UCU - Pensions and Pay Disputes

[hitmouse]

Aye, likewise, sadly. I mean, UNISON only had 9 branches striking in the first place!

Was pondering the other day, whether it'd make sense to regroup and plan something big, properly co-ordinated between all five unions, for the start of the next academic year. I get the sense that a general feeling is "keep up the pressure/momentum while you can", but aside from member burnout we're about to hit the time of year when action will be largely ineffectual (maybe something like admissions might have an impact?).

Yeah, I kind of think of that (fingers crossed) as what's hopefully going to happen with the '22 pay claim, but again that all depends on union balloting timetables, as well as hoping that the branches who got over the threshold this time aren't too exhausted and burntout to do it again?

It's also taken me far too long to realise that one of the reasons that UCU seem more together and on top of all this than UNISON is because they're a dedicated HE union, whereas UNISON covers loads of different sectors and, frankly, this simply doesn't seem like a huge priority/focus for them.

Certainly not in the same way as UCU, at least.

I mean, there's something in that, it feels like the places I can see UNISON putting resources into doing really good organising seem like they're mostly in care fwiw? But on the other hand, UNISON does have HE as a specific service group, and you'd hope it'd be a big priority within that service group?

 

[Lord Camomile]

Yeah, I kind of think of that (fingers crossed) as what's hopefully going to happen with the '22 pay claim, but again that all depends on union balloting timetables, as well as hoping that the branches who got over the threshold this time aren't too exhausted and burntout to do it again?

Again, have absolutely 0 perspective on other branches, but I'd like to think mine could do it again, with the right circumstances and using the time to give ourselves our own headwind. Hell, some of us didn't think we could do it this time! Do have that double-edged sword of gaining members over the two strikes (yay!) meaning the number we need to vote in order to get over that threshold is now that much higher (booo!)

I mean, there's something in that, it feels like the places I can see UNISON putting resources into doing really good organising seem like they're mostly in care fwiw? But on the other hand, UNISON does have HE as a specific service group, and you'd hope it'd be a big priority within that service group?

You would hope...

But, just to point to one example that I feel is emblematic of a larger issue, if you look at the UNISON's HE page*, the first link is to a page about the ballot for the first round of strikes, which doesn't inspire a huge amount of confidence action. Think I've said before, we've got a great regional organiser, full of energy and enthusiasm, but certainly don't feel much support from the national level, either on the campaign or in our branch.





*think the service group is Education Services, rather than just HE, although I don't know if 'service groups within a service group' is a thing?

 

[PursuedByBears]

I'm in UCU in a non-academic professional services role. None of my colleagues support the strike, it's very much regarded as a lecturers strike. My colleagues all see the strike as a bit of an anachronistic joke that's nothing to do with the smooth running of the university.

 

[aqua]

I have to say I'm seriously considering leaving UCU. They don't represent me, this last strike has really hit that home. I'm disappointed. I still don't think it's winnable. Unsure atm.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Just came up in my feed, seems like an email members received from Grady today hasn't gone down well.



Seems to be taken as "let's give up this one", though other have suggested she's not necessarily saying stop everything on this campaign.

"Indefinite strike action" sounds... wild

I'm in UCU in a non-academic professional services role. None of my colleagues support the strike, it's very much regarded as a lecturers strike. My colleagues all see the strike as a bit of an anachronistic joke that's nothing to do with the smooth running of the university.

Out of interest, are those colleagues members too? Do you know if they have any view on the UNISON strikes? Though I suppose that largely depends if you work at one of the few unis where the UNISON branch was out on strike.

I have to say I'm seriously considering leaving UCU. They don't represent me, this last strike has really hit that home. I'm disappointed. I still don't think it's winnable. Unsure atm.

Properly sucks. Clearly sounds like there's a strain on different parts of the membership, can only hope a way out is found that most, if not all, can get back behind.

And, as ever, fuck the shitty bastards who put us all in this position in the first place

 

[hitmouse]

LC very much beat me to my response there. To aqua, I suppose I'd also ask what your local branch is like, and if there's any other union that you could see yourself joining instead?

As to what Grady says, I hate that I'm in the position of kind of agreeing with a union leader who's in the position of winding down a strike here, but I think she might be right. I'd like to think that there could be things achieved from a marketing boycott, but still, we're talking about 38 or 39 branches having a mandate for action out of around 145 or so included in the national bargaining talks. I'd be very happy to hear a winning strategy if anyone has one, but further action now just seems like sending those 40 or so branches out to keep losing money and enthusiasm while trying to influence a national employer's body that don't give a shit because the majority of their members will be totally unaffected?

 

[Lord Camomile]

Aye, tbh, can easily see the frustration coming from both sides.

Activists who have undoubtedly just put a whole lot of effort into a second massive GTVO push, that's got to be galling. Only just clicked, but maybe Grady's comments are off the back of those results, and as you say it's a question of whether there's a winning strategy with 38/39 branches?

From the other end of it though, also totally get how real the issue is for a lot of members, having already sacrificed, cumulatively, more than half a month's pay. I'm pretty damned certain a lot of my colleagues who are members wouldn't have even made it this far.

Uuuhggggghghhh.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Also makes me worry further about this year's negotiations, and UCEA's lack of an offer, in the context of all this.

 

[hitmouse]

This looks like it could be worthwhile, anyone know owt about the people/branches behind it?

RANK + FILE #1: HANDS OFF OUR JOBS!

A series organised by rank and file members for rank and file members, aiming to increase awareness of trade union activites.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

 

[Lord Camomile]

I am seriously fucking angry

 

[hitmouse]

A note on timetables (don't think any of this is confidential): the final pay negotiating meeting is tomorrow, UNISON are due to run a consultative ballot on the final offer from 11-27 May, followed by a meeting of the HE exec on the 30th. If, as seems likely, they decide to move to a disaggregate ballot, branches will be asked to hold a quorate branch committee meeting, with a regional officer present, between 31 May and 7 June, to get their response in. Branches need to hold this meeting to be included in the ballot. How they decided to pick a week where two days are lost due to bank holidays as the one week where all branches need to hold a meeting is beyond me, but there you go. Anyway, if you're a UNISON member in HE I would suggest that you contact your branch to make sure they're making arrangements to hold a meeting with a regional officer present during that time, and if you're a HE worker who's a member of another union maybe you should contact your local branch just to be on the safe side.

 

[hitmouse]

Article from Tribune, a few weeks old now:

In the Universities, There’s No Shortcut to Victory

Despite the second longest period of strikes in the UCU's history, university management remains more entrenched against worker demands than ever – now is the time to organise and rebuild.

tribunemag.co.uk

Tend to agree with most of it, but really hope the talk about 2023 doesn't mean that they're essentially giving up on the 2022 pay claim?

 

[Lord Camomile]

A note on timetables (don't think any of this is confidential): the final pay negotiating meeting is tomorrow, UNISON are due to run a consultative ballot on the final offer from 11-27 May, followed by a meeting of the HE exec on the 30th. If, as seems likely, they decide to move to a disaggregate ballot, branches will be asked to hold a quorate branch committee meeting, with a regional officer present, between 31 May and 7 June, to get their response in. Branches need to hold this meeting to be included in the ballot. How they decided to pick a week where two days are lost due to bank holidays as the one week where all branches need to hold a meeting is beyond me, but there you go. Anyway, if you're a UNISON member in HE I would suggest that you contact your branch to make sure they're making arrangements to hold a meeting with a regional officer present during that time, and if you're a HE worker who's a member of another union maybe you should contact your local branch just to be on the safe side.

I made a lil' schedule 'n' everything to make sure we had a clear view of what we needed to do

How they decided to pick a week where two days are lost due to bank holidays as the one week where all branches need to hold a meeting is beyond me, but there you go.

Yeah, I'd assumed/hoped that was simply unfortunate luck and it was all down to the necessary timings, but does make things just that little bit fiddlier. Think it's half term, too!

Our HE exec is also supposedly meeting on the 12th, i.e. next Thursday, the day after the consultative ballot begins. Not entirely clear on why

An extra challenge is we've still got a mandate until June for further action on last year's offer, so we're trying to give us an idea of what they want to do about that, too, which isn't proving easy.

Plus, of course, trying to maintain all the other branch activity, alongside, y'know, doing the jobs we're paid shitely for

 

[hitmouse]

Posting this for information about what's going on in UCU structures, rather than as an endorsement of UCU Left or anything:

USS HESC results: Start the action now!

It's a tricky one, on one hand I can fully appreciate why people want to take a step back rather than continuing with action that doesn't seem to be going anywhere, but at the same time, it'd be an absolute disaster if UCU started to de-mobilise just at the point that UNISON ended up being able to take effective action.

Also, sounds like there's some mad shit going on in Birmingham UCU:

It’s time to talk: ‘Bullying & intimidation of grassroots activists in UCU’ - Socialist Alternative

Responding to this is not something I take lightly, but given that I have been publicly censured without any details, I have no choice.

www.socialistalternative.net

 

[hitmouse]

Final offer is now out:

 

[Lord Camomile]

Fucking christ...



Absolutely brutal.

Spoiler: Quote text, if you don't want to click through to Twitter

 

[platinumsage]

 

[hitmouse]

A note on timetables (don't think any of this is confidential): the final pay negotiating meeting is tomorrow, UNISON are due to run a consultative ballot on the final offer from 11-27 May, followed by a meeting of the HE exec on the 30th. If, as seems likely, they decide to move to a disaggregate ballot, branches will be asked to hold a quorate branch committee meeting, with a regional officer present, between 31 May and 7 June, to get their response in. Branches need to hold this meeting to be included in the ballot. How they decided to pick a week where two days are lost due to bank holidays as the one week where all branches need to hold a meeting is beyond me, but there you go. Anyway, if you're a UNISON member in HE I would suggest that you contact your branch to make sure they're making arrangements to hold a meeting with a regional officer present during that time, and if you're a HE worker who's a member of another union maybe you should contact your local branch just to be on the safe side.

Update on this: UNISON decided to make the balloting process opt-out rather than opt-in, so all branches should be included unless they held a meeting and specifically voted not to be included in the vote. BUT to be included as part of the ballot, branches need to send a letter of dispute to their employer by the end of Friday the 10th. So if you're a UNISON member in HE I'd suggest contacting your branch to make sure they're remembering to do that.

 

[hitmouse]

Well, here we go again:
UNISON ballot to run 22 July - 26 August (or 19 if you're in Scotland):

Higher Education Pay 2023-24 | UNISON National

Where will UNISON re-ballot for strike action? UNISON members will be re-balloted for further strike action over the 2023-24 pay uplift at the

www.unison.org.uk

UCU to run an aggregated ballot "in late summer":

Unprecedented strike action facing universities as UCU confirms strike ballot

University staff could join the wave of industrial action sweeping the UK as UCU today confirmed it will move ahead with plans to ballot staff in disputes over pensions and pay & conditions.

www.ucu.org.uk

So, the next round will be either very big, or fuckall.

 

[hitmouse]

Joint statement from the unions on the latest meeting:

 

[hitmouse]

Joint statement from the unions on the latest meeting:

 

[Lord Camomile]

Given the ballot was aggregated, does anyone know whether (if the ballot is successful) the national org will set the strike dates, or will local branches still have some autonomy to set their own?

Just thinking in terms of other HE branches and what options there'll be for coordinating joined up action.

 

[hitmouse]

Given the ballot was aggregated, does anyone know whether (if the ballot is successful) the national org will set the strike dates, or will local branches still have some autonomy to set their own?

Just thinking in terms of other HE branches and what options there'll be for coordinating joined up action.

I reckon it'll be national? Which is not entirely unreasonable when dealing with a dispute over national pay negotations, really.

 

[Serge Forward]

Given the ballot was aggregated, does anyone know whether (if the ballot is successful) the national org will set the strike dates, or will local branches still have some autonomy to set their own?

Just thinking in terms of other HE branches and what options there'll be for coordinating joined up action.

There'll be a national branch delegate meeting to decide on what/when to do stuff.

 

[Lord Camomile]

I reckon it'll be national? Which is not entirely unreasonable when dealing with a dispute over national pay negotations, really.

There'll be a national branch delegate meeting to decide on what/when to do stuff.

Figured as much, but also figured it worth seeing if anyone knew with more certainty rather than me just figurin' stuff

 

[Lord Camomile]

Announcement in 10 mins at 1pm.

 

[Serge Forward]

Smashed the anti-union threshold at 57% turnout! Yes and yes.

 

[redsquirrel]

Smashed the anti-union threshold at 57% turnout! Yes and yes.

Bloody good result.
Have to say during the GTVO I was very worried that we were not going to make it, or just squeeze over the line, 57% and 60% (for USS) is a bloody great result. Significant improvement on even the best combined disaggregated ballot results.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Ha, just noticed I never actually posted the results, there were just sitting here in the text box

Anyway, big, big result.

Know there will be many for whom this result brings a lot of concerns and worry, can only hope way are found to diminish those and galvanise turnout and action.

Time to see how UNISON and other HE unions respond, and then the employers...

 

[BoatieBird]

Excellent result!