Welcome

Latest UCU Local News Letter - March 2013

All newsletters, including the latest, can be found here

This new local committee initiative aims to inform members about LA activities undertaken on their behalf. We hope it proves of interest. Please send feedback to: ucu@nottingham.ac.uk

The local UCU committee is organising a mini-series of talks around the theme:

The Age of Austerity:

Fighting Cuts and Privatisation

Event 3:

"The Impact on Women"

Monday 13 May, 1 - 2pm

D138 Portland Building

(see poster here)

The TUC has argued that the cuts ‘are likely to have a major impact on gender equality and women’s human rights’. In the third of our series of talks about the local impact of the coalition’s programme of austerity, we are welcoming Melanie Jeffs, Manager of Nottingham Women’s Centre. Melanie will be discussing how cuts and privatisation are affecting women in Nottingham in terms of jobs and services and the ways in which the Women’s Centre is attempting to mitigate the worst effects of cuts and privatisation.

This is an open event.  Please pass on the information to colleagues and students in your area, and display the poster if possible. All are welcome!

DEFEND USS

Full details of the campaign are at: http://www.ucu.org.uk/defenduss

Newsletter for Academic-Related members ("... and related")

The latest edition of this twice-yearly newsletter, together with an archive of previous issues, can be found on the national UCU page via this link: ... and related

Who are UCU?

With almost 120,000 members nationwide we have a powerful voice when representing our members: in parliament, with the national employers’ body and with funding councils. We represent all academic and research staff; all staff at Level 4 and above in the APM job family (Administrative, Professional & Managerial staff, previously called “academic related”) and postgraduates who work for the University in roles analogous to the above, such as demonstrating, teaching and tutoring. We represent full-time and part-time staff, people on fixed-term and “permanent” contracts, and hourly paid staff.

Membership Benefits: Advice is available from a team of experienced Nottingham UCU officers. If you encounter any difficulty in your employment -- for example, if you wish to raise a grievance, or if you become the subject of a complaint or disciplinary action -- we can provide support and advice. If you wish us to, we can accompany and/or represent you in any hearings related to such matters; or if you prefer we can simply provide background assistance. See How can we help? for more information.  UCU also provides an excellent legal protection scheme which gives you access to professional legal advice, subject to scheme rules. Details are available on the national website.

We can provide support only if your problem occurs after you join us. Join us today and get protection for you and your career. If you would like to join us or discuss a problem you are experiencing, please contact us.

Training events: UCU runs a programme of training events which any member may attend. For further details of any events currently on offer, please contact us, or see the national web site.

Please find below a link to information about a new UCU training course, 'Green Reps':   http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3998  

This is a two day course (held in London) designed for UCU members who wish to develop their understanding of climate change and ways to protect the environment through change at work.