The Friday email: 24 June 2022

Industrial action ballot at further education colleges across England

An industrial action ballot over pay, workload and professional respect (our Respect FE campaign) opened in 33 FE college branches in England on Tuesday 14 June (closing on Friday 15 July). Click here for a list of branches involved. The last safe date to post the ballot is Wednesday 13 July; please look out for the ballot envelope with the Civica Election Services (CES) and UCU logos. The Respect FE online replacement ballot form is open (closing on Monday 11 July at 10:00).

Earlier this week, UCU condemned the latest pay offer of 2.5% from the Association of Colleges (AoC) as 'totally unacceptable'. Click here for a video message from UCU vice-president Maxine Looby.

Meanwhile, industrial action ballots also opened at New City College (NCC) and at Barnet and Southgate College in London (again closing on Friday 15 July). NCC UCU's ballot pertains to college management's failure to agree pay rises, level up holiday leave, and agree action to reduce workload. NCC staff are also threatening strike action against plans to fire and rehire 59 staff at Hackney campus over changes to sick leave policy. 

On Thursday 30 June 16:00-17:00, we will be holding an online event for UCU members being balloted for action, featuring Maxine Looby and Jon Hegerty (UCU head of bargaining, organising, campaigns and education). Please look out for an invitation early next week.

Higher education: Four Fights and USS pensions disputes

Action short of a strike (ASOS) continues at UCU branches for the Four Fights and/or USS pensions disputes--with many branches taking part in a marking and assessment boycott (MAB). All UCU HE members are encouraged to donate to the fighting fund in support of branches taking industrial action. The higher education committee (HEC) will meet on Friday 1 July and agree a new strategy. To inform the HEC, a branch delegate meeting (BDM) will be held on Monday 27 June. Members are encouraged to participate in any branch meetings and/or consultations that may take place between now and the BDM/HEC.

Overwhelming vote for strike action over low pay at Hugh Baird College

UCU called on High Baird College in Merseyside to increase its 1% pay offer (for 2021/22), after staff overwhelmingly voted for strike action. Unless management makes an improved offer UCU said it would strike during key dates early in the next academic year.

Over 93% of UCU members at Hugh Baird College who voted backed strikes in a ballot that closed early this week. 98% of members also voted 'Yes' to taking action short of a strike (ASOS). Turnout was an outstanding 74%.

Richmond upon Thames College: no 'fire and rehire'

Staff at Richmond upon Thames College (RUTC) will warn prospective students and parents about the behaviour of college management as a further strike day (Tuesday 28 June) was called to coincide with college open days in a bitter dispute over 'fire and rehire'.

Please join our emergency rally at RUTC on Tuesday 28 June 16:00-19:30 where UCU members will be picketing the college. Come and show your support at 'Marsh Farm Lane' (not road) where it intersects with Langhorn Drive and the car parks.

RUTC UCU members already took five days of strike action (Monday 23 to Friday 27 May) as they tried to stop plans by management to sack all 127 teachers and force them to reapply for their jobs on worse terms and conditions. UCU offered to pause any further action if management lifted the threat of compulsory dismissals for staff who would not sign new contracts. However, management repeatedly refused and insisted staff would have to reapply for their jobs on new contracts that would see them lose 10 days of holiday. You can also:

• show your support on Twitter using the hashtag #RichmondFireAndRehire tagging the main UCU account @ucu, the local branch @UCU_RuTC and the college @RuT_College
• send messages of solidarity to the branch via the local UCU officers Lucy Corr and Caroline King.

Fighting back against university redundancies

Redundancies at the Royal College of Art (RCA). The legacy of bad employment practices at RCA is still having an impact despite the recent agreement on decasualisation. Over 35 visiting lecturers or fixed-term contract staff who did not fall within the assimilation provisions of the agreement are facing possible redundancy, including members of the RCA UCU committee. Please sign and share RCA UCU's open letter.

Last week we provided updates on the unfolding situation for UCU members facing the threat of redundancy at the universities of Roehampton, Wolverhampton, Huddersfield and Dundee. Please also click here for further information on current local disputes in the sectors that we represent.

Northumbria University: cuts to teaching preparation time

Northumbria University UCU are fighting back against changes which will see teaching preparation time cut by 50% for hard-working, highly skilled, and dedicated staff in Northumbria's Language Centre. Sign the petition to show your support for their campaign.

Workload survey 2021: data report now released

Staff at colleges and universities across UK are doing the equivalent of at least two days unpaid work every week, according to UCU's newly published report, which lays bare the extent of the workload crisis gripping post-16 education. UCU's report is based on the responses of more than 13,000 workers in universities, colleges, prison and adult and community education. You can read the press release here, and click here to download the full report.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady wrote to education secretary Nadhim Zahawi MP calling on him to contact employer bodies and the Health and Safety Executive about rising workloads and to ensure that levels are not breached. She also urged him to do more to ensure consistent standards to manage excessive hours and binding agreements to ensure staff are not overworked.

Migrant members' experience survey

UCU is committed to ensuring that the UK post-16 education system is fully inclusive and representative of our society, and that workplace experiences are universal regardless of personal background or characteristics. We are currently looking to better understand how aware migrant members, and branches, are of the support we offer to our migrant members and to explore what further support could be of help. To get a full picture it would be helpful if you could click here and fill in this survey by Friday 5 August. If you have any issues with the survey link please contact UCU's equality team here. 

UCU's Cradle to Grave conference, 10 September

Registration is now open for UCU's Cradle to Grave conference, to be held on Saturday 10 September, 09:45-15:30 at the TUC conference centre in London. The keynote speaker is John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington and former Shadow Chancellor.

The day will include a panel discussion on visions for post-pandemic education across the UK and four different workshops on the following topics

• Access all areas: supporting and progressing learners at every level
• Organising around work: connecting the professional and industrial
• How can we improve the public image of prison education?
• Protect the arts and humanities

Many other speakers will be confirmed as we get nearer to September. This is a very popular yearly event: register now so you don't miss out on a place!

Climate and environment update from UCU Congress

Seven motions were carried at UCU Congress 2022 demonstrating commitment to progressing work to address climate and environmental justice. These motions provide priority action areas for the climate and ecological emergency (CEE) committee, launched as a result of motions carried at Congress 2021. See the link for more details. 

Fobzu's Truth to Power appeal: supporting Palestinian journalism and access to education

In memory of the awful killing of heroic Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh (1971-2022), UCU is donating to the Truth to Power Appeal. This scholarship fund will help Palestinians study media and journalism at Birzeit University. Click here to see how you can support this new scholarship fund. 

Solidarity with teacher unionists arrested in Iran

UCU general secretary Jo Grady this week wrote to the Iranian government to condemn the arrest of dozen of teacher unionists for conducting peaceful protests. UCU called on the Iranian government to immediately release them and drop all charges, respect and uphold the rights and freedoms of teachers and education workers, institutionalise dialogue with representatives of teachers and education personnel, and respect the rights and privacy of the family members of the imprisoned leaders and ensure their safety and wellbeing.

With best wishes

Ed Bailey
UCU acting head of campaigns