News

The Open University is now looking for a new Vice Chancellor.  The OU branch of UCU believes that the OU Council and Senate should remember its past difficulties at the same time as it builds a bright and confident future.   

We want the Open University person specification to include the following statement.

Our new Vice Chancellor is someone who will:

We are planning to hold 4 casework training courses in 2019 - our casework has increased massively in the last few years and we need to train more members to be caseworkers. If you think you could help other UCU members with their work-related issues then please email ucu@open.ac.uk to book on to one of these dates.

Casework Day 1 training
Intended for new caseworkers and existing caseworkers wishing to refresh their training.

For the first time in several years, we are holding a Christmas Party on Thursday 13th December from 3.30pm to 6pm in the Activity Room, OU Pavilion, Walton Hall.

All branch members have been invited to join us and one of our members is working on some "union themed" party games!

The party will feature:

The branch is very pleased to report that the AL Contract Negotiating Group (ALNG) have reached an agreement and the proposed new AL contract will be put to a ballot of our AL members from 7 January 2019 to 24 January 2019.

There's an update on the OU intranet (link for OU staff only): https://intranet.open.ac.uk/ouintra/story.aspx?id=33223

At our Annual General Meeting on 15th November the results of the election to the Executive Committee were announced. Caitlin Adams will now be taking over as branch president. The meeting expressed its profound gratitude to Lesley Kane for her leadership during this challenging year and especially for her tireless efforts in the AL contract negotiations. We are delighted that she remains a member of the Executive Committee as Immediate Past President and in her capacity as a member of the National Executive Committee.
 

We are joining forces with Unite the Community to sponsor a coach on Saturday 17th November 2018 from Milton Keynes station (10:30 departure) to the Stand Up to Racism demonstration in London.

Tickets are available here: eventbrite.co.uk/e/stand-up-to-racism-unity-demonstration-against-the-far-right-tickets-51704973969

We held a Hustings event on 23rd October for both candidates, in our election for a new branch President, to speak to members. We can now share the audio file from that event.

Audio of our Hustings event - soundcloud

The election for a new Branch President closes on 31st October - please use your vote!

We are holding a branch election for a new President on our Executive Committee - members will have received an email from the Electoral Reform Services on 11th October.

Here are election statements from the two candidates:

Caitlin Adams

Lesley Kane

Excessive workload in parts of the university is often flagged up to us by our reps and caseworkers.

UCU has developed a workload survey which we are inviting all members to fill in at this address: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/8PBG6GR, to find out how widespread this is, and to find out how many of you are feeling under pressure.

At the Branch meeting on 17th September our guest speaker Carlo Morelli from the UCU and University of Dundee gave an overview of the Pay and Equality ballot and also answered questions about the pension scheme (USS).

The branch executive therefore thought this was a good time to send an update on the pensions dispute. We are also planning to hold a branch meeting in October in order to consider the branch’s position on USS once further information is available.