1) GM. 8th Nov. @1pm
Reminder: first general branch meeting of the academic year. Wednesday, 8th November, 1pm-2pm, LT3, Arts Complex, Woodland Road.
On the agenda: Pensions, Promotion and Progression, Commission for Effective Industrial Action.
Full agenda to be sent out shortly.
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2) Book of Commemoration – Celia Hollingworth
A book of commemoration for Celia is now in the UCU office, 1d Priory Road (the basement office, 1 Priory Road).
If you would like to sign, the office is normally staffed from 9-5 on Mondays and Tuesdays.
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3) USS Decision-Making Meeting, Thursday, 9th November
Branch reps from Bristol and other pre-92 universities meet next week to decide the next steps in UCU’s USS campaign. This follows the result of UCU’s consultative ballot – in which 86.6% of respondents, on a turnout of on a turnout of 55.8%, backed industrial action to defend existing benefits and further rises in members contributions.
UCU negotiators are already arguing in negotiations with Universities UK (UUK) for no detrimental changes. It is clear that, without industrial action, it is highly unlikely that university managements, in the form of UUK, are going to budge.
At the last negotiating meeting UUK did not commit not to put forward detrimental changes to USS members’ pensions. They are not going to collectively challenge the flawed USS valuation methodology. They are not going to increase employer contributions. They are not going to defend their staff’s pensions and the essential robustness of USS.
For further discussion, please come to the GM next week. Members of our local Pension Working Group will report back on where University of Bristol management stand on USS, and on the call by employers to transform USS into a Defined Contribution scheme.
For national updates, see ‘USS latest’:
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4) Progression, Promotion and Pathways
If you care about progression and promotion for academic staff, on all three pathways, we will be discussing the University proposals on progression and promotion for Pathway 1, 2 and 3 staff at November’s GM.
This is a matter of local collective bargaining between the University and UCU, Branch officers need to know branch views. Come and have your say.
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5) UCU Commision for Effective Industrial Action
At the GM, UCU’s Commision for Effective Industrial Action (CEIA) is also on the agenda.
Set up at UCU national Congress, the Commission is tasked with generating proposals on what UCU needs to do differently, the actions it needs to take to secure better terms and conditions, job security and a pay rise for UCU members. The CEIA is looking to hear from Bristol UCU members: what should UCU be doing?’