Dear colleague

Thank you to everyone who voted in the consultation called by our higher education committee (HEC) on the next steps in the marking and assessment boycott (MAB) in our pay and conditions dispute. 60% of members voting indicated they were in favour of suspending the MAB.   

The HEC motion that called for the consultation was clear that if a majority were in favour of standing down the MAB then this should be done within a week of the survey closing. In line with this motion, today, our union has written to your employers to withdraw the MAB. This means that the HEC is no longer asking you to boycott your marking and assessment. Please click here for more details on what this suspension will mean for you if you have marking and assessment responsibilities. Our other actions short of strike action (ASOS) including working to contract, not covering for absent colleagues, removing uploaded materials related to, and/or not sharing materials related to, lectures or classes that will be or have been cancelled as a result of strike action, not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action, and not undertaking any voluntary activities remain. 

The sacrifice that you have made to this action has been immense and has had an enormous impact on our dispute. We have exposed once and for all a sector which would rather try and starve out its staff, undermine the integrity of degrees, and disrupt students’ learning than give you the pay and conditions that you deserve.

Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) naively believe that not settling during the MAB would mean the end of the dispute. They couldn’t be more wrong. They couldn’t have underestimated you and your union more. The HEC has called five days of strike action later this month from Monday 25 to Friday 29 September. Some branches have arranged for local variations to ensure they can coordinate with other campus unions or to manage their own local disputes on punitive pay deductions or redundancies–the full list of strike dates can be found here. It is vital that our picket lines are once again busy and loud to show our employers that will not be moved until a proper settlement is put on the table. I will lead from the front by attending as many picket lines as I can.

Alongside this, HEC has also voted to launch another national ballot on this year’s pay offer. I know that a third ballot at a time when we are all tired seems a lot. But disputes of this magnitude–where we are trying to win big–take time. The RMT had three ballots before they settled their dispute in Network Rail earlier this year, and so did the CWU. These disputes demonstrate that it is only by renewing our mandate with another massive YES vote that we can force our employers to make the type of pay and conditions offer that members deserve. We also have significant evidence within our own union: the USS dispute was bitter and prolonged but we stuck together and we are well on track to our pensions being restored. 

Please make sure that your details are up to date on MyUCU and that you and your colleagues are ready to start campaigning for another ballot victory in the coming weeks.

I want to be clear–this fight is not over. We will not give up until we have delivered the deal that addresses years of pay cuts, unbearable workloads, rampant casualisation and unacceptable pay inequalities. Our strike action and ballot are a ramping up of this dispute to deliver a victory as soon as possible. 

We remain ready to talk. Ready to fight. Ready to vote YES. 

In solidarity 

Jo Grady
UCU general secretary

Members will be aware that UCEA remain unwilling to re-enter negotiations on pay.

We learned recently also that the Chair of UCEA declined the opportunity to discuss the dispute with the General Secretary when invited to do so by Sky News, instead sending a letter to the programme makers placing the blame for industrial action firmly on the shoulders of UCU and its members.

The inevitable consequence of such wilful belligerence is further action. See below communication from the GS to members:

Despite returning to the negotiating table in good faith following assurances from the employer that they would reconsider their position, UCEA merely reiterated their position – no increased offer was made.

You can read the latest from the General Secretary Dr Jo Grady here.

Our thanks go to Maureen Pinder who stepped down as auditor of branch finances at this year’s AGM.

Maureen has fulfilled the role on a voluntary basis for several years, and is replaced by Prof Simon Shepherd who has kindly agreed to take on the role following the news of Maureen’s decision to step down.

The UCU Bradford University Local Association Annual General Meeting took place on 29th June 2023.

The President’s presentation is now available as well as minutes of the meeting and copies of documentation previously circulated by email.

The powerpoint presentation from the latest EGM can be viewed here.

Questions from the floor:

Q – Is the University threat of 100% deduction likely to be implemented?

A – Current suggestion from management is that a 50% deduction for each day will be applied, but there is no detail on how that assessment will be made. Important that members share their experiences to allow branch to collate.

Q – I have completed form on HR website and then have been asked by line manager to identify time.

A – Branch advice is not t respond other than to HR online form, and only when prompted by HR.

Q – How does the branch feel the MAB is going?

A – Optometry seems to have carried on without impact by others including HoD taking up marking duties. Zero impact also reported in Law. It should be noted that if marking is covered by other staff then this could mean deductions are NOT applicable or limited to just the time between end of the marking deadline and completion of marks.

Q – any indication of what next steps should be?

A – This is to some extent dictated by national position and action. Locally, we could consider indicative online ballot in advance of seeking a mandate for local action if pay deduction is considered unfair or inconsistent. There is however some concern that there may not be that appetite which could make the branch appear weak if a ballot failed. A non-academic member assured the EGM that although not directly involved in MAB there would be some support over and above those currently participating.

Q – How can action impact be maximised

A – There is no doubt that strike action taken around the time of open days and graduation is more likely to illicit concern from management than other periods.

Motions

The following motions were voted upon – refer to PP slides for details

Motions 1a and 1b

Motions 1a and 1b were taken together under one vote:

For – 19,

Against – 0

Abstention – 1

Motion carried unopposed.

Motions 2a and 2b

Motions 2a and 2b were taken together under one vote:

For – 18,

Against – 0

Abstention – 0

Motion carried unopposed.

On Monday 12 June 2023 there will be a joint rally of UCU Yorkshire & Humberside further education branches that are taking industrial action as part of UCU’s ‘Respect FE’ campaign. 

The ‘Respect FE’ Rally will start at 1200hrs on the 12 June 2023, at Quarry Hill Campus, Leeds City College, LS2 7BS – situated opposite the bus station and John Lewis.  

The rally will take place immediately after the Leeds City College picket which will run from 0800hrs – 1200hrs. 

Members of all UCU branches in the region are welcome, and if you are available then please feel free to join us for either the picket or rally, or both, this coming Monday. 

Confirmed speakers include Maxine Looby (UCU President Elect), Janet Farrar (UCU Immediate Past President), representatives of striking branches, and councillors from the local area. 

A pin for the rally location can be found below: 

 On behalf of the UCU Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Office

As UCU continues to debunk the HE sector’s claims of poverty, further details are emerging of the true financial state of institutions. Here we share the numbers for the University of Bradford:

At financial year end 2022, our employer had total income of £145m and was able to post a surplus of £2.9m.

During that period the University increased its cash and short-term investments to £66m, an increase of £22m over the previous year (£44m) and from £26m in 2020.

Despite HE’s most valuable asset being its staff, just 52.4% was spent on staffing, falling from 59.3% the previous year

UCU HQ has announced that it has ringfenced a quarter of a million pounds to support members who suffer punitive deductions as a consequence of taking part in the current marking and assessment boycott.

Details of how or under what circumstances a claim can be made have yet to be announced.

In addition to the national Fighting Fund, the branch has established its own fund in accordance with motions carried at a previous EGM.   The branch will consider how the local fund can be implemented alongside the national scheme once those announcements from HQ are made.

Due to the financial nature of the above, proposals in respect of monies set aside for the local hardship fund will require ratification at the branch’s AGM provisionally scheduled for 29th June 2023 (subject to timely HQ announcements).

Please watch your inbox for your invitation to the online AGM.

UCU has recently updated its advice to members with more responses to MAB related Frequently Asked Questions.

You can find the latest list of FAQ’s here.

If you are a migrant worker you are advised to read FAQ’s more specific to your employment circumstances here.

The branch is holding a face to face surgery each Wednesday morning between 8:30am and noon, commencing 10th May in the Campus Trade Unions’ office currently situated in Horton D0.04.   All members are welcome to call in for a chat over a coffee.

In addition, on-line surgeries are being held:

• Mondays 12 noon to 1pm, and
• Fridays 1pm – 2pm

Look out for an email invitation containing the zoom link.