News

UCU and UNISON have submitted a joint letter to the university today about how employers can help to resolve the USS pensions dispute. If employers apply more pressure on the USS management, they can improve the likelihood of a good and fair settlement and avoid the risk of further strike action.

At the Open University all employees are eligible for USS; therefore as a community, we all have a shared interest in the continuing strength and affordability of this pension scheme.

Recently Caroline Holland stepped down as Hon Secretary of the Executive Committee. We are very grateful for her work and commitment to the branch, and she has been co-opted to sit as an Ordinary Member of the Executive Committee.

Following this the branch has a vacancy for a Hon Secretary and for two other roles: Central Academic-Related Officer and Regional/National Academic-Related Officer.

UCU's Vice President, Nita Sanghera, has sent us a video message: https://youtu.be/gZveG7NmtOg

Please post your ballot paper back by Wednesday 20th February 2019.

https://www.ucu.org.uk/he2018

Thank you to Nita from the OU Branch of UCU!

Kevin McNerney recently ran a session in our Adobe Connect room and he wanted us to share the recording. You can listen to the recording of Kevin's talk at this address: https://ou.adobeconnect.com/pzsr2bmsaulx?session=em2breezofqs5rsvcnp6herk

We are very pleased to report that members voted overwhelmingly to accept the new Associate Lecturer contract. Thank you to all our members who voted in the ballot.

UCU press release: ucu.org.uk/article/9855/UCU-secures-better-deal-for-over-4000-Open-University-staff

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.