We are asking all members to help recruit a colleague to UCU during week commencing Monday 16 November. A pack is on its way to all members which includes an invitation letter and a selection of leaflets. As we know, the more members we have, the stronger our voice will be so, if you are a member, please pass these on to just one colleague – by doing so you will give a tremendous boost to our campaign.

Not a member yet but want to join? Go to https://join.ucu.org.uk or telephone the Membership Team on 0333  207  0719

UCU has submitted a detailed response to management on the Workload Allocation Model. To read it go to http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/ucu/?page_id=303&preview=true

UCU is pressing management to re-engage in meaningful consultation on the restructuring of the Careers Service. During the formal consultation earlier this year we urged management to address our primary concerns which are the undermining of the professional standing of staff and the down grading of posts within the service. New proposals which were presented on 26 June have substantial changes to those considered during the consultation process. The “Final” structure is now significantly different from the plans we were consulted on with fewer roles available in the revised structure. It is our view that meaningful consultation may now not have occurred because the plans are so radically different to the plans finalised in February. We have therefore written to management asking  that formal consultation re-commence because we are now dealing with a completely different proposition to the one which was presented to the consultation team at the beginning of the year.

Our discussions with management on the restructuring of the School of Medicine ( “MEDIC Forward”) are at a critical stage.  The management proposals include disinvestment in some research areas and consequential redundancies. Cardiff UCU remains convinced that there are serious weaknesses in the Business Cases that are being used to inform the identification of roles at risk of disinvestment.

There are 11 distinct Business Cases and the weakness vary from case to case. We are very concerned about the criteria used for selecting areas of research. Often the areas of research do not seem to be based on established or accepted structures within MEDIC.  Insufficient detail has been provided for how and why areas and sub areas have been selected for disinvestment. We have already stated our concerns in person and in writing but they remain unchanged in their substance. The use of these Business Cases to make staff redundant may result in legal challenge that could be damaging to Cardiff University. 

DEPUTATION TO UNIVERSITY COUNCIL : Restructurings in the School of Medicine and the Careers and Employability Service

The University Council held on Monday 18th May received a UCU deputation. The UCU representatives made representations regarding the proposed restructurings in the School of Medicine and the Careers and Employability Service.

We have grave concerns about the way the work of the restructuring in the School of Medicine (MEDIC) is being structured and the way that engagement internally and externally is being framed and feel that there is a real risk of severe reputational damage to Cardiff University resulting from major omissions in the process to date, notwithstanding the impact on the staff involved.

We recognise that change has to happen to create a School of Medicine that is fit for purpose.  However, for optimum outcomes the programme of change needs to be managed in a sustainable fashion that staff are actively engaged with, rather than in a reactive and top-down manner as is becoming increasingly apparent in MEDIC Forward.  We believe that the management strategy, which includes disinvestment in some areas, does not stand examination. Among the recommendations made by our representatives were including treating staff as people rather than a resource and urging consultation with all stakeholders including students, the NHS and the BMA.

We feel that the approach taken in other restructures in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Careers Service have generated some of the same issues. We believe that the management approach to restructuring and the particular issues uncovered in relation to the School of Medicine and the Careers & Employability Service, merited the attention of Council, as the responsible body for the governance and management of the University.

We now wait to see what the reaction of Council will be.

NATIONAL STUDENT SURVEY (NSS)

Members may know that the NSS closes today 30 April. The results will be published later this year. UCU has issues with this annual exercise. We believe that the best way to ensure high quality teaching and learning is through good, committed professional practice in an adequately funded system. We would like to hear your views and any concerns you may have.  You may be assured of complete confidentiality. ucu@cardiff.ac.uk

SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE

We are discussing this issue with management and would like to hear from members about their experiences and any difficulties up to now. You may be assured of complete confidentiality.  Mail to: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk

PAY TO STUDENTS WHO TEACH

Are you aware of any students who teach and are not getting a fair deal?

– are they being paid at the correct rate?

– are they paid on time?

– are they properly paid for preparation time?

– is the paid time for marking fair?

If you are aware of any students being treated in this way please let us know. ucu@cardiff.ac.uk

UCU representatives continue to work hard on your behalf. Among the major issues on which we are currently engaged with management are:

– Workload Models;

– Pay protection under the Management of Change;

– Shared Parental Leave;

– Disabled Leave Policy;

– Restructuring of SOCSI professional services;

– Restructuring in Careers

The Casework Team is dealing with a record number of requests from members for individual support and advice. Over 60 requests have been received during this session, excluding the support to MEDIC members. Could you give some time to help your colleagues who have work place issues? If so, please do get in touch with the UCU office for further information.

**PLEASE USE YOUR VOTE: UCU NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) ELECTION: CLOSING DATE FRIDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2015**

If you have not already done so, please use your vote in the NEC election. It is important to the Union’s democratic process that every eligible member uses their vote.

NEED ADVICE – GET IN TOUCH!

Your colleagues here who represent you are working hard on many issues. UCU is your union. If you have any workplace issues causing you concern or worry and you need help, do not hesitate to get in touch. Advice will be given in complete confidence.  ucu@cardiff.ac.uk

UCU (UK) CONGRESS – MOTIONS AND DELEGATES & OUR NEXT GENERAL MEETING (GM)

UCU’s UK Congress (and the Higher Education Sector Conference [HESC]) will be held on 23 – 25 May 2105 in Glasgow. Our next GM (Wednesday 11 March 2015 at 1.10pm in the Glamorgan Committee Room 1, Cathays Park campus) will consider motions to the Congress and HESC and the election of our delegates. If you wish to submit a motion, please submit it by email by 9am Monday 2 March.  Motions should be a maximum of 150 words with a title of no more than 10 words. ucu@cardiff.ac.uk

If you wish to put your name forward as a delegate, please get in touch as soon as possible. ucu@cardiff.ac.uk

 The Special Meeting of Court on Tuesday 16 December heard a presentation which explained how USS works currently, what changes have been proposed and why many think the changes are wrong.  This was followed by a presentation by the University’s Director of Finance, who explained that the university was looking for a sustainable future for USS but also conceded that the Trustee’s assumptions underlying the valuation of the fund were overly prudent and therefore overestimate the deficit. The debate which followed included some very good points made from the floor. Some minor amendments to the motion  were made and it was then carried overwhelmingly.  The motion passed:

What we are asking of Council

• to declare a belief in the importance of a good defined benefit pension scheme that provides a secure and predictable income to staff in retirement as an essential element of a world class university;
• to note that the proposed changes would make the USS benefits inferior to those enjoyed by staff in the TPS at post-92 universities
• to note that the latest Annual Report and Accounts of the USS pension scheme (March 2014) indicates an operating surplus of over £1 billion for the year;
• to also note that the fund has seen surpluses in each of the past 10 years

 What we are asking of Council

• to recognise that the scheme has not yet matured and that the scenario presented by the trustees is overly prudent in reporting a large deficit
• to bring its influence to bear within UUK and the Employers Pensions Forum to work towards a withdrawal of the proposals, and;
• to explore ways for UUK to lobby for regulatory change with the Pension Regulator in order to revise the assumptions for the overly cautious actuarial valuation of USS

UCU members are among 10 members of the University Court who successfully demanded a Special Meeting of Court to discuss the USS dispute. The meeting will be held on Tuesday 16 December. The function of Court is  “to discuss any matters relating to Cardiff University and advise the Council as it sees fit”. The meeting will discuss a motion calling on Court to advise the Council on Cardiff University’s position regarding changes to the USS scheme put forward by the Employers Pension Forum.

Members may be interested to know that the USS Annual Report records that the net increase in the USS fund from March 2013 to March 2014 was £3billion. At March 2014, the total fund was £42billion. To see the USS members’ annual report go to http://view.pagetiger.com/MAR2014