Although the Union Office has closed down until further notice, emails are being received and replied to, remotely. The working times are the same as the usual office hours: 9.30 – 5.00 on Tuesdays and 1.30 – 5.00 on Wednesdays. However, emails will be checked at other times during the week. Pam (Mobile in case
[continue reading…]
Dear Branch Members, The Branch Executive hopes that this communication finds you all fine and well and that everyone is coping with the challenges that work and personal life are throwing at us in these strange and everchanging times. As we briefly communicated to you last week, the Branch Executive offered to work in partnership
[continue reading…]
Update on UCU response to the virus outbreak We’ve provided a dedicated website area with advice for UCU members on the coronavirus. UCU general secretary Jo Grady wrote to members this week with an update on plans to keep the union functioning and protecting workers and the sectors we represent in this extraordinarily difficult period. Guidance on
[continue reading…]
Scotland branch briefing update – report Thanks to all the branches who participated in our “Zoom” briefing on Thursday, 26 March. You can see what was discussed on the UCU Scotland blog: https://ucuscotland.wordpress.com/2020/03/27/scotland-branch-briefing-update-26-march/ TUC and STUC Covid-19 resources The Trades Union Congress and Scottish Trades Union Congress have each
[continue reading…]
We would all like to thank Simon Jones very much for all the work he has undertaken as Treasurer for our UCU Stirling Branch, and also to thank Alison Giles for assuming this role in his place.
Dear colleague Since our national executive committee instructed me to write to vice-chancellors about the coronavirus outbreak two weeks ago, we have seen universities finally act to end face to face activities and close down other operations. However, many employers are still struggling to acknowledge the scale of the crisis and the change that will
[continue reading…]
The first tranche of our UCU Stirling Branch Hardship Fund has been allocated to members suffering real hardship during the strike, due to the docking of their pay. If you would like to claim from the second tranche of the fund, please, initially, write to Pam (pmcgibbon2@stir.ac.uk) explaining briefly why you wish to claim, and
[continue reading…]
UCU Stirling Branch has a number of volunteer trained Caseworkers who are willing to assist other members when they have a problem at work. If you would like to contact a Caseworker for advice or to accompany you to a meeting, please complete this form and send it, in confidence, to Pam (pmcgibbon2@ucu.org.uk), in the
[continue reading…]
A UCU report says staff are working unpaid, holding down multiple jobs and struggling to pay the bills. The report says higher education staff are putting off long-term plans like starting a family and even struggling to pay day-to-day bills because of a lack of security and steady income. Over two-thirds of respondents (71%)
[continue reading…]
Dear colleague, TPS update Since we last updated members in May, there have been developments regarding the valuation of the public sector pension schemes, including the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS). You will recall that the valuation resulted in big increases in employer’s contributions but potentially corresponding improvements for career average members with no member contribution
[continue reading…]