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.

UCU Rising – there’s still time to vote

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First of all thank you for your continued support of both UCU nationally and of your local branch. UCU is its members and you are vital to our continued work within Heriot Watt and also with national collective bargaining.

I received my ballot papers the day after they were sent (which is highly unusual). I had just returned from visiting my local CWU picket line to taking UCU’s best wishes to our brilliant fellow trade unionists working as posties. CWU have always supported our pickets, visiting to stand with us in solidarity. Twice now people in the street have stopped me to say thank you for standing with the posties and to say good luck in our ballots.

This morning I had a knock at the door and it was my lovely postie with a parcel, saying they remembered me from visiting their pickets and they wanted to see how I was and to say thank you. A timely and moving reminder that we are not in this alone. We are part of a wider labour movement, standing together, in solidarity, to create the change all of our workplaces so desperately need.

If you have not returned your ballot papers yet, please do so ASAP and be part of a collective movement with your postie, trail workers, dock workers, barristers in England and all the other trade unionists voting to stand up for what is right.

Today you will have received an email asking if you have returned your ballot papers. We ask so that we can see where we are in terms of ballots having been received and if there are members with any questions about the ballots.

If you would like to know more about the campaign or need to order a replacement ballot you can find that information here https://www.ucu.org.uk/rising

Yours in solidarity,
Kate (HW UCU equalities officer and UCU Scotland Equalities Officer)

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.

UCU’s demands on pay and pensions

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Our demands are reasonable and affordable but we need to win a massive YES vote in the ballot.

Pay

  • an increase to all spine points on the national pay scale of at least inflation (RPI) + 2% or 12%
  • nationally-agreed action, using and intersectional approach, to close the gender, ethnic, and disability pay gaps
  • an agreed framework to eliminate precarious employment practices by universities

Pensions

  • UUK should agree to withdraw their benefit cuts and put pressure on USS to restore benefits to 2021 levels as soon as possible.
  • UUK should put strong pressure on USS to ensure that the next and all subsequent valuations are moderately prudent and evidence based. Prudence should be defined in terms of the likelihood of all pensions being paid from investment returns and contributions going forward.

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

 

I’m voting YES

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You have all been outstanding at returning your ballots in the past. Please keep it up and vote YES then let the branch know when you have posted it off.

Please help us by posting a picture to social media with the hashtag of #ucuRISING and tag us at @UCUHWU on Facebook or @UCU_HWUBranch on Twitter. If you don’t have social media you can email your photos to John at the local branch.

This has never been a better 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.