Welcome to the LeedsMet Branch Website!
UNISON is Britain's biggest union, representing almost 1.3 million people across the UK's public services.
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Latest Branch News & Activities
Updated 07/03 16:00 - LeedsMet Unison Website Update
Members, should you have visited the website over the last two weeks you may have noticed some significant changes. For example -it disappeared altogether for a little over a day and only returned to fully operational status at the beginning of this week, so what happened?
Since we moved to the new format it has been upon my wish list to have a gallery of images covering LeedsMet Unison events and in support of this we needed to change our web hosting provision with our ISP. This change over should have been a seamless process but was made a little clunky with delays at their end, still we got there in the end.
We are only at the start of the process but we have a 'starter' gallery in place which you can view here.
Regards
Peter Cochrane - Publicity Officer
Updated 08/06 17:59 - MEMBERS meetings
UNIONS UNITED!!
UNISON mounts joint campaign with UCU to defend jobs! and pay!
Branch meetings are being held on both Campuses this week to develop a strategy to counteract University proposals . This will not be achieved overnight and is going to need your involvement to convince management there are other alternatives to saving money .I am sure you see waste everyday. The first thing to achieve is NO COMPULSORY REDUNDANCIES log on to the Leedsmet UNISON web site regularly to see what part you can play to achieve this.
Dear Members,
We have branch meetings for all UNISON members with guest representatives of the UCU in attendance:
- Tuesday 9th June 12:30 - 13:30 Lecture Theatre B3 - Civic Quarter
- Thursday 11th June 12:30 - 13:30 Lecture Theatre C – James Graham Building
If you are worried about Job cuts at Leeds Met or the National Pay Rise please do come to your meeting.
Your UNISON branch secretary/exec. has been working especially hard for you in recent months and it's now your turn to stand up and be counted.
Hope to see many of you there
Check out further information in Summers Newsletter:
Updated 04/06 14:48 - MEMBERS meetings
Dear members,
We are hoping to hold some branch meetings next week to discuss, pay, jobs, defending job cuts, recruitment and any other issues you want to raise. At the moment we only have provisional authorisation from HR for the meeting but will hopefully let you know after the JCC tomorrow when and where the meetings will be held. There would of course be one at each site to enable as many people as possible to attend in their lunch times.
I thought you would like to know, that we are recruiting very well at the moment. We have had lots of new members join over the past few weeks, this is encouraging for the branch but alarming that people feel so threatened and concerned for their jobs. Lets hope that we can continue to recruit for all the best reasons, protecting jobs, pensions and conditions at work, ensuring health and safety law is adhered to and negotiating better terms and conditions as a group with our employer.
If you know of colleagues in your area who are not UNISON members and would like some application forms to give out in your area please contact me and I will let you have some,
Best wishes
Janet
Janet Carr
Branch Secretary
Leeds Met UNISON
Updated 04/06 14:45 - LeedsMet Unison Donations
You may, or may not be aware that from time to time the branch is asked for donations to good causes. A number of week ago we made a donation to the Medical Aid For Palestinians and have received a letter of thanks. You can view this here.
Updated 20/05 09:59 - 2p or not 2p, that is the question!
That’s the question for low paid staff in HE. The employers have offered a miserly 0.3% pay increase for next year – that’s around 2p an hour for those at the bottom of the national scale. Those on twenty grand would be able to buy a small pack of mints a day, whilst those at the top of the national scale can treat themselves to a fairly decent sandwich, but only once a week.
More?
The employers are telling us they can’t afford more, they blame the economic crisis, increases in pensions and cuts in government funding announced in the recent budget. Yet we have been told by a number of HE employers that they had budgeted for more than 0.3%. We also know that the Government gave HE significant increases in funding for this year and that surpluses in the sector have been increasing in recent years.
We are not greedy
The employers tell us we have never had it so good, quoting big recent percentage rises – forgetting that not long ago HE paid the worst in the public sector and that the rises were to address a long running history of poor pay. The last pay increase was the final part of a 3 year agreement that the employers insisted was linked to inflation as they thought it would be lower.
We don’t ask for the earth, we don’t even want a V-Cs ransom, but we do ask for a fair pay rise. The employers pick and choose their inflation figures, using those that include mortgage payments but ignoring figures that focus on every day items such as food, transport and energy costs, which have been around 3% all this year. With student numbers at an all time high, tight staffing levels and increasing workloads, an attack on staff wages is a further blow to sinking morale.
Jobs
The national employers said that any decent pay rise will mean an increase in job cuts. So we have challenged them to sign up to a national agreement to avoid redundancies. They quickly began to back off saying this was a local issue and they couldn’t intervene. The joint national HE unions don’t agree and have submitted a detailed national redundancy avoidance agreement, so we will see if the employers really are committed to working with us to preserve jobs. Interestingly, initial responses to a survey that UNISON is currently carrying out show that the main reason for redundancies is change in demand for courses – which is something that happens all the time and has not affected pay before.
What next
Nationally we will continue to negotiate to get the best offer we can. However the national employers tell us they are reflecting the views of individual universities and colleges. We need to make our feelings clear to them and so UNISON branches will be looking to organise local supportive campaigns. We want you to get involved because UNISON is only as strong as its members. Download and complete your local petition form here, returning completed forms in a sealed envelope to - DEREK EARNSHAW, 101 WORKSHOP HEADINGLEY.
To join UNISON ring UNISONDirect on 0845 355 0845(voice) 0800 0 967 968 (text). Lines open 6am – midnight, Monday –Friday and 9am-4pm Saturday. Website: www.unison.org.uk
Updated 14/04 08:30 - Adult Learners Week - Learning at Work, today Thursday 14th May.
There is an information stand in the Help Zone Centre at Headingley Campus today offering information and advice on learning opportunities and Return2Learn courses. Please feel free to call across, collect materials, and discuss learning possibilities.
The stand also has details on Unison membership and members’ benefits.
Updated 12/05 13:27 - Love Music Hate Racism, presents...
UNIONS UNITED
LeedsMet UNISON and Leeds Met Student Union have united together to promote Love Music Hate Racism, using the positive energy of the music scene to fight back against the racism...
To help LMHR raise awareness and provide a music experience, we are putting on a number of different local bands and DJs as well as guest speaker, Alex Sobel,
Only £2 entry, with all proceeds going to LMHR and Hope not Hate.
All Event details and Debates are also on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/hopenothate
Leeds Unite Against Fascism will be attending Thursday event bringing a stall filled with information, T-shirts etc. Please come along to support this cause. Along with Alex Sobel from Hope not Hate
Updated 30/04 12:25 - Do you want to learn more about stress? Then this is a conferrence for you!
Please note this event is in Sheffield (S1).
Updated 23/04 17:23 - Do you support the Africa Heart Foundation and enjoy Greyhound racing? If so then this is a night out for you!
Please note this event is in Sheffield (S6).
Updated 15/04 17:15 - Your right to Vote in the NEC!
Updated 12/03 11:47 - Race Day!
By popular demand…
UNISON Doncaster Race Day
Saturday Afternoon
30th May 2009
Exclusive offer for Leeds Met UNISON
members + their family and friends
Free ticket on receipt of UNISON membership number + friends and family £9 each
Free Coach for all to and from race track
Please order tickets from me at e-mail contact below
Patsy Lalfam - International Officer
p.lalfam@leedsmet.ac.uk
Many thanks to all UNISON members who supported our International day. It was lovely to chat to members old and new and to those who gave to the 'End Violence to Women' fund.
Thanks to Headingley Campus Help Zone who were brilliant as alwaysThanks also to Barbara Price UCU who helped with the laminating and drew the winning name.
International Women's Day (8th March)
Winner of the Prize Draw is
Graeme Bromley from AV Loans- Graeme mentioned he will be giving the chocolates to his mum on Mothers day!
Patsy Lalfam - International Officer
Updated 17/02 15:47 - Our first quarterly Publication
Members, not at the AGM or didn't manage to pick up a copy of the new Publication? View or download the first of many Branch Publications here .
Peter Cochrane, Publicity Officer
Updated 11/02 10:12 - Minutes of the last AGM and the Agenda for this one
Agenda - AGM UNISON Leeds Metropolitan University Branch 2009
- Introduction, election Branch Chair: Phil Booth Regional Organiser for HE
- Elections of Branch Officers: Branch Chair
- Treasurers Report: Treasurer
- Branch Secretary's Report: Branch Secretary
- National report on pay, pensions etc:Chair of National Higher Education Service Group
- Question & Answer session (open floor): to aid in the smooth running of the AGM please can members wait for this session, to ask general questions, to ensure we get through business.
Minutes of the last AGM are available to all here.
Updated 03/01/2009 - Return on the 125, an update from the chair...
return on the 125
Hi, hope you have all had a good break over the festive period. I certainly did till today, when I realised I had not kept you up to date from the meetings in December, one meeting either side of a week’s break in a warmer climate to celebrate my brothers 60th.
The main business on the service group agenda was the conference motions, and I am delighted to say we have 25 motions to debate. It is the most ever at a HE conference since its inception. I think it shows the progress we are making with branches, and more and more activists are engaging with the union. I look forward to a successful conference in Bristol in February where we will have two delegates representing you and casting votes on your behalf. There was a presentation on racism in the workplace with new publicity and a different outlook and approach to erasing racism from our society.
Pensions, you are going to hear a whole lot more about in the near future and I can see attacks looming on final salary pension’s schemes over the coming months. UNISON is planning to launch in the New Year a campaign to defend pensions and expose some of the scandals about how your pension money is being misused. There will be regular updates on our web-site, and on the Labour link over the coming weeks and months.
Red alert
December the 18th I was summoned to a meeting with other HE UNIONS to discuss UCEA (employers) surprising decision to do a U turn and agree to UCU demands for ACAS talks on the framework agreement that all other HE unions had signed up to way back in September 2008. UCU have issued 4 points they disagree with.
- A different timescale for negotiations currently starting with the pay claim due to be submitted in March and the final meeting in May. UCU have already sent a claim for R.P.I. PLUS 5% OR 8%, the employers stated they would discuss the claim in March along with all the other union claims, UCU stated they would expect a response by the end of January 2009 or would discuss with their members further action.
- The number of seats allocated to each union at any negotiations. The current situation is 18 seats to be shared amongst the unions
- Universities can opt in and out of negotiations on yearly basis. UCU want this taken out of the agreement
- UCU want to have a separate negotiating committee with employers.
UNISON’s position on 1-3 we do believe we can negotiate with UCU, these are the points that the employers insisted on in the negotiations. Which had been ongoing for over a year. Particularly number 3, if any university pulls out of National bargaining all unions will come together and take the necessary action(which we have already stated to the employers), UNISON is totally opposed to local bargaining. Point 4 is the critical issue. All other unions and the employers are opposed to UCU demands and would undermine the single pay spine and equal pay, there is no room for manoeuvre on a single table and I cannot see any compromise situation.
There was discussion from other unions that we should boycott the ACAS talks. UNISON was of the opinion that we needed to be present at the talks. We do not want any agreement such as the memorandum of understanding which caused so many problems after the 2003 agreement, particularly in old universities. A vote was taken and it was agreed a lay member and officer from each union would attend the ACAS talks which are planned for January. I will be attending on UNISON’s behalf as the lay member along with the senior officer for HE Jon Richards. Let’s hope common sense prevails. I will update you on my return from the talks.
On a lighter note to finish with I have been invited to address Liverpool John Moore University branch AGM on 8th Jan .don’t worry I am not going to mention football.
Happy New Year for 2009 to all members
Derek Earnshaw National and Leeds Met Branch Chair
Updated 25/11 14:54 - Concerns over consultation and openness...
Dear members,
It is a disappointing fact, but something that you need to be aware of, that today, both myself and the branch secretary have felt compelled to send messages to the HR director about partnership working, and the serious lack of consultation and openness with regard to major issues that affect many of our staff .
The first we knew of the imminent closure of Brunswick car park, was when we were told by members of staff who park there, that they had received an e-mail saying they would no longer be able to park at Brunswick from 22nd December 2008. The trade unions were not informed, even as part of the former consultation group on the implementation of the transport strategy, a group whose members have raised questions since implementation but who are still unsurprisingly waiting for responses to questions many months down the line.
We were also shocked and surprised when the equal pay data was released to staff in "HR matters " last Friday, again following no consultation with the unions .This raises many questions about how meaningful the data is, and how the software was used to calculate the percentage of women employees salaries, in relation to mens. Already we learn from the report on Friday that the figure has been manipulated to give a lower percentage by HR.
There might hopefully be a simple answer. HR has responded by setting up urgent meetings with both campus unions about the effects of the car parking notification to staff members. If that had happened before the email went out, I would be much more confident about partnership working, which is the principle we had signed the framework agreement on . Unison will inform members the outcome of the imminent meetings as soon as possible .
Derek Earnshaw
Branch Chair UNISON.
Updated 14/11 15:59 - Return on the 125, an update from the chair...
return on the 125
Hi, it has been a couple of weeks since I returned from the Branch Seminar in Cardiff, and I thought this was an ideal time to share with you the topic on pay that the Senior National Officer for HE, Jon Richards and I presented to 170 delegates and was followed by a workshop on next year’s pay claim. I made sure I went first as Jon is really a good speaker, and never leaves anything for me to say. I dealt with the history over the last 10 years or so and that’s why we need to celebrate this Friday when we receive the final payment of the 3 year pay deal, and what your involvement as a UNISON member has had in getting us where we are today.
- 1996-97 the” BETT” report was published .300 pages with approximately 2 dedicated to support staff the rest to academics, but it did have the important message that terms and conditions needed to be agreed at National level.
- 1999 things had ground to a halt, we still had 10 different bargaining groups and we were the lowest paid service in the public sector. “Conditions Critical” was launched, do you remember? The vivid green posters, some of you will remember the demonstration outside the Leslie Silver building with yes those sexy bright green” T “shirts, and nobody should ever forget the first ever National strike in UNISON on the wettest, coldest day that I can remember.
- 2001 it took another 2 years to finally agree the way forward and JNCHES agreed for the first time a single pay spine and a way forward.
- 2003 The framework agreement and HERA chosen as the job evaluation scheme.
- 2005-2006 local negotiations are finalised and finally implemented at Leeds Met a reduction in the working hours to 37 for all manuals and at last a fairer scheme for everyone in delivering equal pay, particularly for women.
- 2008 New bargaining arrangements agreed to cover National pay till 2011. The final payment of the three year pay deal and a rise of 5%
- 2009-11, is what I left Jon to talk about the need to “maintain the improvements” in the present economic climate as we are no longer the lowest paid service in the public sector.
Time to celebrate the past and campaign for the future .I don’t normally ask you to print items off the web-site, our environment officer will forgive you this time to share this history lesson with your colleagues Members and Non Members ,and show them it was UNISON in other words YOU! Who helped to get us where we are and we need them to join us NOW! To keep us where we belong.
Derek Earnshaw Branch and National Chair Leeds Met UNISON
Updated 06/11 16:37 - National ban bullying at work day, 7th Nov 2008!
Unison national ban bullying day is tomorrow, 7th November. For more information on this campaign and others visit http://www.unison.org.uk/safety/campaigns.asp
UNISON - putting your interests first!
Updated 06/11 16:23 - UNISON supported Petition!
Dear Leeds Met member of staff, student and local resident,
Would you like to support a great cause? Do you want the surrounding area of the Headingley Campus to be safer for all its users? After all, it may include you!
We are petitioning to get some street lighting to run along the foot/cycle path that goes from the edge of the Headingley Campus near Bronte to the surrounding residential area (see map). The petition will then be passed on to local councillors who we hope will also support our cause......so go on and sign the petition and leave your email address so we can keep you posted on our progress!
For petition locations, at your site, please contact us on the email address below. Thank you so much for your support!
Ben Taylor and Lauren Darling. (B.Taylor5976@student.leedsmet.ac.uk)
Updated 03/11 08:53 - UNISON secures 50% increase!
Unison has negotiated a 50% increase on first aid payments from £60 per annum to £90 per annum to be paid in the January salary 2009.
UNISON - putting your interests first!
Updated 29/09 14:33 - RPI pay rise; but what does it really mean and how is it all calculated?
Read all about it here...
Updated 29/09 08:50 - Abandoning of the Academic Board Election for the vacancy of Administrative, Professional and Support staff.
Please note: If you cast a vote in the ballot that has been abandoned you will need to vote again !
This election is to be re-held due to distribution errors between Wednesday 01 October 2008 and 13 October 2008. Jennifer Dods (remaining as a candidate) has approached the branch for support in the Academic Board Election.
UNISON encourages members to vote in the election for a representative of administrative, professional and support staff for the Academic Board. The committee is an important voice for University staff and candidates representing our members views are valuable. The papers were sent out to staff yesterday, please contact Stuart Morris if you have not received them.
Ballots papers need to be returned to Room 108, The Grange, Headingley Campus by returned by 5pm on Monday 13th October.
Please find the statements here...
Updated 23/09 13:00 -
Jennifer Dods has approached the branch for support in the Academic Board Election.
UNISON encourages members to vote in the election for a representative of administrative, professional and support staff for the Academic Board. The committee is an important voice for University staff and candidates representing our members views are valuable. The papers were sent out to staff yesterday, please contact Stuart Morris if you have not received them.
Ballots papers need to be returned to Room 108, The Grange, Headingley Campus by returned by 5pm on Monday 29th September.
Please find the statements here...
Updated 17/09 16:33 -
ACAS discussions
The first meeting was held on 16th September between the joint trade unions and university senior management representatives. The meeting was facilitated by Peter McGee from ACAS, and he had with him 2 ACAS regional leaders who will facilitate the workshops which will follow shortly. National Officers for the trade unions (Jon Richards for UNISON) made opening speeches on our behalf of what we hoped to achieve from the workshops and discussions, and Simon Lee made the opening speech from university management, all agreeing to adopt the spirit of partnership working. We will keep members informed of future meeting dates.
SALARY SLIPS
Over the past couple of months I have had an increasing number of complaints to act upon regarding the layout of our salary slips. Gone is the allocated space for annual salary and this has been replaced by an advertising space. I did enquire on all members behalf as to why this has happened and have received a prompt response from the Payroll manager to the effect that “The payslip template used since April 05 (system migration) has never shown the correct annual salary for a number of colleagues i.e. Term time, Part time, Claims based and salary changes mid month. Each month payroll had a number of queries concerning this issue which was obviously very confusing for a large proportion of our colleagues. In July 08 we upgraded our payroll system and changed to a standard system payslip which meant that the annual salary could no longer be displayed. I can confirm that the annual salary was not removed to gain advertising space and it is in fact our preference that the annual salary be displayed on the payslip but unfortunately due to system capabilities are unable to do so at this time. This has been raised with our payroll system providers and hopefully will be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. I will keep you posted on the outcome …”
Hopefully it will not be long before we see the annual salary returned to its rightful position on our salary slips, and if we are really lucky, when the annual salary info is reinstated, payroll will print the actual salary for part-timers/term-time people – as Pro rata just isn’t very helpful. In the meantime if anyone needs to have their annual salary information to take along to their bank or mortgage lender etc., please feel free to make a request for the information directly to payroll.
Updated 17/09 14:07 - Update from the Chair...
National - Return on the 125
Hi, I have just returned from the TUC congress. As you can imagine there was a lot of Labour bashing on the Public sector pay offer and the latest energy price hikes. I would say Alistair Darling gave the dullest non event speech, from a leading cabinet minister, ever heard at congress. He continually blamed the global economy and the need to curb inflation. Err Alistair ‘what was the level of inflation when the public sector 2% pay freeze was announced?’, answer nowhere near the 5% it is now!
Harriet Harman the minister for equality and women did at least come out fighting; reinstating her loyalty and commitment to Gordon. She has also regularly listened to and took on board issues from the trade unions on equality.
John Denham the minister for universities, who I have had meetings with as part of my national role, received reasonable applause from the congress floor for the work that he has developed on union learning.
Gordon Brown did attend the private general council dinner; the report back was that he had nothing new to report to the trade unions.
UNITE, supposedly the new super union. Amicus and T&G union’s general secretaries continue to disagree quite openly on everything and anything. Watch this space! Dave Prentis (UNISON) who was President of Congress and Paul Kenny GMB hinted at the first ever joint evening reception where we would be working closely on a number of issues. Is there another merger in the air?
I managed to talk to and network with many colleagues within HE, particularly members from the colleges and university unions, who were not amused at the BBC website report (front page) on the forthcoming pay rise. It was not based upon R.P.I which the final figure will not be known until October at the earliest. It also, incorrectly, claimed that it was the academics industrial action that got us the good deal on pay. A more factual report on the pay can be read from the HE UNISON web site link here.
I did manage to have a quick chat, along with Christina Mcanea (head of UNISON education), with Sally Hunt (general secretary of UCU) and Alistair Hunter (vice president and lead lay negotiator for HE UCU) on developments regarding the new framework agreement which all the other HE unions are due to sign up to on the 29th of this month. Sally indicated UCU were further than ever from signing up to the agreement and with no future meetings planned. UCU have been invited to JNCHES the negotiating committee but their status will be as observers. I still hope over the coming months they will come on board before the main pay negotiations start in March2009.
The next couple of months will be busy for me but I will report back on the JNCHES and National HE Exec Seminar in the first week of October (election of posts to committees) and will also set this year’s programme and decide upon an action plan to develop the conference decisions - taken by your representatives. At the end of October the National Exec Seminar will take place in Cardiff with workshops and discussions on the next pay claim.
Derek Earnshaw National and Branch Chair Leeds Met UNISON Branch.
Updated 21/08 17:00 - Update from the Chair...
National - Return on the 125
Generally July and August are quiet periods for UNISON, not so this year, as such I must admit to welcoming the odd days off. Nationally I have attended numerous meetings - to discuss pay for 2009 and in attempt to bring UCU on board with the New National Pay Framework agreement, yet, with no success. The sign up date to this agreement is 29th September in which all other staff unions will sign in London. UCU – It’s not too late! The door is still open for you to come on board with all other unions “We are stronger together”.
The HE National seminar will be held in Cardiff from October where your representatives will be able to feed into the pay bargaining process for 2009. The pay claim will be debated and a motion passed on pay at the National HE conference in Bristol during February, the final claim being submitted to the employers in March .In the current climate 2009 is likely to be a tough set of negotiations on pay. Don’t forget it was UNISON that has negotiated the 2.5% or R.P.I. for this September, at present we are set to see a 5% increase in ours pay packets in November. Elsewhere our comrades in local government have been on National strike for two days over pay and subsequently, Scottish Local government, are to take industrial action on the 20th August. Please keep on sending messages of support and lobbying your local MP.
Branch Matters
Staff Development; For the second year running UNISON will be running a stall on both the Support Staff Day, 5th September, and the University Community Festival day on the 9th September, where we are sponsoring the Zulu Warriors Dance group. It would be great to see all of our current members where possible but also provides us with an opportunity to increase our Branch membership. New members are vital in ensuring the Braches future and as our membership grows – so does our voice.
Come along on the day just to have a chat and help yourself to the usual freebies, equalities information .There is also a Tombola where you can win a UNISON sponsored prize. We also have lapel badges promoting the Stop violence against women campaign! Donations are welcome to this worthy cause which this UNISON branch is supporting.
UNISON Doncaster Race Day, 2nd August; Our recent coach party of members and family to Doncaster’s UNISON sponsored race day was, as usual, a great day and great success. I have received many positive comments that it was a great day out, with everyone enjoying themselves; even the bookmakers enjoyed it - in my case anyway. I am sure if UNISON sponsors the event again next year at least Leeds Met UNISON will be attending!
Current Branch activities; we are involved in analysing the porters roles, regarding multi-skilling, and have asked for a meeting to review a security case in which we would like to progress.
We are also in discussions surrounding probation which has been piloted in Cares. UNISON along with UCU and the University senior management will be attending the launch meeting on 16th Sept with ACAS. Jon Richards HE Senior national officer, the Regional officer and Unison Exe members will be in attendance. Unfortunately, as seems to be a sign of the times, we are still being deluged with grievances and disciplinary cases. Let’s hope the ACAS review changes the outlook of the university on staff for the better over the coming academic year!
Derek Earnshaw National and Branch Chair Leeds Met UNISON Branch.
Updated 18/08 11:10 - Love Music Hate Rasium.
At our next brach executive meeting it will be proposed that we move to affiliate ourselves with love music hate racism. Not only is it a good national campaign but most of us can relate to the 'power' of music. There is a good website and venues up and down the country, get more information from the website here...
Updated 07/08 15:44 - HSE Letter!
The university has now received the letter from the HSE containing their findings from their recent visits -to investigate the university's policy and arrangements for managing work related stress. You can find the document here...
Updated 28/07 08:50 - JCC reformed!
Some of you will remember the original Joint Consultative Committee which is now being reformed; I am hopeful that its resurrection will be both new and improved. The old JCC petered out a couple of years ago mainly due to a lack of outcomes and attendance - turning into little more than a talk shop.
While the detail has yet to be agreed, probably forming the basis of the first meting, I am confident that all will see this opportunity to consult and negotiate. For the first time this group will be formed with both representatives from HR and Senior Management presenting us with what I feel is an environment enabling Joint rewards (Members including: Pro-vice Chancellors, Director of Finance and the Director of Estates). Again, for the first time, these meetings will include our sister union UCU, almost representing single table bargaining, with many of our terms and conditions mirroring each other.
The first meeting is due around the end of September; I personally am looking forward to this group’s positive impact and will of course keep you informed as to progress made over the coming months.
Derek Earnshaw Branch Chair
Updated 16/07 11:30 - LeedsMet UNISON Supports our fellow Local Government members in their strike action for fair pay in Pay Matters, 16 & 17 July...Read More Here
Updated 15/07 13:00 - WHY!
You won’t be getting your 2008 pay rise in your pay packet for October. Hi just thought I would let you know why your pay rise which is due in October will not be paid until November. This is because the Retail Price Index is almost certainly going to be above the agreed rise of 2.5% and is actually at this moment in time above 4%. The September inflation figure which the rise will be based upon is not announced until after the pay date in October. I presume whatever this figure is + back pay will be in your November salary.
September increment - many of you, particularly manual staff (who did not have access to incremental scale before the framework agreement), will recieve your increment of approximately 3% in this pay period.
First Aid payments - UNISON is negotiating a rise in the payment for all first aiders. I would expect to let you know the precise figure at the back end of October.
2009 pay negotiations -Although it is Summer and it is difficult to get people from different unions together due to vacation a meeting amongst all the Unions negotiators is taking place on 30th July. If you have any views, please contact me. I will continue to update you on that meeting and the timetable up to the pay submission.
Derek Earnshaw National Chair HE UNISON.
Updated 04/07 11:18 - Employer’s survey proves Leeds Met is only mid-table in regards to hours and holidays for support staff grades 1-6.
I was invited to the UCEA summer reception in London on June the 19th where a survey was launched to celebrate and highlight the improvements over the last few years in Higher Education; unfortunately I could not attend as I was speaking in the debates at our own UNISON National conference in Bournemouth. Much more important I am sure you would agree.
The survey is very detailed and its true there have been many welcome improvements to terms and conditions in the sector. What we have to remember is that before these improvements HE was the bottom of public sector in relation to pay and conditions, and nobody wants a return to those days.
The report also shows the trade unions evidence on which universities have gone ‘the extra mile’ on harmonisation of conditions also highlighting those who have still some way to go.
Unfortunately Leeds Metropolitan University along with many of the other post -92 universities linger mid- table having not made any effort to negotiate towards a 35 hour week (with nearly 43% on 35 hours, 29% on 37 hours and the rest in-between) and also inferior holidays, going down to the minimum if you are between grades 1-3.
Our Vice chancellor regularly praises our staff in delivering world class support for our students ,which we fully support, providing the best experience and teaching for our students.
It is now time to instruct HR to reward the support staff by opening negotiations on a 35 hour week (part of the 2006-8 pay negotiations) and holidays for support staff, so that we can take our rightful place in the next survey - in the top half of all universities.
Read the report here...
Derek Earnshaw Branch Chair Leeds Met and National Chair HE Service group.
Updated 01/07 19:09 - Return on the 125...
Hi, I am now on leave till the 7th July, but feel that I need to update you all on progress, or the lack of it, since my last newsletter.
The employers have now sent out a proposed timetable for the pay talks, pay date 1st August 2009, and the unions apart from UCU have agreed to the timetable. The agreement itself will be signed in September which will inform negotiations till 2011. I am still hopeful as the date approaches fast that UCU will move their position and join all other HE unions around the negotiating table. The main sticking point between the support staff unions and the employers is that UCU want a separate committee for all staff grades 6-9. There is no way we can accept this position as we have many members above grade 6 that we represent. We also expect a single table and so do the employers else they are then open to equal pay claims. The other issue is around the disputes procedure, UNISONS view is a positive one as it gives us direct contact with the employers. However, UCU feels that this will only add constraints to when they could take industrial action.
We are meeting other support staff unions on the 14th July to start thinking about the pay claim.
Members will meet at the branch seminar in Cardiff during October where all views will be heard, we will then formulate our pay policy in early 2009 at HE conference, and submit our pay claim to the employers in March 2009 (these are likely to be tough negotiations). It will be an interesting time over the next few weeks, where it is pretty certain our colleagues in local government will be challenging the public sector pay freeze by a initial 2 day strike on 16-17th July. Please give them your support!
I have just attended UNISON national conference in my capacity as chair of HE, the most interesting debate was on Friday afternoon which went to a card vote on the continued affiliation to the Labour party. Its time to wake up Gordon! The conference decided by just 50,000 members out of 1.3 million to continue. I was pleasantly surprised for a small service group how many activists from HE got up and spoke in debates, and also enjoyed meeting many new and old friends and networking with other branches.
I will be attending TUC in September representing HE and look forward to some lively debate.
Just to finish off with I will be sending out all the details to all those lucky enough to be going on the Race day trip to Doncaster UNISON sponsored races ,the biggest event in the Regions calendar on August 2nd.
Derek Earnshaw Branch Chair Leeds Met and National Chair HE Service group.
Updated 06/06 14:25 - Local government pay rise...
MEMBERS, Please give your support to the Public Services rally and lobby of parliament on Monday June the 9th. I will be attending the rally and lobby on behalf of UNISON HE Service Group along with all the other chairs, campaigning against the unfair wage cap on public sector workers.
Advertised yesterday in the papers were average rises being paid in the private sector, averaging 3.8%. However, members in Local government, Health, Education etc are expected to accept below inflation rises around the 2% level. Support our colleagues.
Speakers include, Brendan Barber(TUC), Dave Prentice(UNISON) ,Sally Hunt (UCU).Do what you can to explain to the public how unfair this capping of wages of staff who deliver to us all of our essential services . Derek Earnshaw UNISON Higher Education National Chair.
http://www.unison.org.uk/paymatters/
Updated 05/06 13:45 - ACAS and HSE update...
Just to update you on the ACAS and HSE interventions. It is a long time since both of these processes began, and members naturally wish to know that the whole business hasn't fallen into a black hole.
The HSE have now completed their investigation. They were due to meet senior management on 14 May to discuss their findings but this meeting was cancelled by the University so that they had more time to respond. It has been re-arranged for the 10 July and once it has taken place the findings will be made public.
ACAS have proposed a series of meetings, the terms of which have raised one or two queries for the trade unions, and the Area Director of ACAS Yorks & Humbs, will respond to us shortly. Hopefully these issues will be resolved quickly so that we can begin the meetings at long last.
Updated 30/05 09:50 - The last few weeks and the next few weeks
Hi, just thought I would give you an insight in to what I have been involved in within the branch and at national level recently.
ACAS as facilitators We have had enabling talks to set up a timetable and plan to discuss issues with the university at the highest level to include National, Regional and Branch executive officers of both UNISON and UCU with the university ,those initial discussions will include the Vice Chancellor and the Senior members of staff in the university. UNISON expects to have an open and frank discussion with no recriminations.
HR procedures in conjunction with UCU who we are working closely with on matters of mutual interest, we have been discussing the grievance procedure, I say discussing, both unions agree we would want to seek approval from ACAS before signing up to any changes. Other documents including disciplinary we also expect to update over the coming months.
Equal Pay UNISON has lodged cases at industrial tribunal and is also in consultation with the university on how we can resolve the cases before going to court; any details in line with Unison policy have to remain confidential. I do hope personally we can resolve these internally.
Gender equality duty I attended a national seminar here in Leeds attended by HR representatives, equality officers and union reps, which started with some case studies and then broke out into workshops with different strands. The following week I was invited to attended the launch of the Trans- gender Equality Post Secondary Education guidance in the House of Commons which was really interesting and started to raise lots of questions about a recent survey on sexual orientation carried out by the university equality office and we have arranged to meet in early June to take things forward and address many equality issues AT Leeds Met. http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/GarethBJenkins/TransGuide?authkey=aIvR0aOIQ2ANext week is the National HE Service group meeting in London, where the main topic will be next year’s pay claim. The executives view will be discussed and added to at the HE Seminar for activists in the Autumn and voted on in early Spring .Over the summer there are plans to co-ordinate with all other support unions to discuss a joint approach ,who have agreed to sign up to the National framework .I still hold out hope UCU will decide to join all other unions in Higher Education, we are stronger together.
Public Sector TUC lobby of parliament on the 9th June I will be attending this important event as Chair of the service group UNITED together to convince the government to recognise the contribution of the Health Service ,Council workers etc and do a U-turn on PAY. We may be in the same situation next year. Will the employers say we come under the public or private sector? Please add your support any way you can to our brothers and sisters.
National Conference 16-20th June is taking place in Bournemouth where Unison will discuss policy across the wider union for the coming year. The branch will be well represented by the branch secretary and treasurer and I am attending as the National rep for HE.
Please get in touch and share your views with the people who represent you .
Derek Earnshaw
Updated 29/05 17:50 - STAFF REPS ON DISABILITY IMPLEMENTATION GROUP MEETING (National Information Out).
An implementation group has been created to ensure the implementation of the recommendations that came out of the commission for disabled staff. There are two staff rep places for support staff and it has been proposed that we have one for FE and one for HE. It is important that UNISON has a significant presence on this group. We would be grateful if you could draw this to the attention to members who you feel would be interested in taking up this important role. . The first meeting is on Tuesday June 3rd 1-4pm in London.
Updated 23/05 09:11 -HERA assimilation appeals.
The Stage One panels for staff members appealing against their assigned grade as part of the HERA process are now completed. Of those who appealed 45 individuals moved to a higher grade than that assigned, and in 4 of those cases the new grade assigned was 2 grades higher than that originally assigned. Good news for all those appellants and well worth the effort and the wait.
All these individuals have their pay award backdated to August 2006. Many of the other appellants moved up in score within the grade assigned which should help them if they choose to process to the stage 2 process. There are still 18 posts that have been to the panel awaiting confirmation of the grade. Of these 18 there are 11 in the area of Disability support. We hope to have the confirmation of all these panel outcomes for you soon and will keep you updated.
Stage 2 of the appeal process has already begun. The feedback from members so far is that the interviews are very long winded but give you a good opportunity to really get across the value of your role to the analyst. The Stage 2 process is intended to be pretty much the same as Stage 1. The Stage 2 Appeals Panel will be joint with management, rewards and benefits team members and trade unions on all panels, with a gender balance, and will receive scored Records for confirmation in the same way that IMPs were received at Stage 1. The Reward & Benefits team will then formally write to the appellants informing them of the outcome of the Stage 2 Appeal.
If anyone has any queries please contact your local steward or a Branch Officer.
Updated 22/05 17:28 - Planning & Resources Committee Election
Janet Carr has approached the branch for support in the Planning & Resources Committee Election.
UNISON encourages members to vote in the election for a representative of administrative, professional and support staff for the Planning & Resources Committee. The committee is an important voice for University staff and candidates representing our members views are valuable. The papers were sent out to staff yesterday, please contact Stuart Morris if you have not received them.
Ballots papers need to be returned to Room 108, The Grange, Headingley Campus by 5pm on Wednesday 4th June.
Updated 19/05 17:10 - Both International and Environement pages updated...
Updated 16/05 13:00 - Pay rise 3% due to YOU! In your pay packets today(negotiated by UNISON)
Wow!, what better way to re-launch not only the web-site but also to re-launch the way our branch communicates and operates . I am not going to mention the word refre.... ourselves (oh! I just did), but it is important to listen to what YOU the members had to say at the AGM and for the exec to respond positively. We have been working hard since then, not only on the web-site, but with all members of the exec recognising their skills and interests in what they can offer to the members - I hope you will see that over the coming next few weeks.
3% or a minimum of £420 is the second part, of the second year, of a three year pay deal. Many of YOU will also receive an increment in September 2008 of 3%, particularly relevant to manual workers, who up to last year had no access to such payments. October 1st 2008 is the final payment in the 3 year deal which will be 2.5% or RPI (inflation4%+).This represents a 10% increase in just over a year (Aug2007 3%) in the pay packets for some of our lowest paid members.
I will shortly be representing YOU in discussing the timetable with the National employers for next year’s pay rise. I want to hear from YOU through the new website, what YOU think are the most important elements of the claim.1-3 year deal ,% or flat rate , harmonisation of conditions, holidays or working hours ???
You can expect to hear from me with a regular report “return on the 125” and from all the members of the exec on topics ranging from pay to the environment on this website, with at least a new top topic every Friday make sure YOU ! add this site to your favourites.
Many thanks to all the members of the exec who have inputted to the new web-site, in particular Peter Cochrane its creator. I hope YOU like it.
Derek Earnshaw,
Leeds Met Branch and National Chair of UNISON HE Read more…
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