Students facing marking boycott

Southern Daily Echo has a story on UCU's marking boycott - 

HUNDREDS of students in Southampton could graduate late because of a bitter pay dispute.

Staff at both the city’s universities who are members of University and College Union (UCU) could refuse to mark essays or exams from April 28 unless an improved pay deal is agreed.

The move, described by the union as its “ultimate sanction”, could mean that students are left without the final results they need to gain their degree.

Staff could also refuse to take part in examination board meetings or exam preparation discussions and will not communicate any marks to students – actions which could leave hundreds of thousands of students unable to graduate, thereby hampering their ability to find a job.

 Read more here .

Tory rebranding as 'The Worker's Party'

In a speech today, Tory Chairman Grant Shapps has claimed that the Tories are the Workers’ Party. Yes, really.

What a rebrand.

• That’s the same Party who have made it easier to sack workers.
• The Party who have made working people who have been unfairly sacked stump up £1200 to get justice at a tribunal.
• The Party who allowed employers to bribe workers to give up their rights at work.
• The Party who took the EU to court to stop a tough cap on bankers’ bonuses.
• The Party who have presided over a 2.2% pay cut for workers in every year since 2010.

The list goes on….

We can’t let them get away with this pretence.

Do you think the Tories are wrong? Add your name now:

http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/page/s/tory-rebrand

Vince Cable calls for restraint of university bosses' pay

Business Secretary's comments come after it was revealed vice-chancellors enjoyed an 8.1% average salary hike in 2012-2013, compared to just 1% for ordinary staff

Vince Cable has called for 'restraint' for university vice-chancellors' and senior management's soaring pay packets.

Last week it was revealed vice-chancellors enjoyed an 8.1 per cent average salary hike in 2012-2013, compared to just 1 per cent for ordinary staff.

“Whilst universities are independent organisations with many sources of income, they do benefit from public subsidy,” Mr Cable said.

“I’m sure taxpayers would expect some degree of restraint in the salaries of top managers of universities at a time when public sector pay is still under pressure.”

The Business Secretary’s comments came in response to a letter from the secretary general of the University and College Union (UCU) Sally Hunt calling on universities to explain their executives’ high pay rises to the public.

Read more here

(From The Independent, Monday 24th February, 2014 - By Michael Allen) 

 

ACTIVIST BULLETIN

HE Pay Dispute - Frequently Asked Questions

Since the third strike day on 6 February we have received a number of questions which this bulletin seeks to address.

How are negotiations with the employers going?

Unfortunately the employers have not moved from their 1% offer and that they will not negotiate further on the 2013/14 pay talks. The four HE trade unions: UNISON, UCU, Unite and EIS remain in dispute with the employers and are looking at next steps.

The joint trade unions (including the GMB who are not in dispute) have met to prepare for next year’s pay talks for 2014/15 and are in the process of agreeing a pay claim.

Is there likely to be another strike? Who decides if we take action?

UNISON’s HE pay policy is determined by our annual Higher Education Conference. This will next take place on 27 February 2014. Between HE conferences decisions on implementing pay policy are determined by UNISON’s Higher Education Service Group Executive (HESGE). The HESGE is comprised of lay members directly elected by members in regions; supplemented by HE members who are elected to UNISON’s National Executive Council.  HESGE members report back and consult with branches at regional HESGE meetings. The HESGE will next meet on the 26^th February. Decisions on future strike action will be taken at conference and the HESGE.

Of the other unions involved in the dispute, the main academic union UCU has announced a marking ban to start from 28 April 2014, but has no plans for further strikes

When do we have to re-ballot members to continue taking strike action?

The law on unions taking industrial action is very restrictive. So UNISON constructed the original ballot question to make sure there would be no requirement to re-ballot members on taking strike action whilst the current dispute continued. How long the dispute and strikes continue will be decided by the HESGE or HE conference.

Why have I received a pay increase?

The national HE employers association UCEA advised its University members to pay the 1% pay offer to staff in January 2014 (some employers had already done this at the end of 2013). This means that the 1% pay offer from the employers for 2013 /14 was IMPOSED by the employers.

Has the 3 day strike made a difference?

Yes.  Whilst the employers have taken a hard line and not moved on the 1%, we have made some small gains. Since the start of the dispute a number of employers (some of whom had previously refused) have agreed to introduce the Living Wage. Some universities have made additional one off payments to staff, showing they do have the money available.  Our exposure of the hypocrisy of Vice-Chancellors/Principals holding down pay awards for low paid staff whilst taking big rises themselves has been highlighted in the media and recognised by the Government.  The recent grant letter from the government to the English HE funding council urged ‘leaders in the sector (to) exercise much greater restraint...’

Have we considered alternative forms of industrial action?

In addition to the joint one day strikes UCU has been taking 2-hour strikes, working -to-contract and is now proposing a marking boycott. This is called ‘action short of strike action’ (ASOS), which is also subject to detailed legislative restrictions.  UCU included ASOS as an option on their original ballot and this was voted for by their members.

UNISON’s HESGE did not include ASOS as an option on our ballot as they were not convinced it would be effective and had concerns that the employers would take a firm response. This has been proved correct as over one third of universities have deducted a full day’s pay from UCU members that took part in the rolling 2 hour strikes. The employer’s cite previous case law that ‘partial performance of duties’ means that those members taking ASOS have broken their contracts for that day.

In order for UNISON to take action short of strike action a further ballot of members would be required.

If branches/members have any further queries then they should contact their Regional Organising staff

The more members we have in your workplace, the stronger we become and more effective we will be in discussions with the employers. Potential members can join instantly by calling 0800 171 2193 or join online at https://join.unison.org.uk

MEMBER BULLETIN

Round up of National Strike: 6 February 2014

UNISON members took a third day of strike action on 6 February, alongside colleagues from UCU, Unite and EIS, in the continuing dispute with the higher education employers over their insulting 1% pay offer.

 

 Branches and members around the UK made a determined effort to make the third strike a successful event. UNISON’s Higher Education twitter (@UNISONinHE) and face book accounts were inundated with posts throughout the day with #fairpayinHE trending and we received a fair amount of regional media coverage.

Pictures of picket lines outside universities across the UK were posted, highlighting the support.  Pickets kept busy and warm by sharing information with members, students and the wider public. 

The support of students union and the wider community was much appreciated; with students recognising the vital roles that UNISON members play in higher education institutions.

The strike was in support of fair pay for all and a boost for the lowest-paid to take home a living wage of at least £7.65 in the regions and £8.80 for those working in London.

UNISON picket line at Herefordshire University

UNISON members are struggling to make ends meet as incomes are squeezed. The 1% pay award that the employers have imposed on staff does not address this and is in stark contrast to the huge pay rises that many Vice Chancellors are receiving.

UNISON members took strike action to demand that the employers return to negotiations, to make a decent and fair pay offer.  Higher education employees demand a decent salary, because they are 'Worth It'.

                        

UNISON HE Service Group Executive Chair (and Teesside joint branch Secretary) Denise Ward

UNISON’s Higher Education Service Group Executive  (HESGE) will meet on the 26^th February and the following day UNISON’s HE Conference will  take place in Brighton . The HESGE and delegates from branches around the UK will be discussing the next steps in the pay dispute, the 2014/15 pay claim and other key topics affecting UNISON members in higher education.

Prentis pays tribute to workers dealing with the floods

As the wind and rain continued to batter Britain, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis paid tribute to the "hardworking, dedicated women and men, doing their best in the worst of circumstances" to deal with the crisis.

Addressing the union's national women's conference in Brighton, he was scathing of the "cynical politicians" making "cheap points" by blaming the Environment Agency.

 Picture Courtesy of Open University

And he suggested that, if David Cameron was being truthful in saying that "money's now no object, how about lifting the threat to 1,500 more jobs in the Environment Agency."

Mr Prentis also had words of thanks for all the union's members and activists, noting that 'the work that you do, week in, week out, is what makes our union strong.'

But he had words of condemnation for the likes of Mr Cameron, George Osborne and Nick Clegg, saying that they have never had to make "tough choices" and noting that directors' pay has grown by 31% in the last year alone.
"The rich have never had it so good," he said.

"The problem doesn't live on Benefits Street," he told delegates. "The real problem lives on Downing Street."

But he warned them not to celebrate UKIP pushing the Conservative Party into third place in the Wythenshaw and Sale by-election.

Stressing that UKIP would scrap working people's rights such as maternity leave, he noted that there was a "lack of challenge from [other] political parties", and "a failure of courage and a failure of compassion" that was allowing UKIP to make gains.

Mr Prentis had strong words too on the economy - both on the need for proper pay rises - "because you're Worth It" - and also on the indictment of the Red Cross handing out food parcels in this country for the first time since the second world war.

And he urged a massive turnout at the demonstration that has been called for London and other UK capitals in October, to send a message to the government and also to the Labour Party.

"The fight for the future is, quite simply, in our hands," he told them.
"And on Valentine's Day, we agreed a date - that we'll all meet on 18 October and you'll all bring your friends with you."

Strike Pay

Don’t forget to apply for strike pay

UNISON is able to offer Hardship Payments for members going out on strike.

The criteria will be:
· Anyone striking for the 2^nd or 3^rd  time
· Members who are single parents or anyone with a partner who is also on 

    strike – however, only one partner can get the hardship payment
· Members on a very low income or in exceptional circumstances
We can offer £40 if this is your second day of strike and £80 if this is your third day of strike. Payment will be equal for all who qualify. However, if there are a large number of claims, then the suggested payment above will be less due to the limited pot available. 

How to access the payments:

Members are asked to contact unison@soton.ac.uk after the strike.  There is a nominal cut-off date of Monday 17^th February 2014.