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ENABLING MOTION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF READING ON
COLLECTIVE CLAIMS

This branch notes that the USS strike became a flashpoint for
fundamental discontent with the way that universities are being run; that
during the strike members were raising long-standing grievances about
equal pay as well as areas in which the University fails to consistently pay
the rate for the job.
On the matter of equal pay, members are particularly concerned about the
gender pay gap. Two concerns persist about the rate for the job: Firstly,
the extent and handling of casualized work and secondly, a development
of lower-graded staff picking up the duties traditionally undertaken by staff
on higher grades.

EQUAL PAY: On the gender pay gap, this branch notes

– that the gender pay gap at the University of Reading is 19.6%;
– that women are under-represented higher up the career pathway and
grading structures;
– that despite the efforts made by UCU and others over many years, the
gender pay gap persists;
– that at the current rate of progress it will take several more decades to
close the gap;
– that there is a need for meaningful action to resolve many issues across
academic and related staff.

RATE FOR THE JOB 1): On the casualization of academic staff, this
branch notes:

– that the University employs about 550 sessional staff, the majority of
which have been employed for more than one year;
– that the University is not committed to reducing the number of staff on
sessional contracts – e.g. by introducing a mechanism for such staff to
be offered fractional rather than hourly based contracts;
– that rates of pay vary across Schools and are not linked in any
meaningful or transparent way to the University pay scales;
– that practices vary widely regarding the way in which preparation time
and/or time for marking is remunerated, or is indeed not remunerated;
– that despite starts made to tackle this problem since 2015, no progress
has been achieved to date.

RATE FOR THE JOB 2): On the link between pay grades and levels
of responsibility, this branch notes:

– that grade descriptors have been established along with the current
pay scales introduced in 2006;
– that there are now numerous instances across the University where
responsibilities taken on by staff are not in line with their level of pay;
– that there is no procedure that prevents the exploitation of staff
desire for career advancement in order to delegate higher level
duties to staff paid on lower grades;
– that there is a structural problem with the roles and uses of Grade 6
academic staff both with regard to levels of responsibility and lack
of career progression.
This branch believes that there is a need for the University’s senior
management to agree that dealing with these matters through joint
negotiation with UCU should be a key organisational objective in starting
to repair the damage caused by UUK and university management
approaches to the employment package. We believe they should commit
to time limited negotiations to reach an agreed action plan.

This branch agrees:

– members meetings on the three themes identified above should be
held in June;
– that these meetings should be asked to consider a draft claim for
submission to University management, a collective bargaining
approach, and ways in which members can get involved in
supporting their claim (including involvement in co-ordinating
groups);
– that the branch committee should agree a final version of the claim
and submit it to the University management ASAP and by no later
than 1 October 2018;
– that members should be kept informed of developments after each
meeting with management;
– that a full report, including the need for action in the event of
insufficient progress, should be made to each branch meeting.

The final offer in the 2018 round of Pay negotiations was made on the 10th May:

Pay 2% increase for staff on spine point 16 and above. £425 for staff on spine point 15 and below.

The pay offer falls disappointing short of the pay claim and pay continues to erode and fall behind comparable professions. The offer does not keep up with inflation or address the loss in pay over the last 10 years. It is in the bottom quartile of recent public sector settlements.

The consultative ballot will open on 6 June and close on 27 June and the result will be considered by HEC on 29 June.

For more information  please click here: UCUBANHE32 – National Pay Negotiations 2018

We invite all members to the Reading UCU Annual General Meeting.

The meeting will take place:

Date: Wednesday 6th June

Time: 13:00-14:00

Location: HUMSS/Edith Morley Van Emden lecture theatre.

Please make every effort to attend.

An agenda will be sent out nearer the time. If you want to raise anything under AOB, please let us know by Thursday 17th May and this can be included on the agenda, and will be discussed if there is time (there is an amount of formal material that has to be got through in the AGM). Please click here for a Nomination Form for Committee members and officers, and here for a list of current RUCU officers.  All positions are up for re-election every year and we would like to encourage you to think about joining the Committee and/or standing for one of the officer posts. We would particularly hoping that members who are working or have worked on a precarious contract – zero hours, hourly-paid, part-time or fixed term – will be willing to bring that perspective to the Committee’s work, as this is currently an important area of focus for RUCU.

If you would like more information, there is a description of the responsibilities of the roles currently in the Local rules section of our website at www.reading.web.ucu.org.uk (section 8), or have a chat with one of the existing Committee members (names and contact details also on the website). You could also come along to one of our regular Drop In sessions (Thursdays, 13:00 – 14:00) where Committee members will be happy to talk to you about how you can help the Branch, whether as a Committee member or in some other way.

Anyone being nominated needs to give their written consent by completing the Nomination Form, which must also be signed by two RUCU members. Nominees and proposers must all be Branch members paying appropriate subs.

Please return the Nomination forms to me by 5.00pm on Tuesday 8th May (Room 105, JJ Thomson Building)

Thank you

Reading UCU is hosting further UCU training for the Southern Region. Please consider booking a place on one of the following courses to learn more about UCU and the work that we do.

Southern Region has had a very successful year of offering training to members across the region and to round things off for this academic year we will be putting on the following training courses:  

INTRODUCTION TO CASEWORK:

 This is for reps who are new to working with members and will cover:

·       Understand UCU’s legal support scheme.

·       Identify the benefits of the Education Support Partnership charity.

·       Review how to communicate effectively with members seeking advice and representation.

·       Understand the importance of individual cases for collective organisation.

·       Develop a collaborative approach with the member and manage expectations.

·       Recognise the importance of confidentiality .

·       Assert your own rights and take care of your own well-being when handling personal cases.

·       Increase you understanding of your workplace’s own policies and procedures.

·       Outline systems for dealing with individual casework in your branch.

A FAIR DISCIPLINARY & GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

This course is ideal for members who are caseworkers or involved in advising members.  The course will help you:

·        Represent members in discussions with employers.

·        Understand how Grievances and Disciplinaries are handled.

·        Understand rights at work.

·        Build confidence in your role and responsibilities as a union rep.

·        Develop the skills you need to be an effective rep.

If you are interested in attending one or more of the above courses please contact southern@ucu.org.uk. 

Region will pay for reasonable travelling expenses and lunch and refreshments will be provided on all days.

If you need any further information please do not hesitate to contact RUCU or our Regional Office.