University of Manchester
University and College Union

The UCU

• is a democratic association committed to improving the working life of all members and committed to maintaining academic freedom
• represents all academic and related staff (teachers, professors, administrative staff of all grades, researchers, computer and library staff and postgraduates, both full time and part time).
• protects your interests and takes up individual grievences with your employer.
• campaigns on your behalf for improved quality of education and research, salaries, conditions and pensions.
• gives high priority to equality and diversity issues. It has four national groups for women, BME, disability and LGBT and each holds an annual conference to which Manchester UCU sends representatives.
• has a number of special interest groups for staff such as computer staff, fixed-term non-research lecturers,and contract researchers, at both local and national levels.

Notices

• The 2012 Stachniewski Memorial Lecture will take place on the 8th February, 5-6 pm, in the Arts Lecture Theatre, Samuel Alexander Building, University of Manchester. This year's speaker is Brian Cummings from the University of Sussex, whose topic is: 'Freedom, Suicide & Selfhood in Shakespeare and Early Modern Thought'. The Stachniewski Memorial lecture commemorates John Stachniewski who was an active trade unionist and President of the AUT branch and lecturer in English and American Studies.
• The latest version of e-News for Reps from the UCU Campaigns Team is now available here: http://www.umucu.org.uk/ucu/eNewsForRepsNov11.pdf
• The second edition of UC, the online magazine for UCU members is now available. There are several options for reading the magazine, all available from our new magazine website: http://uc.web.ucu.org.uk and there is now a link to this from our lefthand menu. As well as reading the magazine online, if you'd prefer to take it with you we have a PDF version available, as well as versions compatible with many mobile devices, such as Kindles, Android phones or iPhones/iPads. You can find these here: http://uc.web.ucu.org.uk/take-it-with-you
• Industrial Action: UCU members are working to contract in defence of our pensions – for more information click http://defenduss.web.ucu.org.uk/ and, for University of Manchester updates, seethe regular emails from the Executive Committee and this page.
  To see what members are doing as part of the our "Work to Contract" to save our pensions see: http://defenduss.web.ucu.org.uk/news-from-members/ which contains some great comments from members who are doing the work to contract and gaining more spare time out of it. If you would like to contribute your own stories send them to campaigns@ucu.org.uk
• Trustee, General Secretary, national officer and NEC elections in 2012: call for nominations: further information can be found at http://www.ucu.org.uk/elections
• UCU is concerned at the university's plans to privatise Dryden Street Nursery, and we are meeting management to discuss these concerns. The parents of children at the nursery - many of whom are UCU members - are worried that the care of their children may be detrimentally affected. UCU strongly supports the provision of excellent childcare, enabling academic and academic-related staff to balance family and work commitments. We also support UNISON  in their fight to protect the interests of current and future nursery staff against the threat posed by privatisation.
  We encourage you to consider signing the petition at:
  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-dryden-street---stop-the-profiteering-of-childcare/.
  
• See an update on Pay and Grading: http://www.umucu.org.uk/ucu/HeraUpdateJun11.pdf
• UCU has opened a Support Centre. On this site you will find answers to many of the most common queries HQ receives, together with other useful material to inform and support you in your employment and union membership. If you are unable to find an answer to your query please contact HQ using "Give Feedback" and they'll try and put a new FAQ on the site to answer it.
• An invitation to UMUCU members to become involved in health and safety issues at the university from our incoming Assistant Secretary for Health and Safety, Tanya Aspinall.
• The 'Ulster and Aberdeen Cases': Employment Tribunal Determinations Little case law has so far been established for cases brought under the Fixed Term Work Regulations 2002. Read the Ulster and Aberdeen rulings to see how the Tribunal judged this particular situation.