UCU Update

UCU Branch Officers were informed by the principal Trevor Clay at the Common Interest Group on the 1^st May 2014 - that in excess of 20 staff face potential redundancy.

The college management informed UCU that they would be issuing staff with a Section 188 notice within the next few weeks.

College Management offered no further details, despite UCU requests for further clarification and information.

UCU officers have expressed real concerns regarding ANY redundancy proposals following the damaging round of compulsory redundancies last year.

College staff were sacked as a result of the college management’s choice to implement option 4of the management restructure report in 2013.

The impact of the redundancies last year has been felt by the whole of Chesterfield College’s staff and students.

                                   

UCU said that last years “Curriculum Purchase” exercise was inaccurate and over-estimated “overstaffing”. We were right.

UCU said that classes taught by those made redundant would end up being taught by Zero Hours hourly paid staff and Vocational Coaches, on bargain basement pay levels – we were right.

UCU said that getting rid of experienced staff would impact on quality. We were right.

UCU will continue to negotiate with college management. We continue to urge the current principal Trevor Clay and the Board of Corporation at Chesterfield College to rethink yet another damaging strategy.   

All UCU Members - Call To Strike

UCU Strike - Tuesday 3rd December 2013 What you should do on the strike days.         Join the strike - don’t come into work, or work at home on the strike day.         Join UCU on the picket lines. There will be UCU picket lines at College sites from 7.30 am. Please contact one of the branch officers - Paula Alsop, Allister Mactaggart, James Eaden or Sam Parker . . Taking industrial action- know your rights! The strike action being taken by UCU is fully legal and complies with all of the stringent trade union laws that apply in the UK. As a union member taking legal action you are fully protected by the law. ·         If you are not currently a member of UCU, you can join the union now (up to and including the day of the strike) and you will still be legally covered for participating in the strike action. ·          You are under no obligation to inform your line manager (or anybody else for that matter) that you are (or are not) taking action. ·          You are also not under any obligation to make provision (set work etc) for student groups that will be affected by the action. Any decision to do so is yours alone. ·          Joining picket lines outside of your place of work to show your support for the action or is fully lawful. ·          You will not be discriminated against for supporting your union and taking part in strike action. ·          Part time and hourly paid workers have identical legal rights as full time workers. Discrimination against part-time staff who participate in lawful industrial action is unlawful.

Solidarity

Dear Brothers and sisters In solidarity with your strike at Chesterfield College I wish you all the best with your action.     Working class people are facing the brutality of Tory austerity either as rises in the cost of living, attacks on our pay, pensions and benefits, privatisation of education, health and care services, or jobs losses.     Your strike is part of the growing resistance.  Every action is important and gives confidence to us all to fight.  When bosses like those at the college committed to the market, attack hard won conditions and axe jobs threatening activists with victimisation you have to stand up and say 'NO'.  It also lets the students know that you are committed to education as a right for all, not as a privilege for a few, and helps them counter cuts to grants and resist fees.  Social Work students who come to placements with us would often not have had the chance to get to university to train, were it not for the foundation and social care courses you all provide for working class young people in our town.   Your fight is inspiring to those trade unionists locally who want to be part of a movement against austerity.  Good luck Fraternally Jane Hindle Adult Care Rep (PC) Derbyshire County Council Unison

UCU Chesterfield Branch Newsletter

 Support the UCU national strike action over pay Tuesday December 3^rd.

UCU members in FE colleges & universities across the UK will be taking strike action over pay on Tuesday December 3^rd. In FE 70.9% of members voting, voted for strike action. All UCU members working in FE & HE institutions are therefore called out on strike and instructed not to work on that day.

Pay: The Key Facts:

·      Real pay for lecturers in FE colleges continues to fall.

·      The gap between our pay and that of schoolteachers, is still widening.

·      Since 2009 FE lecturers pay has fallen by 15% in real terms.

·      If our pay had kept pace with inflation over the last ten years, the top of the lecturers pay scale would now be £37,630*.

(* Figures from Teachers Pension Agency)

The Race to The Bottom at Chesterfield College.

Here at Chesterfield the situation is even worse. Since management broke from nationally negotiated terms & conditions, they have imposed a zero % increase for the past two years.  The hourly rate of pay for lecturers on Zero Hours contracts has been cut.

At our last formal meeting with the college management UCU formally submitted a demand that we are put back on to nationally negotiated pay rates.

It is vital that UCU members at the college show solid support for the December 3^rd strike action. Firmly supported action will back up our demand to be put back on national pay scales. If we don’t support national action now, it will be a green light to the management to continue to give 0% pay increases year on year. It was only two years ago when they tried to stop progression up the pay scale here at the college and introduce a form of performance related pay. Only our members’ resolve put a halt to that threat.

The Fallout from Last Year’s Redundancies.

All of the warnings about last year’s redundancies given by UCU and the other unions have been shown to be true.                             

We said that the “Curriculum Purchase” exercise was inaccurate and over-estimated “overstaffing”. We were right.

We said that classes taught by those made redundant would end up being taught by Zero Hours hourly paid staff on bargain basement pay levels – we were right.

We said that getting rid of experienced staff would impact on quality. We were right. In one area the start of term had to be delayed for two weeks because there were no staff to teach the students.

Victimisation of UCU Officer

However we did not expect the shocking way in which college management has used the cover of the redundancy exercise to carry out the vindictive victimisation of one of UCU’s elected branch officers- Sam Parker. The detailed case outlining Sam’s victimisation is contained in a further UCU document that has been circulated to all of our members.

Details of Strike Action on December 3^rd.

UCU will mount picket lines at main College sites, please come along and support your colleagues.

We will produce material to hand out to students explaining our case for taking action.

The National Union of Students national executive has voted to support UCU’s  action on Dec. 3rd.

UCU is holding strike rallies in major cities, e.g. Sheffield & Nottingham. Further details will be forwarded.

The UCU branch is in a position to operate a limited strike hardship fund for UCU members in dire financial straits. Priority will be given to Hourly Paid or low fractional members who may lose a disproportional amount of pay due to the strike being held on Tuesday Dec 3^rd.

Not Yet a Member of UCU?

If you are not yet a UCU member you can sign up now.

Go to http://www.ucu.org.uk/join

Or contact one of the UCU branch officers- Paula Alsop, Sam Parker, James Eaden, Allister Mactaggart

Taking industrial action- know your rights!

The strike action being taken by UCU on Tuesday December 3^rd is fully legal and complies with all of the stringent trade union laws that apply in the UK. As a union member taking legal action you are fully protected by the law.

·       You are under no obligation to inform your line manager (or anybody else for that matter) that you are (or are not) taking action.

·       You are also not under any obligation to make provision (set work etc) for student groups that will be affected by the action. Any decision to do so is yours alone.

·       Joining picket lines outside of your place of work to show your support for the action is fully lawful.

·       You will not be discriminated against for supporting your union and taking part in strike action.

Vote Yes to strike action.

Yesterday , the same day that our HE colleagues are taking strike action, UCU will begin balloting members in FE in England for strike action. Ballot papers will be arriving from Monday 4th November. http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/6/m/FE_VoteYes_flyer.pdf http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/6/a/FE_VoteYes_poster.pdf UCU members in FE have seen their pay fall 15% in four years while workloads and stress levels continue to rise. Instead of addressing the unions’ claim for a modest rise to begin to reverse this fall in salaries, the employers have offered another pay cut with the condition of more local bargaining. This would usher in a new attack on working conditions for our members in FE. A strong vote for strike action is now the best way to stop this race to the bottom in FE. Vote Yes to strike action.

Successful lobbying of Corporation Board at Chesterfield College by UCU Branch Officers.

Letters from UCU members and students outlined the personal impact of these brutal compulsory redundancies, which were announced last week.

Another 1,000 signatures from UCU petition protesting at the redundancies at the college, were also handed to the Clerk of the Corporation.

Corporation Board members were approached and the issues explained to them in more detail prior to them entering the college and attending the Board meeting this evening .

Solidarity to sacked UCU staff

UCU & NASUWT members attended a rally today to show their solidarity to colleagues who have been sacked or had hours reduced.

UCU officers spoke of their opposition to the jobs cull at the college and highlighted the impact on the staff and the wider community of Chesterfield.

Members watched a balloon release outside the brand new entrance to the college, the balloons symbolizing members of staff to lose their jobs.

 UCU will continue the campaign to Defend Jobs and Defend Education at Chesterfield College.

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UCU Update

UCU  intend to hold a rally outside the main entrance on Infirmary Road tomorrow - Monday at 1.00 P.M . We will support all UCU members who are facing the devastating loss of their job and protest at the disgraceful process that was implemented by Chesterfield College Management . 

We will release a balloon for every UCU member facing the sack at Chesterfield College. 

I am asking that all UCU Members who have been notified that they will be  sacked. lost hours  or have been in a redundancy pool , write a letter to one of the Board of the Corporation.

I would suggest that you outline the personal effect that these cuts will have on you and your family and the effects of competing against your colleagues for jobs. UCU will lobby the Corporation Board with these letters when they meet on Thursday .

Fury as Chesterfield College secret building plans revealed on day staff are sacked

Fury as Chesterfield College secret building plans revealed on day staff are sacked

·         Staff will meet local MP tonight and protest at the college on Monday

·         College did not reveal plans for building refurbishment during meetings over redundancies

Chesterfield College is under fire today (Friday) for sending out redundancy notices to staff on the day it has been revealed that the college is investing huge sums of money in refurbishing its buildings.

Staff are angry that they only found about the scale of the building plans through the press. Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are meeting with local MP Toby Perkins this evening and have announced plans for a rally at the college on Monday (1 July) at 1pm outside the main entrance to the college on Infirmary Road (map here - http://tinyurl.com/plm8ykf).

Thirteen lecturers are due to receive letters today, the last day of term, telling them they have been made redundant. Five have had their hours reduced by as much as half and nine staff have left through voluntary redundancy.

UCU regional official, Anne O’Sullivan, said: “Staff and students at Chesterfield College have been treated with utter contempt by the college. In meetings with us the college never mentioned plans to refurbish buildings on this scale. They told us they needed to sack staff to save money.

“Sending out letters telling staff they have been sacked on the last day of term is pretty low and to coincide with the building plans we only found about in the media is very distasteful. We are meeting with the local MP this evening to explain exactly what has been going on at the college and staff will be protesting on Monday.”

UCU Member Update

UCU Campaign  to Defend Jobs & Defend Education @ Chesterfield College: Dear Colleagues , I have just spoken to Stephen Butler from HR and he has confirmed that staff within the redundancy pools will not be notified of the outcome until tomorrow : He has said that HR staff will attempt to complete  the majority of notifications in the morning . Letters to the Board Of Corporation  - I am asking that all UCU Members at risk of being sacked to write a letter to one of the Board of the Corporation. I would suggest that you outline the personal effect that these cuts will have on you and your family. Please follow link below to choose most appropriate board member for your letter . http://www.chesterfield.ac.uk/corporation-members-1 Could you please forward these to me as soon as possible , by the latest Monday morning . I am aware that for many of you this week is a very difficult time   , as you will receive notifications of redundancy or a change to your role. We intend to hold a rally outside the main entrance on Monday (Staff Development Day ) at 1.00 P.M where we will present these letters to Trevor Clay to pass onto the Corporation. We will also release a balloon for every UCU member facing the sack at Chesterfield College.  As was discussed at the Branch Meeting this is just the beginning of the process and I urge you not to be too despondent. Should you wish to contact a branch officer for advice:  Please contact – James Eaden, Allister Mactaggart, Paula Alsop, and Sam Parker. UCU will continue to negotiate with college management at CIG. And we continue to urge our principal Trevor Clay and the Board of Corporation at Chesterfield College to rethink this damaging strategy.    In Solidarity

CIG Update - UCU

UCU Campaign to Defend Jobs & Defend Education @ Chesterfield College: Dear Colleagues, Following yesterday’s CIG attended by Stephen Butler  and the recognized unions from Chesterfield College. The management representatives unfortunately were intransigent in their position and proved at times to be ill tempered in their responses. This fact was formally requested to be noted on the minutes by UCU & NASUWT. UCU & NASWUT formally asked again for the threat of compulsory redundancies to be withdrawn. It is unfortunate that the principal Trevor Clay or indeed any other member of the senior management team were able to be present at this vital CIG meeting; the final meeting before many staff, who have served the College and Community with years of loyalty and dedication will receive their notification of redundancy. If you do receive your notification of redundancy this week, can you please contact – James Eaden, Allister Mactaggart, Paula Alsop or Sam Parker as soon as possible. In Solidarity

UCU Branch Update

UCU Ballot to Defend Jobs & Defend Education @ Chesterfield College: UCU branch held a branch meeting yesterday to discuss the next steps in our campaign to stop the sackings at Chesterfield College. ·         Public Rally in Sheffield –   A UCU branch officer will address a protest rally tomorrow evening regarding our campaign to stop the sackings at Chesterfield College. This event is organised by Sheffield NUT in support of the regional NUT/NASUWT strike in the North-West. This is the first step in a national campaign of industrial action. The rally will be at the DFE offices which are situated on the Peace Gardens close by the Town Hall ·         Meeting with Toby Perkins – MP Chesterfield Venue – Chesterfield Labour Club   Date – Friday 28th June 2013:  Time – 5.45 p.m. Toby Perkins, as some of you may be aware, visited the college on Friday for the ‘Private View’ exhibition in Art & Design.  He was interested to know the impact of these proposed cuts from the individuals themselves at risk and the impact that this would have on the young people in his constituency. It is vital that all members take this opportunity to attend this meeting to get support from our elected member of parliament. ·         Letters to the Board Of Corporation  - I am asking that all UCU Members at risk of being sacked or in a redundancy pool , write a letter to one of the Board of the Corporation. I would suggest that you outline the personal effect that these cuts will have on you and your family. We intend to hold a rally outside the main entrance on Monday at 1.00 P.M where we will present these letters to Trevor Clay to pass onto the Corporation. We will also release a balloon for every UCU member facing the sack at Chesterfield College.  I am aware that for many of you this week is a very difficult time   , as you will receive notifications of redundancy or a change to your role. As was discussed at the Branch Meeting this is just the beginning of the process and I urge you not to be too despondent. Should you wish to contact a branch officer for advice:  Please contact – James Eaden, Allister Mactaggart, Paula Alsop, and Sam Parker. UCU will continue to negotiate with college management at CIG. And we continue to urge our principal Trevor Clay and the Board of Corporation at Chesterfield College to rethink this damaging strategy.