Rates of pay at the University dropped below the real living wage rate last month – there are now hundreds of band 200 and grade 2 staff (including those on the University’s new pay scale) who are being paid less than the amount the independent Living Wage foundation has assessed they need to meet essential…
We call on all staff to strike on 13 and 14 November In the absence of any improved offer from University management, members have again voted unanimously for strike action, which will take place on the 13 and 14 November. Key points for all University staff: Everyone’s support is valued: even if you felt you had…
We’ve already had support from MPs about our dispute with the University – MPs have tweeted publicly in support and we know others have been in touch with them. We’d like to continue this, and we know that MPs take account of the issues that are important to their constituents. As such we’d like to…
Updated 26 September to take account of this update from Birmingham UCU. At meetings on Thursday 14 September, members overwhelmingly backed the committee’s plan for strike action in the first week of term. This means that we are calling on all support staff to join us in taking strike action on: Thursday 21 and Friday 22 September…
Birmingham city council has recently declared effective “bankruptcy” with most news articles tracing the issues back to massive equal pay liabilities at the council. This does not tell the whole story though, and could worryingly give the impression that workers are to blame for the sorry state of council finances. Following repeated court judgements including…
“A good day where we saw our colleagues from different buildings and showed our collective resolve.” The day wasn’t as warm as expected, the sun only really came out as we gathered for the rally- though compared to Friday the gods were clearly on our side. I picketed at North Gate as I had no…
At meetings on Monday, members unanimously confirmed that Thursday’s strike should go ahead. The first and most important thing we ask all support staff to do is not go to work. Picket lines We’d love it if you could come along to our picket lines in the morning – this will help keep morale high and…
The UoB UNISON committee has decided to call a strike day for Thursday 17 August. This is A-level results day and when the University will be undertaking “clearing” activity related to student recruitment. This was not a decision we take lightly. We’ve expanded on our reasoning below and you can read more about all of…
We announced the result of our ballot on pay spine changes earlier this week. On an impressive 54.99% turnout, the yes vote to strike action was 89.63%. UK law around strike action is designed to make it as difficult as possible to get a result, by insisiting on a minimum turnout of 50% and that all votes have to…
Strike ballot opens on Friday As agreed by members in our meeting on 11 May, our strike ballot over pay spine reform, and University management’s insistence on linking it to terms and conditions, opens this coming Friday (26 May). If you are a UNISON support staff member at the University of Birmingham, you should receive…
