1) Vote Now, Vote Early
As of yesterday, ballot papers in our UCU industrial action ballot are arriving in the post.
Vote now, vote early
For more information:
https://www.ucu.org.uk/hedisputes
Return your vote today. Before the ballot closes in 14 days.
2) Bristol UCU General Meeting, Wednesday, 27th October, 13:00-14:00, Microsoft Teams
Our first Get The Vote Out-themed Bristol UCU General Meeting is Wednesday next week.
Click on the link below to join:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTcwZjlmMmUtY2M0MS00OWY3LTk2ZDctNThlMmRlY2I1MDE2%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22b2e47f30-cd7d-4a4e-a5da-b18cf1a4151b%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2284bed226-036c-4d6a-8636-53c81afae48a%22%7d
Speakers include UCU Vice President (HE) Justine Mercer, ex 4 Fights Negotiator Michael Carley (Bath UCU), current 4 Fights Negotiator Robyn Orfitelli and General Secretary Jo Grady.
3) Open Letter – Share Room Risk Assessments
Thanks to everyone who signed the letter, now sent. Key points include:
‘Bristol UCU has now repeatedly asked for teaching room risk assessments as well as key COVID-19 risk reduction information concerning teaching rooms and workplaces to be placed on the staff and student intranet. As of now, this information has not been forthcoming’:
https://bristolucu.wordpress.com/2021/10/18/ucu-open-letter-share-room-risk-assessments/
‘University of Bristol staff and students alike currently have no clear and transparent way of knowing which rooms are not fit for use or what occupancy is acceptable in the current circumstances. Levels of concern amongst students and staff demonstrate the clear anxiety about the University’s health and safety measures: sharing such information would go a long way towards offering vital reassurance and reducing anxiety’
4) Masks/Face Coverings
‘Face coverings must be worn in all University premises’, University of Essex‘Everyone must wear face coverings when moving around communal spaces, offices, libraries, classrooms and lecture theatres’, Liverpool John Moores‘If you are on campus and in an indoor area, you must wear a mask’, University of East London
By contrast….
‘We expect and recommend that you wear a face-covering when you are indoors in university buildings unless a risk assessment for an activity or area specifically states otherwise’, University of Bristol
You must wear a face mask indoors. This should be the University of Bristol message, and Bristol UCU asks that the University makes this its only message as we enter the winter months.
5) Climate Strike, Friday, 22nd October, From 12 noon
