Author: UOB

  • Motion passed: Join Stand up to Racism Trade Union Network

    Motion passed: Join Stand up to Racism Trade Union Network

    Motion: Join Stand up to Racism Trade Union Network & support actions and events on 22 March as part of the World Against Racism & Fascism international day of protest for UN Anti Racism Day  

    Date of presentation: Branch AGM 12th March 2025 

    Proposed by:

    Surinder Kaur/Eleni Vagia (Nominated Joint-International Officers) 

    David Esteban Rodriguez  (Nominated Black Members Officer) 

    This branch/region/executive notes: 

    • The breakthrough of Nigel Farage’s far right Reform UK, which claims 200,000 members, five MPs and 54 councillors. 
    • Fascist Tommy Robinson’s efforts to build a fascist led far right and racist street movement in Britain, based on deeply Islamophobic, antisemitic and racist rhetoric. 
    • Robinson (who gained mass publicity with Elon Musk’s support shortly before Musk gave a Nazi salute with the world watching) was a member of the Nazi British National Party and founded the English Defence League. 
    • Robinson held successive mobilisations in 2024 culminating in 26 October where he put up to 25,000 on the streets in an incredibly Islamophobic mobilisation, followed by a demonstration of up to 5,000 on 1 February. 
    • The summer riots and racist violence were stoked by Robinson, coming off the back of his July march which attracted over 15,000 people. 
    • In the last year Stand Up To Racism organised national demonstrations in July (5,000), October (20,000) and in February this year (over 5,000), as well as the many protests bringing out tens of thousands in August and September to counter far right mobilisations and ensure fascists are not permitted free passage through our streets unopposed. 
    • Internationally, the far right is growing, although it also faces opposition from anti-racists. Trump’s inauguration on 20 January, the electoral gains of the fascist AfD in February, and interventions of Elon Musk have further boosted the global far right. 
    • Elon Musk is now one of the most influential figures of the far right, becoming the leading defender of Robinson, and stoking up racism and Islamophobia about so-called “Pakistani grooming gangs”. 

    This branch/region/executive believes: 

    • Reform UK is setting the agenda in British politics around immigration, pushing hard racism, scapegoating of refugees, migrants and Muslims, along with a so called “anti-woke” agenda targeting trans’ rights, women’s rights and the right to protest. This is giving confidence to the far right and fascists. 
    • The far right is still divided, and the splits in Reform UK around support for Robinson reinforce that they can be stopped. 
    • We stand with victims and survivors of abuse cases and oppose the cynical exploitation of their experiences to boost racism. 
    • We must build the biggest movement possible to unite against and expose the fascists, while calling out and challenging the wider peddled racist myths and divisive narrative of hate that threatens working class communities. This means unions, from the workplace and community to regional and national levels, uniting with faith groups, campaigns, organisations, politicians and cultural figures—all opposed to racism and fascism. 

    This branch/region/executive resolves: 

    • To affiliate the branch to Stand Up to Racism Trade Union Network and pay the charge of £100 for affiliation. 
    • To support the call by Stand Up To Racism and the TUC for regional and local protests, gigs, actions and events on 22 March as part of the World Against Racism & Fascism  international day of protest for UN Anti Racism Day, and to send the banner with a delegation, and cover the costs of transport. 
    • To support, as part of the 22 March day of action, the launch days for campaigns against Reform UK for the May elections in the target areas selected by Stand Up To Racism: Hull, Doncaster, North Tyneside, Durham, Oxfordshire, Nottinghamshire, and to support local campaigning against Reform UK. 
    • To circulate details to members encouraging them to join the events and actions in their regions and localities on 22 March. 
    • To support future initiatives against fascist Tommy Robinson, the far right and Reform UK organised by Stand Up To Racism and the unions including leafleting, campaigns and protests. 
  • Motion passed: Defend Higher Education Funding

    Motion passed: Defend Higher Education Funding

    Proposed by: Nathan Street (Co-Branch Secretary) 
     
    This branch notes that:   

    • There is a developing crisis in higher education funding caused by a failed market model and a drop in the number of international students. 
    • There are cuts and threats to jobs at a number of universities and ballots for industrial action with strikes planned in the next couple of months. 
    • There is a lack of a joined up approach with nationally treating each dispute in isolation and not linking action on the ground to national campaigning on higher education funding. 
    • Our branch passed a related motion in our September 2024 Executive (see Appendix 1 on the next page), with this motion as a necessary next step. 

      

    This branch believes that: 

    • The funding model in higher education is broken and needs a radical overhaul. 
    • Increasing student fees is not the answer; fees should be scrapped and there should be a return to government funding of higher education as a social good. 
    • We need a national campaign against redundancies in higher education and for a sustainable funding model that doesn’t burden students with huge debts. 
    • The funding model for HE is determined by the Secretary of State for Education (Higher Education and Research Act 2017); Recent legal advice shows the viability of a trade dispute with the Secretary of State over the funding of HE. ​ 

      

    This branch resolves to call on the Unison Higher Education leadership to:  

    • Contact the National Union of Students and other Higher Education Trade Unions with the aim of organising a national demonstration for the full funding of higher education and the scrapping of tuition fees in England; 
    • Classify all disputes in universities in the current period involving cuts and redundancies as disputes of national significance; 
    • Organise a cross-union conference against cuts and redundancies in higher education with the branches currently fighting, inviting delegates from all Higher Education branches to raise solidarity and form a national campaign. 
    • To explore urgently opening a trade dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over HE funding;​ 
  • University of Bristol UNISON 2025 AGM

    University of Bristol UNISON 2025 AGM

    All branch members are invited to our Annual General Meeting, Wednesday 12 March from 2pm (hybrid).  Please hold the time in your diary.  You are entitled to time off from your role to attend.

    The AGM is members’ main democratic opportunity each year to elect your representatives, suggest policies and priorities for the year ahead, learn how our finances have been used, ask questions, and meet like-minded colleagues. We hope as many of you as possible can attend.

    Joining details

    • In person in Lecture Theatre 3, Priory Road (ARTS) Complex – pastries and refreshments provided for everyone (no ordering necessary)
    • Online via Teams
    • The meeting will also be recorded but those watching the recording will not be able to vote

    Access requirements

    If you would like to request an adjustment to ensure your full participation, please contact us at unison-office@bristol.ac.uk

    We have informed HR of the meeting, so if you experience any difficulties with getting time off to attend, please let us know.

    Post AGM social

    After the meeting, join us for a social in The Beckford, Senate House Lower Ground Floor!

  • 2025 National Higher Education Conference

    2025 National Higher Education Conference

    On the 30th January 2025, three of our members attended the 2025 National Higher Education Conference, held in Swansea. It was a one-day conference focussed purely on Higher Education UNISON branches across the UK. Motions and reports will be uploaded to the Motions Archive soon if you would like to see what was debated and passed. Happy to take any questions about it.

    Vicky’s thoughts

    “Attending the UNISON Higher Education Conference as a sharer delegate was a valuable experience. Alex and I shared delegate voting duties, with Alex on the floor in the morning and me in the afternoon. When not voting, we joined Sarah in the visitor area, where we could listen to the debates and discussions. It was eye-opening to hear perspectives from Higher Education institutions across the UK, gaining insights into challenges and initiatives that are sometimes outside of our usual scope. The conference emphasised that while the sector faces significant challenges, the University of Bristol is in a strong position. This reinforces our ability to demand better conditions for our staff while supporting colleagues across the country. Importantly, the actions proposed by the Higher Education Service Group at the conference aim to shine a spotlight on the struggles within the HE sector, paving the way for UNISON to develop targeted campaigns and support that address these pressing issues. I would advise anyone who is interested in seeing how UNISON works outside of our branch, to attend a conference and/ or submit motions, as they are a great way to see how decisions are made, and to take part in the democratic process.” 

    Sarah’s thoughts

    “This was my first time attending a Unison conference, something I had wanted to do but had previously hesitated putting myself forward for. Maybe that was feeling as though I wouldn’t be selected to go, or that I wouldn’t have enough background knowledge to understand the context or nuances of the motions – but it turned out that any worries were unfounded! From the offer to discuss the motions in advance to answering all the questions I had during the conference, Alex and Vicky were great at making sure I got the most out of the day. Hearing speakers from other HEIs and SUs really made it clear how shared many of our experiences are and was a strong reminder of why it’s important to know that. I would definitely want to go to more conferences in the future.”

  • UOB UNISON Branch Meeting: 29 January 2025 at 13:00

    UOB UNISON Branch Meeting: 29 January 2025 at 13:00

    Day-to-day branch activity

    • 25 current open support cases (e.g. grievances, disciplinaries) across 7 stewards (volunteers from the branch who have completed training to help support members through individual issues). 
    • Welcome James Spetch as our newest steward 🎉 
    • We’re always on the lookout for new stewards, please let the branch know if you’re interested (unison-office@bristol.ac.uk) 
    • There’s a number of department restructures currently going on. They’re all at varying points across their processes. We’re invited to each restructure meeting – so you should let us know if you’re affected: email the branch if you need any additional support. We know there’s a lot of anxiety around it, but we have come through a fair amount of them. 
    • Vicky is in the branch office (1D Priory Road) on Wednesdays 1-5 if anyone wants to drop in for a chat or has any specific issues. 
    • Some of the executive will be attending the UNISON Higher Education conference in Swansea (occured30th January), where there will be a full day of discussions about the sector as a whole. We’ll also vote on motions and network with other branches.  

    Strike Ballot started last Tuesday (21st Jan) – ballot papers have started going out:

    • If you haven’t received your ballot, call the hotline on 08000857857. We have heard this is the case for some members, so please do call to avoid disenfranchisement. They will make sure your details are correct and escalate to the balloting service to make sure you get your vote in the post. When you call up you want to keypad in the ‘any other enquiries’ line. There is a line for education, but that is for the local education consultation not for our higher education strike ballot. 
    • The national recommendation is to vote yes for strike action, and the branch exec also unanimously voted to recommend voting yes for strike action. 
    • We need 50% of members to turn out for the vote, and then 50% of those to vote yes for strike action for us to go out on strike. 
    • We’re an active branch and have in years past reached this threshold.  
    • It’s important everybody exercises their democratic voice, even if it’s to vote no – we respect there will be different opinions across the branch. 
    • We need members to be putting leaflets out and posters up in their offices. We need discussions to be happening and phone banking (as much a pain in the **** it is!). We believe the majority of members will send their ballot if they just remember to do so, and all these things really help. 
    • If you’d like some resources to put up, or to get involved with phone banking, please email the branch: unison-office@bristol.ac.uk 
    • Phone banking is a great way of engaging members, and people do appreciate the conversation. You have a script and an easy call system to use, so it’s not as daunting as you might think. We also have a peer-to-peer texting system too if you aren’t comfortable phoning. 
    • We’re also encouraging people on the WhatsApp chats to talk about voting, and share photos of themselves by their postbox. 

    Wider context of the ballot

    • Comes off the back of a consultation we had in the autumn, where ~85% of members voted to reject UoB’s pay offer. 
    • We asked for RPI + 2%, or £2500, whichever is greater. 
    • RPI inflation was 3.6% this year, so the pay claim was asking for 5.6% 
    • Employer offers varied between 2.5% and 5.7%. But even for the people at the very bottom of the pay scale, getting 5.7% wouldn’t measure up to the extra £2500. 
    • Basically, it didn’t meet our pay claim anywhere across the board.  
    • With the cost of living crisis and inflationary crisis, our real terms pay cuts have ballooned. It’s been calculated that in the last 2-4 years, people have had a real terms pay cut of ~30%. 
    • Until we start to win back some of the losses we’ve had, we should be trying to challenge and fight back.  
    • 60 other HE branches are balloting too – this is a great opportunity to challenge this nationally and win together. 
    • Member question: following the local (as opposed to these national) negotiations last year, UCU and I think Unison indicated that staff would be looking for further improvements to the agreed package (albeit without Unison agreement), and as I recall the University committed to keep talking.  Have there been any meetings regarding this, or a schedule agreed for further talks? 
    • We did agree to have pay and reward discussions where the university would be forthcoming with their financial picture, and we could raise what we would like to see in terms of pay. 
    • We haven’t actually had this meeting yet – 25th February is the next meeting on pay and reward. The branch secretarys do however also attend other regular meetings with SMT to discuss issues. 
    • Without trying to put too much of a dampener on it in advance, it’s good to remember this is just a meeting that doesn’t promise anything. But it’s good to be having those conversations so we’re clear as to what we’re aiming for. 
    • The executive also attend other regular meetings with SMT to raise issues. Recently Vicky (branch sec) and Alex (chair) attended a meeting between  the joint trade unions and Evelyn and a few members of senior team to talk about areas of common interest.  
    • We raised the discrepancies across HR application and policy – that different workplaces have totally different approaches to how things operate. We also discussed the professional services transformation project and all of the restructures that are going on at the minute – and that we need a best practice policy. 
    • Member question: The HE sector is facing financial challenges with widespread discussions of redundancies – e.g. Cardiff was in the news yesterday. Given this background, what’s the best response as a branch if the university simply say they can’t afford any uplift? 
    • It’s not to do with how much money they have, it’s to do with how they prioritise spending. Compared to other HE institutions, our university is not poor, no matter how much they want to convince you that they are. They simply want to reprioritize spending in different areas rather than their staff. 
    • Our role as a trade union is to remind them that staff should be their priority, 
    • They say things like Temple Quarter will be an income generator. And as lovely as it is to have these fantastic buildings, the other truth is that it’s also a massive drag on the university finances because they have to keep a surplus of a certain scale to enable the debt that they’ve on boarded to pay for it.  
    • The idea that pay rises directly lead to redundancies isn’t an inherent truth, it’s rather about privatisation and how they wish to spend that money. They could spend it on staff rather than spending extortionately large amounts of on things like restructures, which are happening constantly. 
    • Member question: are you essentially saying that you’re aiming to use the national pay negotiations as a crowbar for local negotiations or would that be a separate? Because obviously we have to anticipate from history that the university is going to say we would love to give you more money and we could, but the sector can’t afford it. 
    • This is a national dispute, that’s what the ballot is, but we can still bounce back to local. This pay deal in of itself has been delayed at other institutions, but our institution made the decision to implement – so even though the national picture might be looking ropey, there’s still the opportunity to apply pressure and get stratification ourselves. 
    • Member question: Can you tell us what other higher education unions are doing? Are UCU balloting, for instance? In the past the divergent timelines between the unions have played against us because obviously it’s more effective if we all act in the same time frame. 
    • Their timelines are going to potentially be very similar to our own. As if we are successful in balloting for strike action, there will be a 6 month window from early April to early September. 
    • Even though it’s a national ballot, the actual days of strike action can be determined locally – so we’d be relying on our relationship with our local UCU branch in terms of any coordinated action. 

     NEC elections for National Executive Council

    • https://www.unison.org.uk/nec-election-2025/
    • We’re going to be having nomination meetings as a branch to nominate our choices
    • Some of these will be for particular groups e.g. Black members, young members, disabled members.  
    • We will be in touch with more details for these particular groups. 

    Upcoming AGM (annual general meeting)

    • Wednesday the 12th of March from 2:00 PM 
    • We’re considering whether or not to move it a week back as a result of this being the Postgrad Open day. It’s something we may contact members about to get a feel of how impacted they will be.  
    • We have notified HR of our intention to hold the AGM then, and you should be allowed time off work as a member to engage with the AGM.  
    • Hybrid – in person at the Priory Road Complex. 
    • Refreshments if you’re attending in person!  
    • We will re-elect all our elected officials: the exec, workplace contacts and stewards. 
    • It’s also an opportunity to discuss and vote on motions: things you want to see the branch be active in, and things you want to see changed.  
    • There’s two important things about motions: wording and content. They must be worded in a certain way – Alex has given some example motions in the form.  
    • You should have received an email from the branch with more info – including a list of positions which you can nominate yourself for.  
    • There’s a two week buffer from the time which you submit an application to the time that Alex will be sending out all of the details because – we want to have the opportunity to speak to individuals in case two people have gone for the same role in case they want the job share, or if they prefer to contest it.  
    • If you’d like more info on any, do not hesitate to contact the branch. 

    Day of action for Palestine

    These are often shared in our branch WhatsApp group, but there are specific Palestine solidarity chats too – contact Surinder Kaur if you’d like more info 

    13th Feb  

    Protest organised, maybe more events to come 

  • Support over Christmas

    Support over Christmas

  • UOB UNISON Branch Meeting: 25 November 2024 at 13:00

    UOB UNISON Branch Meeting: 25 November 2024 at 13:00

    Branch Secretaries’ report (VS)
    a. Professional Services Transformation Project 2030 causing lots of restructures across UoB.

    • Process is joint trade unions informed roughly a day before staff. We give initial feedback, then Branch Secretaries or another rep attend all staff initial consultation meetings with HR. 
    • Current restructures include Health, Safety and Quality assurance; Campus Digital Technologies, Marketing, Health and Life Sciences, Student Wellbeing Service and the Business School. Many more ongoing.  
    • Workplace contacts in a restructure area – management should be helping you to facilitate conversations with membership. Request some time at the end of the all-staff meetings to talk to members and other staff without managers there.  You can also collect feedback through Microsoft Forms. 

    ACTION: Please get in touch if you’re worried or have thoughts to share regarding a (possible) restructure in your area
     

    1. Student Wellbeing restructure – letter sent to HR SMT.
    • Initially negotiated a delay to implementation until January to give some more time to work out details.
      We have not heard any more, so following up alongside the other trade unions
       
    1. Caseload (individuals seeking support) – currently 35 open cases,
      trained stewards, and a few people doing
      . 

    ACTION: Please get in touch if you’d like to become a steward or have any questions about it.  Or if you don’t
    as hugely needed. 

    1. Branch organisational framework – regional rep, Chris Roche, met some exec to discuss branch organisation and what we want to achieve over the next
    • work ongoing, info to be circulated as soon as it’s ready. 
    • Vicky working on membership data as work location not always obvious. 

    ACTION: Please check your workplace location on My UNISON
    and either update there or let us know if you need a change. 

    1. Stike ballot update (AK, VR, ECK) – UCEA national pay negotiations outcome came later than normal and ended in dispute. Universities could defer implementation, so we received our uplift in October. National dispute response is overseen by elected individuals called the Service Group Executive.  They called a ballot but gave branches little notice. SGE has now decided to delay this, with implications for when we can strike.
    • Ballot now runs 21st January 2025 to 4th March, results 19th March.  50% branch turnout needed to strike.  If vote to strike, mandate will run 8th April to 3rd September. Branch will hold ballot/strike information meeting(s) in due course. 
    • Strike Action Group restarting again for ballot and potential future strike actions.  Range of small jobs to volunteer for include making/distributing posters, setting up talks, other comms support, telephone banking, etc. 
    • Sustained action and our collective strength is what has won us our achievements, but we have further to go! 

    ACTION: if your address has changed, please let us know or update on My UNISON 

    ACTION: Message Comms team (Elle or Mia) to be added to the Action Group Teams channel 

    ACTION: help raise awareness that this is coming.  Speak to your teams, contact Alex to get a local talk, generate interest!
     

    1. Maternity Rights Committee (VS)
      Setting up a committee on maternity rights, policies and payments.
      ACTION: contact Vicky if you’re interested in joining, or if you’d like to see a committe on anything else you’re passionate about. 
    1. Higher Education Service Group Executive South West Female Seat (ECK) – Elle is running.
      pportunity for UoB voice in shaping decisions affecting the branch, e.g. around ballots and strike action, and pushing national UNISON to hold the government to account on the state of HE.
    • All full members as of 4th November 2024 can vote. 
    • Timeline: ballot open 4th February to 4th March 2025 (latest members can request a ballot paper 12noon on 20 February 2025).  Result announced 25th March. 

    ACTION: Make sure your address is up to date and please vote! 

    1. Palestine events this week (SK)
    • Wednesday 27th March, panel discussion on  demilitiarsing education 
    • Thursday 28th March, workplace day of action for Palestine. 12pm meet at Wills Building, walk down to 12.30pm College Green worker rally (TUC sponsored) 

    ACTION: Contact Surinder for more information on how to get involved with actions for Palestine, including joining WhatsAp groups. 

    1. Union office open hours (VK and AK) – Vicky working at 1D Prio
      13:00 to 17:00 every Wednesday, Alex 09:00 to 12:30 every Friday.
    1. Branch AGM Alexander Kidd – AGM tbc first week of March. Info on running for exec positions to be circulated in December, nominations close in January. Will be (properly) catered. Invite and dietary request form coming soon.

    AK has suggestions on possible updates to the branch constitution.  

  • Motion passed: HE funding campaign

    Motion passed: HE funding campaign

    This branch notes and applauds the policy on Higher Education funding passed at HE conference 2024 (13. Fund Our Universities Properly; 14. A New Start for Higher Education). That motion calls on the service group to inform members about the state of higher education finances, to campaign for adequate funding and more grants, to reaffirm support for public funding and opposition to tuition fees, and to support branches facing job cuts. Our policy envisions and commits us to supporting a Higher Education sector that is accessible to all, publicly funded through progressive taxation and free from the instability of tuition fees and wasteful market competition.

    This branch notes the current crisis in HE that is causing the loss of posts through voluntary severance, voluntary redundancies and, in some HE institutions, compulsory redundancies. Staff in HEIs – our members – are being asked to work harder than ever to keep them viable. Some HEIs could go out of business this year.

    This branch notes the uncertainty created by over-reliance on international student fees, in themselves exploitative.

    This branch also notes the election of a new Westminster Government which opens the possibilities of changes in policy on HE funding.

    This branch believes that the funding crisis needs a swift, timely, visible and robust response from our union, in order to save jobs, press the case for increased funding, and serve the needs of members. Such a campaign can also assist with recruitment.

    This branch calls upon the HE Service Group Executive to organise an urgent campaign that includes the following elements, among others it deems appropriate:

    ·  Seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister for Higher Education to press the case for changes to HE funding in line with policy and reporting back on this to members;

    ·        Organising a Parliamentary lobby to press the case for changes to HE funding in line with our policy, and to invite other HE unions and NUS to sponsor this but to go ahead with or without their support;

    ·        Approaching Labour Link to seek their support for our campaign for changes to HE funding in line with our policy;

    ·        Developing an open letter to the Westminster Government in line with our policy and seek signatures from members in the first place but also wider;

    ·        Developing a postcard campaign for members to send to MPs urging support for our policies;

    ·        Organising a briefing meeting at Labour Party conference that makes the case for changes to HE funding in line with our policies;

    ·        Working with the Regional HE Committees in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to develop equivalent campaigns that serve all of our members.

    The branch instructs our representatives to propose an amended form of this motion to the SW HE Committee, which will mandate our representatives on the HE SGE to propose and support the above actions.