Co COM write to the Director of HR. UCU therefore reiterates its position that the Principal Lecturer Generic Role Profile is not consistent with line management responsibilities and that the current allowance paid to Field Leaders is not permitted under the recently negotiated Framework Agreement. We propose reverting to the agreed Field Leader role descriptor negotiated between UCU and UEL management in 2005.
CoCom write to the Head of HR
Further to your e-mail of 6th October about the Field Leader role I note that
I have had no substantive reply from Dusty to my e-mail of 15th September so
I have to assume that your mail represents current management thinking. I
would observe that your response is both disingenuous and unhelpful, given
the discussions that took place at ASIG on 23rd August.
Your e-mail, by focusing on the proposed questionnaire, fails to address the
substantive points raised by UCU both at ASIG and in my e-mail to Dusty. The
issue of the questionnaire is of minor significance – the agreement with UCU
to review the Field Leader role cannot be fulfilled simply by a questionnaire
to existing Field Leaders and Deans. UCU’s objections are to the allocation
of line management responsibilities to the PL grade and to the misuse of the
special allowance provisions of the Framework Agreement. The views of
existing FLs and Deans are of no relevance in resolving these issues. They
must be the subject of further negotiations between management and UCU.
In this context it is disappointing to see Dusty’s minuted comments from ASIG
that the review of organisational structures had taken place via the DVC’s
Green Paper. This may have reorganised Schools but it did not address the
organisational structure within Schools, nor did it consider the appropriate
links between Fields and Programmes. It certainly did not address the Field
Leader issue except tangentially.
UCU is also extremely concerned at the implication of developments in RDBS,
which has seen the number of Fields double and the appointment of several new
Principal Lecturers who, we understand, are also receiving the additional
£3,000 allowance. To move ahead in this manner when the issues are still
under discussion represents bad faith on the part of UEL management.
UCU therefore reiterates its position that the Principal Lecturer Generic
Role Profile is not consistent with line management responsibilities and that
the current allowance paid to Field Leaders is not permitted under the
recently negotiated Framework Agreement. The fact that you see it necessary
to pay this allowance above a PL salary confirms that the line management
requirements are beyond a normal PL role profile. Both these aspects need to
change. We therefore seek an early meeting to address these issues as
promised in the ASIG draft minutes.
We propose reverting to the agreed Field Leader role descriptor negotiated
between UCU and UEL management in 2005, the relevant portion of which reads
Staff development
* To be responsible for coordinating and carrying out as appropriate
SDR and induction activities for colleagues within the Field. To participate
in UEL staff development events and programmes as appropriate. (The
implementation of all other UEL employment policies will be the
responsibility of the Head of School/Associate Head.)
We also propose that the £3,000 special allowance is withdrawn as soon as
practicable.
We would remind you that UCU is in dispute with the University over this
issue and your current stance brings us no nearer a resolution. We look
forward to an early meeting to address these continuing problems and move to
a resolution of the dispute.
Rae Beaver (Chair)
Peter Mottershead (Secretary)
UCU UEL Co-ordinating Committee
