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Oct 2018: Trade union laws frustrate action on pay and equality

Oct 2018: Trade union laws frustrate action on pay and equality
Ballots in higher education (HE) and further education (FE) in England closed earlier this month full results can be found here. Thanks to everyone that voted and helped to get the vote out. Unfortunately despite enormous efforts, very few institutions achieved the 50% turnout now required under anti-trade union laws. The results and next steps will now be considered by the union. Find out more about the campaign to repeal the anti-trade union laws here. 

pay and equality ballot (11 Sep 2018)

The UCU national pay and equality ballot is open. If  you have not received your ballot paper click here for a replacement and log onto My UCU and make sure  your personal and address details are correct (in fact check ALL your details please).

The ballot closes on 19 October.

Read  here  for why we need a yes vote from you. UCU wants an improved pay offer and progress to address inequality and precarious employment across the HE sector.

After you’ve voted please EMAIL lcollins@essex.ac.uk with “I have voted!” in the subject line and tell me that you have voted. She’ll be cross referencing all responses to the membership database & chasing those that don’t respond. Obviously your vote is confidential and nobody at the branch sees it -hence we don’t know whether you’ve voted unless you tell us. We don’t need to know how you have voted- just that we can stop chasing you to send your ballot paper back!

Following the Trade Union Act 2016, we now need a minimum 50% turnout for this ballot, so we trust you understand why we’ll be trying to ensure you vote.

Please help promote the campaign by putting up posters and leaflets: click for ballot posters (and all information about the ballot) or pick up copies from the UCU stall on square 3 or 4 at Colchester Campus (we move around- look for the UCU flag!) on Thursdays 12-2pm

 

migrant workers win right to strike (12.7.18)

Dear colleague

After months of campaigning by UCU, including most recently the threat of legal action, the home secretary Sajid Javid has today (12.7.18) announced that he will be changing the immigration rules to ensure that strike action is included in the list of exemptions for unpaid absence for migrant workers.

This means that migrant workers will now be able to play a full part in legal strike action without fearing the impact on their immigration status.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to write to their MP and help put pressure on the government during this campaign and also all those who have supported strike action despite these concerns.

I am especially grateful to the shadow chancellor John McDonnell who helped launch our campaign with this joint article with me and who has been a steadfast supporter of trade union rights.

This is a big win for all trade unionists, not just those in UCU and it has come about as a direct result of our campaigning work.

We will continue to campaign against the unfairness of our current immigration system and the damage it is doing to our country, our sector and our members.

Thank you for your support.

Sally Hunt
UCU general secretary