‘UCU Rising’ campaign
As members will be aware, following a motion carried at the union’s Higher Education Sector Conference in June, a ballot on industrial action on the employers’ 3% pay offer is currently underway and closes on Friday 21st October, with recommendation of voting Yes to both strike action and action short of a strike. Unlike in previous ballots, this is an aggregated ballot, which means that there needs to be a turnout of 50% across all branches being balloted, rather than in each individual branch. There have been a number of online meetings and events organised by the national union and regular email updates, including how to register that you have voted or to request a ballot paper if you have not received one. The Branch Committee urges all members to cast their vote in this important ballot.
A message from Elaine Hill, UCU Green Rep
Are you concerned about climate change? Curious about whether food on campus is ethically sourced? Wondering whether energy use in university buildings could be more sustainable and efficient? Or even wondering about how to incorporate teaching and projects in such areas into your programmes? If the answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’, then please come along to a UCU green meeting and get involved.
Green meetings will take place on the following dates 2 – 3.30 pm and will be hybrid meetings, so you can attend in person or via Teams (physical rooms to be announced in due course). Whatever, your green interests, please come along and share them and get involved:
12th October, 16th November and 14th December 2022; and 1st February, 15th March and 17th May 2023
Previous green meetings have identified the following broad areas for investigation and action
- Ethical investments and banking: e.g. is UCLan investing in fossil fuels?
- Food and land use: e.g. animal welfare and food on campus, bottled water and provision of water fountains, single use items generally, compostable (but not composted) containers, food waste management
- Energy and carbon management: e.g. promoting greener travel, bike storage, charging points for electric vehicles, university travel policies.
- Sustainability and curriculum: how to get climate and sustainability into curricula.
These are broad areas and can be focussed according to members’ specific interests and, so please come along and let us know if there is anything in particular that you want to do, or have knowledge of expertise in. We also want to build a Green New Deal claim to UCLan to help bring about changes in these areas – more information here: https://www.ucu.org.uk/green-new-deal
UCU also offers training in running climate learning events and decarbonising and decolonising the curriculum for members, so please take a look. There is more information on UCU training and green issues generally here: https://www.ucu.org.uk/environment
UCU has a long history of involvement with green issues and in its founding Congress in 2007 committed to play its part in ‘greening the campus’ and ‘greening the curriculum’ and to assist campaigns for sustainable national policies and local practices. They were also the first union to introduce green representatives to address these issues in further and higher education. Let’s build on this. If you are interested on any of the above issues, please contact Elaine Hill on EASHill@uclan.ac.uk
Impact of student appeals on workload
It has been brought to UCU’s attention that students’ being granted further attempts at modules run in one academic year, where the resubmission will fall within the next academic year, is causing issues with workload for some staff. This may happen if a student has, for example, had a first submission which has gone to a board in January, been referred, and then had a second submission which has gone to a board in June and failed. It can take several weeks for appeals to be processed, and if a subsequent third attempt is given, this may well lead to the student having to submit again in the early part of the next academic year. Consequently, the time needed for staff to supervise and mark the work will also fall in the next academic year, but may not be captured on workload for that year. If anyone is experiencing this problem, please get in touch via ucu@uclan.ac.uk
‘Enough Is Enough’ rally, October 1st
On Saturday 1st October, a number of events are taking place in the NW to protest against the Cost of Living Crisis. There will be a rally in Preston on the Flag Market from 12 noon to 2pm.
The UCLan UCU branch banner will be there, so please come along to the Cenotaph on the Flag Market at 12 noon and show your support.
Reminder of Branch General Meeting
The first Branch General Meeting is on Wednesday 5th October, 13.30 – 15.00 via Teams.
Items for discussion at the meeting include the national pay dispute. Members are reminded that they are entitled to time off to attend branch meetings, so please do your best to attend.
UCU Branch Committee
Email: ucu@uclan.ac.uk
Twitter: @UCLanUCU
