Category Archives: Events

What happens next? Members’ Meeting Wednesday 26 October

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Thank-you to all who have voted. The ballot will close on Friday 21 October, and we hope that we will be able to inform members and employers of the result on Monday 24 October.

We will then hold a members’ meeting to discuss the next steps and establish a branch position for the Branch Delegate Meeting (BDM) on Monday 31 October. The outcomes of the BDM will inform the decisions of a Special Higher Education Committee on Thursday 3 November.

The local branch members’ meeting will be held online via Zoom on Wednesday 26 October at 12pm. If you have not received instructions on how to join the Zoom meeting, please contact the branch office.

We need this meeting to be quorate, so please attend. Deciding on the next steps is crucial and we need to hear the views of members.

 

Watt Could be Better?

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How has the semester shaped up so far? Are any issues emerging – covid, ERP, PDR, timetabling, workload, student support, or even just finding somewhere to buy a coffee?

The local UCU branch will be hosting an open online meeting to discuss at 12:30pm on Wednesday 12 October.

This is a chance for all staff to talk to UCU reps about working at Heriot-Watt University.

The meeting is open to members and non-members and the Zoom link for meeting can be found on the Watt Could be Better? newsbeat article on the staff intranet at (HWU login required).

People Enabler

HWUCU oppose the use of metrics. We have not agreed to the use of metrics for research, or in connection with a performance review tool which is known variously as People Enabler, Succession Planner, or Talent Review.

Please contact the branch office if your line manager or anyone from HR contacts you about this.

Working group

We are currently setting up a working group about systems, processes and workflows. If you are interested in joining this group, please email me at m.winters@hw.ac.uk.

UCU Live: Vote YES or your vice chancellor speaks for you!

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Watch this event live on YouTube at 7.30pm on 6 October 2022.

We cannot simply rely on vice chancellors doing what is right, we must also show them our power. And we can only do that by delivering a strong YES vote in this ballot.

If you haven’t voted and posted your ballot paper yet, please do so as soon as possible and let us know.

If you haven’t received a ballot paper or have lost it, request a replacement here.

UCU Rising: halfway through the ballot

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We know that some of you still have concerns about voting YES in this ballot. That is why our general secretary Jo Grady last night answered your difficult questions about the ballot in a UCU Live Q&A session which you can replay here.

We are now officially halfway through our higher education ballot window but we cannot afford to take our foot off the gas now. If you have already voted or need a replacement ballot please let us know now.

Winning this ballot is the only way that we can bring your employers back to the negotiating table, the only way that we can improve your working conditions, and the only way that we can fix the injustices of the higher education sector.

HWUCU branch BBQ on Thursday 15 September

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The annual HWUCU branch BBQ will be returning Thursday 15 September from 2:00pm in the grounds of the Chaplaincy, weather permitting. Please save the date.

We are doing the organising and we will be cooking up burgers and sausages to suit all tastes on meat and non-meat grills. Vegan and vegetarian options will be provided and you can bring your own food if you have special dietary requirements. All you need to do is show up with some salad, and whatever you drink – this is a BYOB event. Plates, cutlery, and glasses will be provided.

It will be a great opportunity for members to meet new people and recreate the atmosphere of the picket line, but union talk is not required.

Families, friends, pets, and potential new members all most welcome.

The ballot is open, vote YES/YES

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The ballot packs from Civica (CEC) went into the post yesterday and some will already have been delivered. You should also be receiving your #ucuRising campaign material, including a poster in the post.

You will receive two ballot papers in one envelope and with one return envelope for both ballots. Please complete and return your ballots at the earliest opportunity.

Our key demands are

  • a fair pay rise
  • meaningful commitment to tackle casualisation
  • meaningful agreement on workloads
  • action on equality pay gaps
  • restoration of pension benefits
  • moderately prudent evidence based USS pension fund valuations in future

The full Higher Education Joint Unions’ Claim for 2022/23 can be found at https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/12528/HE-unions-claim-2022-23/pdf/TUJNCHESclaim202223FINAL.pdf

Deliveries may be delayed by industrial action being undertaken by CWU on Thursday and Friday. If your ballot has not arrived yet, please be patient. We need supportive of our posties #StandByYourPost.

Can we ask that that you take a selfie when posting your ballot, with your poster in shot if possible, and post online with the hashtag of #UCUrising and tag/mention HWUCU branch on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UCUHWU/ or Twitter at https://twitter.com/UCU_HWUBranch. If you don’t have social media email your photos to John at the local branch committee.

No problem if your paws are camera shy, please just post your ballot and let our GTVO team know that you have voted when they get in touch. This is a big national aggregated ballot this time so there may be communications from both the local branch and UCU HQ but we will do our best to avoid asking you again once you have already notified that you have voted.

This is a great time to get involved with union activity at branch level. If you would like to help spread the word please contact Joss at the local branch committee.