April, 2015:

TO UCU MEMBERS

PROPOSALS TO INTRODUCE A STAFF PERFORMANCE AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW SCHEME TO REPLACE THE STAFF DEVELOPMENT REVIEW:

JOINT UNION MEETING, UCU BRANCH MEETING AND CONSULTATIVE BALLOT

JOINT UNION MEETING:

TUESDAY 28 APRIL (STRATFORD) 12.30-2.00, EDG01
(please note changed start time)

UCU BRANCH MEETING:

THURSDAY 30 APRIL, 1.15-2.30, DOCKLANDS
ROOM NUMBER TBC

CONSULTATIVE BALLOT:

YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN EMAIL ENABLING YOU TO VOTE – PLEASE CONTACT UCU IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS EMAIL

THE CONSULTATIVE BALLOT WILL CLOSE ON 8 MAY

Please read all the attached documents.

The UEL UCU branch committee continues to have grave concerns about the following aspects of the scheme:

– the retention of an overall ranking;
– the limitations on the evidence to be accepted in the appeal process;
and
– the way the scheme might be used by managers;

we urge members to attend the joint union meeting on Tuesday 28 April and the UCU branch meeting on 30 April to discuss the implications of these proposals and our collective response before casting their votes in the ballot by 8 May.

ADVANCE NOTICE:
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
27 MAY 2015

The branch has recently lost some of its most active members as a result of restructurings and retirements, while demands have increased – both in supporting individual members and in negotiations with management; we need a full and active committee of officers, and representatives in each School; workload time is allocated for officer posts, and may also be available for School reps who take on individual casework on behalf of members in other Schools.

We have to elect or confirm the appointment of new officers and reps at the agm on 27 May; we urge all members to consider standing for officer positions (chair, vice-chair, secretary, assistant secretary, membership secretary, equalities officer, health and safety officer, and anti-casualisation officer) or as School reps, and to put their names forward before or at the agm, in order to strengthen the branch, and our ability to both defend the interests of individual academic staff, and protect the role of academic staff in the University.

PROPOSALS TO INTRODUCE A STAFF PERFORMANCE AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW SCHEME TO REPLACE THE STAFF DEVELOPMENT REVIEW:

Apologies for the delay in updating you about joint union discussions with UEL management on the proposed scheme, and the postponement of the March UCU branch meeting.

JOINT UNION MEETINGS AND CONSULTATIVE BALLOT

JOINT UNION MEETINGS:

WEDNESDAY 22 APRIL (DOCKLANDS) 12.00-2.00, NB205

TUESDAY 28 APRIL (STRATFORD) 12.00-2.00, EDG01

A CONSULTATIVE BALLOT WILL OPEN NEXT WEEK AND CLOSE ON 8 MAY

FURTHER INFORMATION TO FOLLOW

UCU branch committee, UEL

Dear colleagues,

You will be sad to hear of the death of Francisca Valenzuela

Francisca came to London, via Madrid, nearly 6 years ago from her native Dominican Republic and started working at UEL from August 2010.

In the last year Francisca had been diagnosed with cancer and was off work whilst undergoing treatment. Unfortunately, Francisca passed away on Saturday 28th March, aged just 57.

Francisca was a hardworking, vivacious and generous woman, who will be sorely missed by her family and many friends at UEL and in her community.

UEL UNISON will remember her, in particular, for her activism and the central role she played in the successful campaign for the London Living Wage at UEL.

Francisca had a strong sense of social justice and a passion for learning. This was best demonstrated by her full (vocal) participation in all of the employment rights training courses and English classes organised by UEL UNISON.

Entertaining, caring and gregarious – Francisca’s loud laughter could be heard from one end of the atrium to the other. She loved talking (and practising her English) and she loved singing. In fact, her singing can be heard across the world on the internet on the Youtube clip “The Cleaners Voice” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-aRNW-Rst4

UEL UNISON are fundraising to try and support her family at this difficult time. Francisca’s family will be taking her back to her native Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, where her son and most of her relatives live. Unfortunately, the costs of repatriation is approximately £6,000. This is a huge financial burden on the family and so every pound we can raise will assist them in taking Francisca home.

If you wish to help – please donate through the paypal donate link at https://uelunison.wordpress.com/

All the funds raised will be provided to Francisca’s family to help with her repatriation costs.