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

• TheUMUCU Annual General Meeting 2012 will take place:
  Wednesday 30th May 12.30 - 2.00pm, Lecture Theatre B, Zochonis Building.
• Job cuts announced at the University of Salford Colleagues at the University of Salford are experiencing very difficult times with the university recently anouncing its 6th round of job cuts in less than a year. Under the plans teaching and research posts will be axed in art and design, computer studies and languages, humanities, life sciences, and environmental studies where housing management courses will be completely axed. In particular, the teaching of Italian on undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses is at serious risk and there is a petition as part of the campaign to stop this. You can sign here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/salford-italian/
• UCU Stress Survey A huge thank you to the thousands of you who have responded so far, but we need every full member to respond to UCU’s 2012 Occupational Stress Survey by the 4 May deadline. Please check your inbox or spam folders for an email from Sally Hunt titled ‘Stress - an invitation from UCU’ and if you haven’t received it contact: scourt@ucu.org.uk School of Medicine re-organisation
• Restructuring in MHS The Management in MHS has invited UCU for consultation on the current restructuring process which includes academic, academic related and administration staff. The process has already started and UCU would like to hear your concerns and views by emailing ucu@manchester.ac.uk meanwhile, a lunchtime meeting has been scheduled for members on Monday 30th April at 12:00-1:00pm, 5.211 University Place.
• Industrial Action: UCU members have suspended the indsutrial action in defence of our pensions – for more information click http://defenduss.web.ucu.org.uk/ and, for University of Manchester updates, see the regular emails from the Executive Committee and this page.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.