardiff UCU members about their values and experiences. If you can spare 30 minutes of your time, he would really appreciate hearing from you. He wants to talk to members who do not work in his own school (Social Sciences). You can find out more about Zac’s study by emailing him directly (WilliamsZJ@cardiff.ac.uk), or by contacting his supervisor, Finn Bowring (BowringF@cardiff.ac.uk).

UCU Pay and Workload Strike in Welsh Further Education Colleges

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Clare Gibbs (UCU Coleg y Cymoedd, Communication Representative)

College lecturers across Wales will be taking strike action over pay and workload on Tuesday 4th December, Thursday 13th December and Friday 14th December.  This has been decided following the fantastic ballot result of University and College Union members who voted overwhelmingly to support. On pay the result was 90.5% in support of strike action with a 52.3% turnout.  On workload there was a 53.8% turnout with 90.1% in favour of action. Both ballot results comfortably meet the thresholds set by the 2016 Trade Union Act indicating the strength of feeling amongst lecturing staff over these issues. Continue reading →