Yesterday was strike day#12. Pickets enjoyed the sunshine (for once!)
Some members went to the national demo in London.
Steve Sangwine who had been at the HEC conference in Carlow St UCU head office on the day before updated everyone (a sizeable number of members of 50 or so) on the preceeding day’s events and the discussions that had led to the rejection of the acas proposal.
Peter Patrick, branch VP, chaired an “informal” meeting from the picket line (Cathy Crawford branch President is on a UCU training course) and all present asked to put forward 3 proposals to an EGM. This has been called for Wed 21 March 12-1pm (in a room tbc still). The proposals which were later ratified by committee, will be put to the branch meeting for further approval. They are that:
1. Essex local branch of UCU join many other universities in rejecting outright the joint agreement put forward by UCU and UUK on Monday, 12th March. (Details of that proposal are can be found on our local website: http://essex.web.ucu.org.uk/current-industrial-action/ucu_uuk_agreement_at_acas_12_march_final/
2. Essex local branch of UCU urge negotiators to reject any subsequent offer that called for the rescheduling of teaching events missed as a part of strike action.
3. Essex local branch of UCU urge negotiators to enter the next round of negotiations dedicated to maintaining the USS funding and benefits position as it was at September 2017, without proposing any concessions at the outset.
Strike day#13. A wetter day. Still had over 30 pickets out on lines though.