A few key announcements and dates for your diary. Performance Review Scheme – meeting to discuss proposed scheme – Tuesday 26th February Stratford Room RB.1.03 1-2pm.
Despite the changes in senior management there appears to be no let up on the assault on staff with punitive changes to HR policies designed to create a culture of fear and bullying continuing. Joint Unions will offer staff their overview of what is proposed in relation to Performance Management at this meeting. At the meeting held in Docklands last week to discuss the Scheme there was a call to resist any imposition of this Scheme, a call for wider publicity about what is going on at UEL, and support expressed for the existing SDR Scheme. Support was pledged to staff in IT who may be subjected to having a pilot of the Scheme imposed on them. For the sake of clarity this Scheme has not been agreed with the unions at UEL and as such should not be imposed. Come and hear the details of the Scheme and offer your thoughts what is currently proposed.
UCU National Elections
We urge you to vote in the UCU NEC and National Officers elections. You should have received details of the nominations to your contact address and have until Wednesday to return the voting paper for it to be counted. We need a strong union in these difficult times, one that represents its members, so please have your say in this through the exercising of your democratic right to shape the future direction of UCU National.
Next Branch meeting Docklands 13th March Room EB.G.06 1-2.30.
The next general Branch meeting will be held in Docklands though we may hold further meetings in Stratford and Docklands week to discuss the dispute and the final version of the Workload Allocation Model. Please keep checking emails and make sure that you are able to attend this vital meeting. This meeting will be open to all staff below Grade 59 if it is predominately to debate the dispute. The Branch Committee will also meet with anyone who wishes to stand for nomination for the committee to discuss the vital work of the committee. This will be between 2.30 and 3.00. Please note we will also be at Joint Union stalls on 11 Apr (Stratford) 18 Apr (Docklands). Come and tell us what your issues are.
UCU General Meeting: 1st May (Docklands) 1-3pm EB.G.06 – light lunch to be provided.
The call for nominations for Branch Committee will be made on 20th March and any nominations should be received by Wednesday 3rd April by the Chair. They will require a proposer and a seconder. In accordance with our Local Rules if elections are required these will commence 2 weeks before the AGM, i.e. 17th April, and those standing will be invited to address the Branch meeting on 17th April in Stratford and 24th April in Docklands as well as communicate with members an election address. The posts that are available are: Chair, Vice Chair, Branch Secretary, Assistant Branch Secretary, Equality Officer, Health and Safety Officer, Membership Secretary. We also seek nominations for representatives in each School. It is very important that we find new members for the committee following the retirement of key officers. If you are interested in standing come to an informal meeting to hear what the roles involve after the Branch Meeting on 13th March in Stratford or call Chair or Branch Secretary for an informal discussion.
London Met Suspensions
You may be aware that in addition to the suspension of London Met UNISON Chair (Max Watson) and the London Met Staff Governor (Jawad Botmeh), Professor Steve Jeffreys of London Met’s Working Lives Research Institute (WLRI) has also now been suspended. This followed an investigation arising from ﾑconcernsﾒ about Jawadﾒs appointment at Working Lives that were invited by London Met management following his successful nomination as Staff Governor. For more information please visit the campaign blog for the reinstatement of Max, Jawad and Steve, that provides all the latest campaign news at: http://stopthewitchhunt.wordpress.com. Rather careless name for the campaign but it is important to respond as there are the issues raised by these suspensions.
An online petition has also been created demanding the immediate reinstatement of Max, Jawad and Steve. The petition was launched over the weekend and is already attracting many signatures. Please add your name to the petition and circulate the petition link to your branch members: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-witch-hunt-defend-max-jawad-and-steve.html We look forward to seeing you the Branch meeting on 13th March. There is much to discuss and it is important that your voice is heard. Regards Jacqui UCU Branch Secretary
UCU members at the University of East London are involved in an official dispute with our employer over workload and other issues. We are currently working to contract and as a result you may experience delays in receiving a response to emails.