Queens UCU Newsletter
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OUR PLAN FOR ACTION
The plan we are putting before you calls for a combination of escalating action short of a strike (ASOS) and strike action over a period of months. At the outset, we will begin a programme of working to contract, alongside a UK-wide strike. But we have to have the full armoury of tactics available to us. That’s why we’re also balloting you for action short of a strike up to an including a marking ban.
When you vote for ASOS, this is what you will be voting for.
It is VITAL to vote for both ASOS and strike action. The importance of this cannot be overstated. We MUST have a mandate that includes strike action. If we don’t, we won’t be able to escalate toward rolling strike action across the country. Most importantly, we won’t be able to counter any attempt to attack members’ pay through deductions for partial performance of duties.
A vote for ASOS without a similar vote for strike action will not give us what we need to take effective action. It will lack credibility. No one likes voting for industrial action. It’s not why anyone enters the profession or makes the decision to work in higher education. But the sad truth is that the attacks we are facing give us little choice.
Please download and distribute the following campaign material:
We hold local specialist group meetings for members in order to prepare for the corresponding national meetings by choosing representatives and discussing relevant national and local issues.
We are encouraging members to ask their MPs to sign the Early Day Motion 413 on the Knowledge Economy. To date, Mark Durkan, Naomi Long, Gregory Campbell, Margaret Ritchie and Allasdair McDonnell have signed.
Please email your MP, and ask them to sign this EDM (see the link below) – and forward to members if possible,
Sylvia Hermon – North Down – hermans@parliament.uk
Ian Paisley – North Antrim – ian.paisley.mp@PARLIAMENT.UK
Nigel Dodds – North Belfast – doddsn@parliament.uk
William McCrea – South Antrim – William.mccrea.mp@parliament.uk
Jeffrey Donaldson – Lagan Valley Jeffrey.donaldson.mp@parliament.uk
Sammy Wilson – East Antrim barronj@parliament.uk
Jim Shannon – Strangford – jim.shannon.mp@parliament.uk
David Simpson – Upper Bann – simpsond@parliament.uk
It’s time to sort out zero hours contracts, they should be a rare exception not the norm: so sign the petition.
Dave Muritu, UCU’s branch secretary at Halesowen college in the West Midlands has been dismissed from his job following what has been described as a ‘kangaroo court’ at which the college management failed to follow their own disciplinary procedures and failed to provide evidence to support their allegations.
Please take a moment to sign the petition to support Dave and his colleagues at Halesowen:
http://tinyurl.com/Halesowen4
UCU have proposed to employers that the suspension takes effect on Wednesday 26 September 2012. Click for details
The survey of all QUB teaching staff on the issue of Diversity and Student Evaluations of Teaching has now been completed. The resulting report is now available in the Local Issues section of the website.
Meeting at 5.30 on Monday 23rd April 2013 in the offices of Unite the Union 26-34 Antirm Road
Despite peace talks beginning between the Colombian Government and the FARC guerrillas last November, dangers for the opposition and peace activists have increased in recent months. Last year saw 20 trade union members and 69 human rights activists murdered. The Patriotic March , a new mass movement grouping unions, peasant farmers, indigenous and others is calling for peace with social justice, for a ceasefire during the talks and for civil society to have a voice in the process. They have already had many members murdered and imprisoned. Despite the repression they have faced they are organising people across the country building the biggest progressive movement seen in Colombia for the last 20 years. Justice for Colombia (JFC) is building support across the UK and Ireland for the peace process, and Northern Ireland trade unions are playing a crucial role in the campaign. Come and hear from some of the leaders of the Patriotic March as well as from trade union leaders who recently took part in a cross-party delegation to Colombia.
