The joint unions arrived at today’s meeting prepared to enter serious negotiations. We were disappointed that UCEA did not appear to share that approach.

We presented our joint union claim for pay, which was RPI + 2% or £4K
(whichever is higher) to address the need for a cost-of-living adjustment and begin to address the real terms decrease in salaries over the past decade.

In response, this claim was described as an “April Fool’s joke” by UCEA.

UCEA indicated that there was no prospect of significantly improving their offer. However, after an adjournment they informed us that they were willing to go away and remodel their offer with the possibility of a very modest increase in the quantum of funding.

We are meeting with UCEA next on Wednesday 25th January, and we hope that the employers will engage in serious negotiations with us

News reaches the branch that UCEA have tabled an improved offer in a meeting with UCU that took place on 11th January 2023.

The General Secretary Dr Jo Grady tweeted her pride in the  membership, who’s commitment to the latest round of industrial action has been instrumental in getting the employer back to the negotiating table.

The General Secretary is clear though that there is much more to do, that the new offer remains inadequate, but that the likelihood of further action will maintain pressure on our employer to come back with a realistic and respectful offer.

Two years on and the fight continues. Employers have not waited until the end of the pandemic to continue making things worse for staff. This has been an incredibly difficult period, but employers have picked this moment to attack staff pensions and impose another real-terms pay cut, while failing to make progress on casualisation, workload, or pay inequality – even though the sector’s income continues to increase.

• Vote YES to strike action and YES to action short of a strike
• Talk to at least 10 colleagues and remind them to vote (and get those 10 colleagues to pledge to do the same)
• Contact your branch and offer to become a departmental rep or help in some other way to get the vote out across your university
• Make your participation in the dispute(s) visible by changing your profile pictures on social media and using our other campaign resources
• Talk to non-union colleagues and students about why you are taking action. Employers will do their best to paint you as unreasonable, when they are the ones who are choosing to invest less in their staff and can afford to make an offer that would avoid industrial action.

The ballots close on Thursday 4 November at noon, so please post your papers as soon as possible.

UCU members undertake 8 days of strike action in their fight for Equality, Job Security, Fair Workloads, Fair Pay and Pensions. Our branch Co-President, Steve Jenkins, speaks to the BBC https://www.screencast.com/t/dWul5jszCuu

UCU is the largest trade union and professional association for researchers, academics and academic-related staff in the UK. We negotiate terms and conditions of employment both nationally and locally.

You have never needed your union more than now

In the current economic situation it is more important than ever that you join your union. UCU is fighting hard to protect jobs and defend education across the sector.

Every member of staff who joins makes us stronger and better able to look after those employed in our colleges and universities.

You are not alone

If you have problems at work you can contact us (ucusupport@bradford.ac.uk) for advice and representation. Experienced local officers are supported by full-time regional and national officials.

Bradford UCU LA finally steps over the social media line and establishes its own website!  Welcome one and all – check back regularly to keep up to date with branch activity as well as regional and national union news.