We are glad that our motion on casualisation submitted to UNISON National Delegate Conference 2019 has been approved by the Standing Orders Committee (so it will be voted on in June). UNISON reps from other branches – please support this motion! Protection and membership for casualised workers Conference notes: • That millions of working-age…
UKHE Plc. How British universities are lining the pockets of Middle Eastern autocrats The article reads: ‘In Dubai, being gay or transgender risks imprisonment, flogging and execution, yet UoB has left staff and students without adequate guidance on what it will do to protect their rights when working or studying in Dubai, union leaders say’. To read the entire article (pp. 18-22), please…
A Report from the Women’s Conference by Jodie and Alison [Summary: Alison and Jodie attended the Women’s Conference in Bournemouth this year. There were several key themes that emerged throughout the three days, among which were; Young Women and the difficulties they face ; Sexual Harassment at work and how to challenge it ; Low…
It now looks certain that we will be moving to a formal strike ballot. Come to the members meeting on Tuesday 26th March at 12.30pm in 715 Muirhead Tower where we are planning to announce the dates for the ballot and plans for strike days and a wider campaign. If you cannot attend the afternoon…
Message of solidarity with the trade union members, activists and students who took part in the National Day of Action to Clean Up Outsourcing To: IWGB – Independent Workers Union of Great Britain IWGB University of London United Voices of the World the union BEIS PCS London and South National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers…
UoB Dubai Campus, Human Rights And Freedom In UAE, And Complicity With War And Famine In Yemen Motion on UNISON’s concerns over the UoB Dubai campus, human rights and freedom in UAE, and complicity with war and famine in Yemen The University management continually state that they respect the moral conscience of University of Birmingham…
At our AGM on the 13th of February 2019, UNISON University of Birmingham branch members voted unanimously to support IWGB’s campaign of Boycotting Senate House, as a way of putting pressure upon the University management to bring staff back in-house. We will also send a donation shortly. The University of Birmingham UCU branch have also…
Last month, we finally received a response to our queries regarding the issues that members who work in the Hotel have raised with us, and regarding our request for unions to be recognised by the University’s wholly-owned subsidiary company, the Edgbaston Hotel. We are deeply concerned for the wellbeing of staff who are employed by…
Three manifestos on University Governance have attracted our attention, and made us wonder ‘what would a UoB manifesto look like?’ 1. De Montfort University – ‘DMU Renewed. A Manifesto’ https://ucudemontfort.wordpress.com/2019/02/11/dmu-renewed-a-manifesto-for-change/ It covers the following matters: * Our governing principles: DMU as a public university * Governance * Finance * Teaching and Learning * Research * The Importance…
State of Higher Education – please read the news below – all of them published just last week. Part of the list was compiled by @UUKSpin 1. University of Reading (£££ blackhole) https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/feb/09/reading-university-in-crisis-amid-questions-over-121m-land-sales 2. Swansea University (problematic Kuwait deal) https://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/swansea-university-600m-joint-venture-15798126 3. Cardiff Metropolitan University (VC/DVC vanished on ‘sick leave’) https://the-eye.wales/sick-with-fear/ 4. De Montfort University (conflict…
