A [single pay spine] covers most of the UK Higher Education sector. Annual bargaining rounds have been formalised where, under the banner of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES) five trade unions representing HE staff negotiate over pay and pay related conditions with the employers’ representative body, the Universities and Colleges Employers … Continue reading #FourFights… Collective bargaining in HE: How it works
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JNCHES…what is it? How does it relate to pay and conditions bargaining in HE?
Understanding JNCHES (pronounced ‘jinches’) is necessary to understanding how the current Four Fights Dispute fits into yearly bargaining 'rounds' alongside the four other unions which represent staff in higher education. UCU is one of five unions covered by the ‘New JNCHES’ agreement with the employers’ representative body, UCEA (Universities and Colleges Employers Association). The agreement … Continue reading JNCHES…what is it? How does it relate to pay and conditions bargaining in HE?
Strike Rally + meeting with Minister at Scottish Parliament
Earlier this afternoon I met with the Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science at the Scottish Parliament alongside comrades from UCU, and joined by representatives of the EIS union who are also striking in several Scottish Universities. We explained in detail the impact of the issues UCU members are in dispute over, on … Continue reading Strike Rally + meeting with Minister at Scottish Parliament
Thank you!
I am delighted to have been elected as the next vice president (later president) of UCU. Thank you to everyone who voted in the elections, and to everyone who participated in any way to promote democracy during the election, whether by asking questions in person or online, organising a husting, or encouraging fellow members to … Continue reading Thank you!
For an inclusive and accountable UCU: vote #Vicky4VP – today!
Please vote: today (Tuesday 26 February) is the last “safe” day for pre-paid postage (unless you want to add a bonus stamp!) Everyone who remembers to vote in the UCU Officer and NEC elections becomes part of a better, more participative democracy! UCU has seen a paradigm shift alongside an explosion in membership numbers over … Continue reading For an inclusive and accountable UCU: vote #Vicky4VP – today!
Love Our ARPS? Academic Related and Professional Staff in UCU
At a husting hosted by Ulster UCU today, we got talking about workload, and how we can tackle issues of workload for academic and academic related / professional staff (“ARPS”). Part of my answer led me onto the issues faced by ARPS in terms of grade drift, progression, and respect (or not) as part of … Continue reading Love Our ARPS? Academic Related and Professional Staff in UCU
Holding Labour to their promises on secure work!
At the UCU Cradle to Grave conference on Saturday 16 February, Angela Rayner reinforced Labour's commitment to ending zero hours contracts. I asked her what Labour's plans would be for ending other forms of casualisation beyond zero hours (which they intend to do in every sector) and cited the extensive misuse of fixed term contracts … Continue reading Holding Labour to their promises on secure work!
Brexit
There has been relatively little discussion about Brexit at UCU VP hustings. This may be due to collective levels of despair and ferocity of views held, but as a union we MUST be on top of the issues, as strongly as possible. While it may might feel easier to panic and disappear into a black … Continue reading Brexit
Heart Unions 2019
It’s Heart Unions week this week: a campaign the TUC run to celebrate trade unions and to encourage recruitment and organisation, to build our movement. It’s been going a few years, and while this year’s engagement isn’t the massive series of events we saw last year, the premise is so positive and uplifting - Unions … Continue reading Heart Unions 2019
UCU VP Hustings!
Attending hustings around the UK that branches have generously organised has been brilliant, even when the train wi-fi hasn't been! I am attending every single husting event for which I have received an invitation! Where at all possible I am travelling in person but am arranging to use Skype for the couple of occasions where … Continue reading UCU VP Hustings!
Vicky Blake 