1) Pay and Grade Structure Proposals: Joint Union Update
Following the approval by both University of Bristol Unite and UCU branches of the University’s pay and grade structure proposals — the phased removal of bottom spine points from grades and the addition of new top spine points to grades —, UNISON branch have voted to reject these proposals coming in from August.
This has, for now, blocked an effective pay rise for hundreds of University of Bristol staff this year and next.
UNISON branch leadership could have recommended these proposals, banking an incremental pay bump for all staff, before then considering taking further action to address historic pay erosion. They had the option to do this.
Instead, the branch explicitly recommended to their members to reject. As a result, UCU members sitting at the top spine point of grade I, Unison members sitting at the top spine point of their grade, and Unite member-cleaners on the lowest grades will be denied a pay bump from August, for example.
UCU members can rest assured that Bristol UCU will continue to push for these positive pay changes to be implemented asap.
UNISON will be, as UCU and other campus unions will be relatively soon, consulting members over further action as per our annual national pay and conditions dispute-to-be over the latest UCEA pay uplift offer.
2) Branch Extra-Ordinary General Meeting, ‘Motion on Staff-Student Relationships’, Tuesday, 23rd April 2024, 13:00-14:00, Microsoft Teams.
Thank you to everyone who attended our branch EGM yesterday, at which the staff-student relationships motion [link] carried.
The motion will now go to branch Exec. Committee for endorsement.
The motion will see the branch consult and explore ‘whether and how the current Sexual Misconduct and Relationships Policy should be updated to prohibit (rather than discourage) staff-student romantic and sexual relationships for students towards whom staff have current or potential teaching, learning or academic/pastoral support responsibilities’.
3) UCU Congress 2024
Thank you to our elected 5 Congress delegates Kit Opie, Greg Schwartz, Donna MacLean, Jeff Pocock, and Jamie Melrose, who will be attending UCU Congress at the end of May in Bournemouth.
4) Workers Memorial Day, This Sunday, 28th April & May Day Rally, 1st May
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