Author: uea

Health & Safety Rep update February 2024

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As your Union Representative, I want to inform you about the recent changes implemented by management regarding our workplace’s COVID-19 protocols. Management has decided to reduce CO2 monitoring and modify air change protocols as part of their cost-saving measures.
Our priority remains the health and safety of all our members. We understand that changes in workplace policies, especially those related to health and safety, can be a source of concern. Rest assured, the Union is closely monitoring these changes. Please share your feedback or concerns with us so we can represent your interests effectively in dialogue with management.

 

I also want to bring to your attention another important matter concerning our workplace environment.
University Safety Services (USS) have been actively monitoring the ongoing concrete works within our facility, focusing specifically on potential noise and dust issues. This step is crucial to ensure that these activities do not adversely affect our working conditions and that all health and safety regulations are strictly followed.
However, the Union recognizes that the actual situation may sometimes differ from reports and assessments. Therefore, we encourage each one of you to remain vigilant. If you notice any issues related to noise, dust, or any other health and safety concerns, please do not hesitate to inform us. Your direct observations and experiences are invaluable in ensuring a safe and comfortable working environment for everyone.

 

Please stay tuned for further updates as we continue to advocate for a safe and healthy working environment for all. If you have any questions about this or any other health and safety issue, do not hesitate to contact us.

Philip Leftwich UCU@UEA Health & Safety Representative

UPDATE on the USS and 4Fights Disputes

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Message to members from a rep:

As you are aware, the two national disputes in HE, on pensions, and on pay, workload, casualisation and equalities, are ongoing. There is a reballot open, from now until the 8th of April, so the time is short. The reballot is to renew the mandate for industrial action, and to get more universities joining the action.

 

Please, please don’t doubt the significance of casting your vote in this reballot! Whatever your view of taking industrial action (so whether you vote yes, or no) the absolutely crucial thing is that you vote, so that we get over the 50% threshold of members taking part. If we don’t achieve this, then our ability to protect our collective interests at local level are hugely damaged, and there are some important local issues facing all of us.

 

Below are some links and summarised information on the 2 disputes, along with key dates for the reballot. 

 

The pensions dispute: The organisation that represents university vice chancellors, Universities UK, voted through their proposed cuts to our pensions (amounting to around 35% for younger members) despite a viable alternative from UCU and despite numerous challenges to the legitimacy of the valuation on which they are based. If you would like a clear and concise explanation of the pensions dispute (and let’s face it, it is hard to get our heads around) I urge you to watch this 30-minute video by Sam Marsh, one of the main UCU negotiators. It really does help.

 

The Four Fights dispute (pay, workload, casualisation, equalities):

You can see a couple of infographics here, with the key issues and demands set out.

 

The employers’ current offer of 1.5% is well below inflation. Based on this and the most recent inflation data, the value of our pay has now fallen over 20% since 2009. With inflation likely to keep increasing in the short to medium term, our salaries will fall further and further short of the cost of living.

 

Employers are failing to take effective or meaningful action to tackle persistent gender and race pay gaps that exist in HE. I also feel it is important (and painful) to acknowledge that this is the case at UEA. Despite positive indications at the end of the last industrial action, in 2019, no real terms change has happened locally, on these issues, or on casualisation.

 

Casualisation is rife within HE: around half of teaching-only staff and 68% of researchers are employed on fixed-term contracts. That figure has barely changed at all in the last three years, despite employers’ claims of progress in this area. UEA remains hugely reliant on casualised staff for teaching and research (and our sister unions continue to fight casualisation on behalf of their members too).

 

The average working week in higher education is now above 50 hours, with 29% of academics averaging more than 55 hours. A UCU survey conducted in December 2020 saw 78% of respondents reporting an increased workload during the pandemic. We know that locally, our own member surveys and the UEA Pulse surveys evidence high levels of concern over workload and wellbeing.

 

Finally, workload, pay inequality and casualisation are directly interrelated. The recent UCU workload survey found that women, BAME and disabled staff were all disproportionately likely to report that their workload had increased, and the same groups are also disproportionately likely to be on casualised rather than permanent contracts. Again, this is directly relevant locally.

 

Voting: Remember, you should receive two ballots in one single envelope: one on pensions (USS) and one on the so-called ‘four fights’ (pay, casualisation, workload, gender & race equality). Anti-trade union laws make it compulsory to have physical rather than electronic ballots. Legally, these are two distinct yet related disputes, for which you are balloted at the same time, so you need to please vote on both. Strike action and action short of a strike are expected to take place at the same time for the two disputes. Please do vote at the earliest opportunity!

 

  • Replacement ballot request form opens: Wednesday 23 March
  • Replacement ballot request form closes: 5pm, Thursday 31 March
  • Last chance for new members to join and be included in the ballot: 12 midnight, Thursday 31 March
  • Last safe posting date: Wednesday 6 April
  • Ballot closes: 5pm, Friday 8 April.

 

Joint campus union statement on Covid19

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We are aware that a number of our members have raised concerns and questions about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Today representatives of all three campus trade unions met with Ian Callaghan (Chief Resources Officer) and Helen Wiseman (Director of People and culture), to seek clarification over these and gain a clearer understanding of the universities’ response to the developing situation. We have been reassured that:

 

  • The university encourages staff to work from home where possible and will be surveying staff requirements to implement this policy.
  • Heads of Schools/Services have been asked to identify “essential” staff who will be required to work on campus. This will be reviewed by the Executive Team as soon as possible.
  • Cleaning and maintenance staff will be given individual guidance by managers.
  • Catering will operate a “vacation level” service.
  • The Sportspark is closed and the Sainsbury Centre is closing tomorrow. The Library remains open but this is with reduced staffing and is being kept continually under review. Options include moving to self-service provision and closure.
  • Managers are being encouraged to set up WhatsApp groups to communicate with their staff and use other remote tools such as Microsoft Teams.
  • For those following government advice regarding self-isolation, the normal sickness absence policy will not apply and there will be increased flexibility regarding the time off for dependents.
  • In the event of a research shut-down staff and student research contracts will be honoured by the university. The university is in contact with the Research Councils and is waiting for their positions on arrangements for research funding.

 

The main take away point is that colleagues should follow government advice and that the university and campus trade unions are doing all that we can prioritise staff welfare at this difficult time. We appreciate that the university is doing all it can to respond to this unprecedented situation and that we will continue to work closely with them to support staff and students. If you have any questions or further concerns please get in touch your local branch office/union Rep.

 

Yours,

UCU, UNISON and UNITE UEA branch committees

ucu.office@uea.ac.uk

unison.uea@uea.ac.uk