Branch News

12/02/24 – Branch General Meeting

The UEA UCU branch is having a general meeting on Tuesday 12th March, 14:00-15:30 on Teams (check email for link).

The main focus of this session will be the UCU Congress or the Higher Education Sector Conference (HESC) that is taking place in Bournemouth in May 2024. 

It is likely that this Congress will be asked to hear a series of motions that will dictate upcoming industrial action strategy and we feel it is important that members of UEA get the opportunity to contribute to this debate.  We will be discussing and voting on any motions that members want the branch to submit.

As such, we ask that members wishing to submit a motion to Congress/HESC do so no later than 15:00 on Monday 4th March so that these can be circulated on the 5th of March and allow a week’s notice of the general meetingIt is important that members have time to read and consider these motions ahead of the meeting, so motions received past this deadline will not be ordered onto the Meeting’s business.   

Motions for Congress/HESC must conform to the strict word counts required, which can be found here. 

Members can also submit motions for the UCU UEA branch to consider that relate to local UCU UEA positions, ahead of any general meeting.  The same deadline for these will apply and these will be tabled for business after any Congress/HESC motions. 

We encourage any member wishing to submit a motion to the general meeting to reach out to the branch first (ucu.office@uea.ac.uk) so we can help you with the formatting of motions.   

14/02/24 – UCU elections drop-in session (online)

With key elections ongoing within UCU for the General Secretary, NEC and other positions, and ballots due to close by 1 March 2024, we are holding an online election briefing at 3:00 pm on Teams on 14 Feb 2024 led by the branch membership secretary, Nick Grant. (The Teams link is in the branch email from 13/02/24)

This informal session will be a chance for you to get more information to complete your ballot. We have also posted some information about the different groupings on our website. 

Often there is very low turnout for these positions despite the fact that these are for important decision-making bodies within our union. We strongly encourage all branch members to complete their ballots and mail them in time. Replacement ballots can be requested up until Thursday 22 February 2024 by filling this online form.

7/2/24 – #StandWithGaza Workplace Day of Action

#StandWithGaza Workplace Day of Action – Wednesday 7th February 2024 

UEA UCU and other campus unions are joining thousands of workers across the country in the Workplace Day of Action to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.  

We will meet at 12:30 for a vigil in The Square.  

UCU calls for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid, and the lifting of the siege of Gaza.   

There are many ways for you to get involved in this campaign, details are available on the national UCU website. UEA UCU is asking our members to donate to the Medical Aid for Palestinans (MAP) Gaza emergency appeal.  You can read more about UCU’s current position HERE.   

Health & Safety Rep update February 2024

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

01/01/24: Branch Social for Pensions Win!

To celebrate the UCU success in the pensions dispute and to recognise the power of the collective action, we’re holding a branch celebration on Thursday 1st Feb 2024 from 5:00 pm in  the Scholars Bar/Lounge area. We’ll be in the bookable rooms Seven and Eight next to the Scholars Bar.

UEA UCU members do come along if you can. We also welcome staff who are interested in joining UCU, as this is an opportunity to meet members and find out more about the union!