As you know, we’ve been using our strike ballot mandate to campaign for the University to make bonus payments to support staff, to make up for the pay freeze imposed on us all in August 2020. We first made the claim in the middle of October, and the Vice Chancellor’s response, via a number of letters, has invariably been that…
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Eastbourne – more educational vandalism dressed up as progress
Many people will be shocked and saddened by the announcement made last week about the University’s proposal to consolidate its estate in Brighton and pull out of Eastbourne. It doesn’t feel that long ago since Hastings was closed, but Eastbourne has much deeper and historic roots and many Eastbourne staff have given decades of service to the University. It has…
Please complete our survey on hybrid and homeworking
The South East Regional Equality Action Group launched a survey last week on hybrid and homeworking, to find out if the switch to new ways of working are beneficial to UNISON members, or whether this change in workplace culture is having a detrimental effect on certain groups of workers. https://southeast.unison.org.uk/news/article/2021/09/hybrid-and-home-working-ensuring-an-inclusive-approach/ It only takes five minutes, or less than that if…
Letter to the Vice-Chancellor over Covid
This letter was sent to the Vice Chancellor after our joint meeting with UCU, held on Friday 17th September: Health and Safety Letter to the Vice Chancellor from both trade unions 20-09-21
Covid 19 – Early September Update
With the return of students, the University is gearing to adopt a “Covid-aware” approach, in line with what the government are saying. This is basically shifting the emphasis from the University dealing with Covid safety to individuals taking responsibility themselves, by washing hands regularly, wearing a face-covering “when moving around the University” (strongly advised at least) and being regularly tested.…
A farewell collection for One World staff
A farewell collection for One World staff Helen Abrahams Student Advice Manager Hi, a paypal pool has been created for anyone wishing to make a donation towards a gift for the 11 staff working at the now closed One World nursery. If you would like to make a donation, please do so by using this link: paypal.me/pools/c/8BJRkdGQSS. You do not need…
Pay Ballot “hotline” is now open – 0800 0 857 857
If you haven’t received a pay ballot at your home address, like this, then this is what you need to do: Ballot paper for pay ballot Call 0800 0 857 857, listen to the boring message and choose option 1. They should be able to update your details where necessary and they will post you a new ballot paper. Please…
Nursery Ballot Result
Thank you to every member who voted in our ballot over One World Nursery. 74.8% of members who voted were willing to take strike action, but unfortunately, the turnout, at 48.5%, was a handful of votes short of achieving the 50% we needed to give us a legal strike mandate. There’s lots we can say about this, starting with the…
Nursery Ballot is now closed
Thanks to everyone who voted in our postal ballot over One World Nursery. We are still yet to find anyone who thinks closing the Nursery makes sense and we are determined to find a way to keep it open, if the University is willing to discuss that, rather than maintain the fiction that £83,000 or £40,000 a year is a…
Nursery Ballot – just a few days to go
Our postal ballot over the plans to close One World Nursery closes at 10am on Thursday 17th June, so any remaining ballot papers would need to be posted by Tuesday, or very early on Wednesday morning, depending on the post box. So, if you haven’t yet voted, please do it as soon as you can and please vote YES in…