1. UCU General Secretary Elections – Vote Now!
Don’t miss your chance to have a say in the future of your union. Voting is open now until 23 May.
The candidates are:
Jo Grady
Jo McNeill
Matt Waddup
You can find more details about the election and request a replacement ballot paper here.
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2. Congress Motions Survey
At the end of May, your elected University of Bristol UCU delegates will be attending UCU Congress in Harrogate. At Congress, delegates debate and vote on motions which, if passed, become UCU policy.
To give our delegates a steer, please complete this survey containing 10 propositions on which we would like your view. Please vote for, against or abstain.
https://bristolucu.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/ucu-congress-motions-2019
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3. Pay offer
At the latest meeting about UCU’s national pay claim, UCEA offered a slightly improved headline figure of 1.8%, which meets the current consumer price index including housing (CPIH) measure of inflation but not retail price index (RPI). UCU negotiators expressed disappointment with the offer. It will be discussed at Congress later this month. More details here:
https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/10001/HE-national-negotiations-2019-20
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4. USS Latest
Bristol UCU reps are meeting with Bristol’s Chief Operating Officer Robert Kerse and Chief People Officer, Claire Buchanan today, Wednesday 15th May, to discuss the latest set of proposals tabled by USS to UUK and UCU. The Branch is also liaising closely with UCU HQ. The latest USS proposals will be debated at UCU’s annual Congress at the end of May.
More to follow.
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5. REMINDER: Sessions still available with National Pensions Official: Tomorrow, Thursday 16th May
12:30-13:30, Howard House Seminar Room 1.01 (group session) and
13:45-15:15, Howard House Meeting Room G.01 (individual 10- to 15-min sessions)
UCU’s National Pensions Official, Christine Haswell is visiting Bristol University tomorrow, 16th May. There will be a general update on where we are nationally with the negotiations and the JEP, and following that will be an opportunity to speak to Christine 1:1 for guidance about your own pensions. This would not be financial advice, but Christine can offer some guidance as to pros and cons of, for example, early or flexible retirement, exchanging lump-sum for increased pension etc. She can also talk through the meaning of specific communications you have received from USS. Individual sessions are first come-first-served, and you can sign up via Doodle Poll here https://doodle.com/poll/s4crv68pbafupf5n.
To help you find Howard House, which is on Queen’s Avenue:
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6. Oxford March for Education, this Saturday 18th May
Please see the details of a demo happening in Oxford this Saturday, called by the Southern Region UCU, London Region UCU, and Ruskin UCU branch. Please spread the word, and consider supporting it if you’re in the area.