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UCU branch newsletter semester B 2025

Katrina Navickas

UCU branch newsletter semester B 2025

 

  1. 1. VC’s email of today 3 April ‘Maintaining our financial position’

Members will have been concerned by the content of this morning’s email from the Vice Chancellor and its potential implications. We can assure you that we will be consulting senior management about it and holding a branch meeting as soon as possible after the Easter break to discuss it with you.

 

  1. Compulsory redundancy procedure

Members will recall that UHUCU was very concerned at the way compulsory redundancies were undertaken last year. We are now able to report that negotiations over this important issue are making progress on the basis that where there is a pool of employees doing the same work, from whom a number are to be selected for compulsory redundancy, they should be assessed according to a matrix of selection criteria agreed with UHUCU.

 

  1. UH-wide workload system

UHUCU continues to consult on the terms of the new UH-wide workload model (to replace the current system of school-specific workload models) to be introduced in 2025-26.

 

  1. Four week marking turnaround

Members will recall there was confusion in some schools last semester about the 4-week marking turnaround period. We re-attach the 2017 agreement between UH and UHUCU (ratified in 2018) giving staff discretion to extend the period. Please note the only change in the recently updated UPR AS 12 is that staff must now inform the Dean (rather than the Associate Dean) of any extension.

 

UHUCU stands by this important agreement. Marking workloads are intensifying, not least with the introduction of ‘in-module retrieval’ which allows students to turn a failing mark into a pass by submitting an updated version of an assessment shortly after receiving their initial mark.

 

  1. Equate

We are pleased to report that the negotiations undertaken by Professor Katrina Navickas (Press and Social Media Officer) and Dr Pfavai Nyajeka (Equalities Officer) to replace UH’s cumbersome process with a fairer and more streamlined one have gone well. UHUCU has managed to agree an improved process and though implementation has been delayed after issues were raised by the OVC, it is hoped they can be resolved soon.

 

  1. Serious error in UH Strategic Report

In its Strategic Report and Financial Statements 2023-24, UH claimed it was above the sector average for the percentage of staff feeling “safe to speak up”. In fact, UH was below the sector average. UHUCU brought the error to the attention of HR director Ms Okaro and Chair of Governors Mr Sproul. We are pleased that an erratum statement – see here – was uploaded next to the Strategic Report on UH’s website on 27 March (albeit 13 weeks after being brought to management’s attention). It was disappointing, however, that UH refused to write directly to staff (and the Office of Students, which was sent a copy of the Strategic Report) correcting the error.

 

  1. The curious incident of the Staff Q&A video

We were concerned to discover that the comments made at the Q&A held on 14 January by our co-Vice President Keith Seed raising staff concerns did not make it into the uploaded video of the event on UH’s website. When drawn to management’s attention, they apologised but, curiously, could not explain why Keith’s comments had been cut. We are glad to report that the full uncut video was subsequently uploaded here.

 

  1. Solidarity with Dr Lindsey German of the Business School

Members will recall that Lindsey is a Senior Lecturer in the Business School and formerly a UHUCU branch committee officer. In March, we were very concerned to learn that she was ordered to attend a police interview about her role in the peaceful Palestine demonstration of 18 January. To support Lindsey, the branch committee issued a solidarity statement on our website which can be read here.

 

  1. Many thanks to Dr Ed Blissett

Our co-Vice President Ed Blissett stepped down from the branch committee at the end of March. He had many successes to his name, not least negotiating a hardship allowance especially for lower paid staff and securing agreement that members taking industrial action would not be deducted 100% of pay. As those of us who worked closely with him can vouch, his advice has been invaluable.

 

Finally, we are very glad to welcome the return of our President, Dr Jane Say, to her role after a period of illness. We wish all our members a good Easter break.

 

In solidarity

 

Jane Say

President

 

Keith Seed

UHUCU co-Vice President

 

Dragan Plavsic

UHUCU Branch Secretary